Apple is taking it to the next level. Apple has announced a new headquarters, or a “spaceship” as it has been called, that will open in April. Some areas of the new headquarters will be open to the public, suggesting that it may serve as a tourist attraction as well. The idea behind the “spaceship” of Apple originated in 2011 when Steve Jobs has suggested the development of a new headquarters to the Cupertino City Council. The idea of creating such a building was very unusual at the time, but Jobs was determined. The intense interest in design of Jobs clearly affected the architecture of new headquarters.
Originally, Steve Jobs had planned to open the complex in 2015, but the main issue that delayed development was the long time it took for the city to give permission to Apple to begin construction. Looking at the actual complex, the “Apple Park” will cover over 175 acres of land. The largest part of creating the Apple Park will be relocating employees from other existing headquarters and offices in Cupertino, California. Over 12,000 employees will be shifted to the Apple Park over a time span of 6 months.
The Apple Park consists of a ring-shaped, 2.8 million-square-foot building made of glass. The entrance to the main building is planned to be a “20-foot-tall, 165-foot diameter glass cylinder with a metallic carbon-fiber roof.” One of the most memorable aspects of the campus is the tribute Apple has made for Steve Jobs. To commemorate his outstanding work for Apple and the world, the Apple Park will contain a 1,000-seat auditorium called the Steve Jobs Theater. To further add to the awe-inspiring tribute, the theater will be located on top of a hill, which is also one of the highest points in the Apple Park. During the announcement of the Apple Park, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that “Steve’s vision for Apple stretched far beyond his time with us,” and that he wishes to continue in Steve Job’s legacy to create a generation of inspired technological motivation.
The primary motive behind creating the Apple Park according to Tim Cook was to inspire employees to go above-and-beyond what is expected of them while creating an environment-friendly headquarters. The campus makes an extensive use of solar power through a planned 17-megawatt rooftop solar installation, which will be “one of the largest” in the world. The main campus of the Apple Park will also include the “world’s largest naturally ventilated building, projected to require no heating or air conditioning for nine months of the year.” Over 9,000 trees will be part of the landscape on the campus along with an orchard, meadow, and pond.
Apple has been taking care of its employees extensively as well. Employees will have access to the various outdoor paths for exercise along with a 100,000 square-foot gym. Jony Ive, Apple’s chief design officer said that Apple will continue with Steve Job’s perspective on “supporting vital, creative environments” and reflect that attitude on the campus that will use “the same enthusiasm and design principles that characterize [Apple] products.”
Featured Image Via Pixabay
