Apple’s main office in Cupertino, California, is a vast facility that operates without the need for heating or air conditioning for the majority of the year.
Referred to as Apple Park, the compound covers a substantial 2.82 million square feet and can house up to 15,000 staff members. Apple described it as the “largest naturally ventilated building globally, designed to function without heating or air conditioning for nine months annually” when it opened in April 2017.
Apart from this, the site boasts various elements focused on conserving energy. It runs entirely on renewable energy sources and features a substantial on-site solar power setup.
Additionally, there is a 1,000-seat theater named the Steve Jobs Theater in honor of the late co-founder. The theater is reportedly situated underground and showcases a remarkable entrance with a 165-foot glass cylinder and a carbon-fiber roof.
This headquarters is recognized as one of the priciest globally, with a construction cost of a staggering $5 billion. It includes earthquake-resistant engineering, with the campus resting on significant shock absorbers capable of withstanding earthquakes of up to 8.0 magnitude.
The renowned architect Norman Foster conceived the circular building design, earning it the nickname “the spaceship” in the media. To honor Jobs’ vision, over 9,000 trees, including fruit-bearing ones, are planted at Apple Park, surrounded by native oaks, expansive meadows, and sizeable fruit orchards.
The drought-resistant trees and native plants to the Cupertino region are central to the landscaping. Moreover, the central courtyard of the main building boasts an artificial pond.
Collaborating with Apple’s former chief designer Jony Ive starting in 2006, Foster meticulously designed every aspect of the facility over five years, from the glass panels to the elevator controls.
Jobs presented the architectural plans for what is now Apple Park to the Cupertino City Council in June 2011, but he stepped down from Apple in August of the same year due to his battle with pancreatic cancer. His last public appearance was before the Cupertino City Council, and he passed away a few months later in October 2011.
The Cupertino City Council unanimously approved Apple’s campus plans on October 15, 2013, leading to the demolition of the old Apple Campus. Originally set to begin construction in 2013 and open by 2015, the project faced delays and commenced in 2014, officially welcoming employees in April 2017, with the inaugural event at the Steve Jobs Theater held on October 12, 2017.