History of Apple Park, Apple’s Headquarters in Cupertino

The great work of Steve Jobs

From 1992 to 2017, Apple had another residence that was not far behind in terms of modernity. Save the obvious distances with the Apple Park, the firm of the apple worked in the so-called Apple Campus of the Infinite Loop street , located in Cupertino and whose name has been curiously assigned to some styles of Apple Watch straps as a clear wink.

The place was comfortable and had the latest technological advances as it could not be otherwise in a company like Apple, but it was insufficient for Steve Jobs. The historic Apple CEO announced in 2006 the purchase of land located on the outskirts of Cupertino. As always, Jobs left nothing to chance, since the land belonged to Hewlett-Packard. This was a company where he worked as a youngster doing internships.

In 2011, Jobs ended up presenting a mega project to the Cupertino City Council that completely detailed a building structure never seen before. This was known as “The Ring” because of the shape of the ring that it had by forming a perfect circumference, leaving in the middle lands where it was later decided to install forests, lakes and gardens . It should be noted that in the approach of this place it was thought to adapt it against earthquakes , which was finally achieved thanks to an isolation of 692 pieces of low steel located in the foundations.

Many of the objectives set by Jobs in his initial project ended up being rejected, while others were approved with many difficulties. The company had to make numerous efforts to estimate the total costs that such a great work would have. Finally the project ended up being approved, but unfortunately Jobs had already passed away and he could not witness how his great work was going to begin to take shape.

There have been many products that have marked the life of Jobs and the history of the industry, but those closest to him have once claimed that the construction of the Apple Park was most precious to him. In a way it meant leaving his mark for posterity with something that always stood up. Probably he wanted all those who came there to work or to visit always remember his figure and the guidelines set throughout his leadership. For some this will mean more or less depending on how they are linked to Apple, but surely no one is indifferent when passing near number 1 on the Apple Park Way.

Jonathan Ive, another essential agent

It is impossible to talk about any Apple design without mentioning Jonathan Ive, also known as Jony Ive. This Englishman from birth found his life’s work in the United States in 1992, the year he joined the design team of the apple company. Since Jobs’ return in 1997, the two have worked closely with each design. In fact, Ive’s ingenuity has earned him to extend his career as Apple’s chief designer until 2019, when he announced that he was leaving the company to start his own.

Who said that Apple Park is not a product? It is the living image of what Apple represents and as such should not be in any way. That is why Ive conscientiously worked with the objective that the new headquarters of the company be innovative and really be different from everything seen to date. He is not an architect, so he did not have the precise knowledge for some parts, but the development of the idea was his and that of the prestigious firm Foster and Partners.

The internal decoration was also carried out by this man, who wanted to bring the minimalism of the Mac and iPhone to an office where hundreds of people work every day. There is a lot of secrecy about how the interior of this Apple Park is, but those who have been able to tell something highlight how well designed everything is and how even the smallest detail has been taken into account, one more sample of the delicate and detailed I’ve worked.

The luminosity was something that was also taken into account, since we wanted to have as much natural light as possible in every corner of this mega office. The circular shape of the ring, surrounded by windows, greatly favored this. But if there is something that each interior corner draws powerfully, it is that it can be configured to the taste and need of whoever is there. All this is achieved thanks to mobile walls and doors that can create more open or closed spaces depending on what is required at the time, something simple but accurate.

Even the interior courtyard design was captained by Ive according to Jobs. Something that was clear from the beginning was to maintain the nature that was in this area, so a multitude of trees were repopulated in the surroundings and even more than 9,000 were installed in the mentioned patio, to which a lake was also added. A nice way to preserve the ecosystem while creating a unique environment. As an anecdote, the fact that on one occasion a stage was set for a Lady Gaga concert stands out.

Works and inauguration in 2017

The construction works of this ostentatious building began in 2013, the year in which the Cupertino City Council finally gave the green light to all the plans. It is estimated that the costs were around 5 billion dollars , a figure that is read very quickly, but that is a brutal investment even for a giant like Apple. This ultimately served to position it as one of the most expensive buildings in history.

The bulk of the works ended in the first half of 2017. The inauguration as such occurred in April of that year, which was when the first employees began to settle there. However, there was an important part of the company that continued to work in the old office, since there were parts to finish and it was not easy to transfer the entire human and technical structure to this building. Not surprisingly, it is a building that consists of 464 square meters.

Despite being a destination highly acclaimed by Apple fans, the truth is that Apple Park is a private place . At least when it comes to the ring, which is where the company’s day-to-day activities take place. Therefore, no public event was held for its inauguration. We do not know if an event was held in private, but what we do know is that many employees were impressed when they first entered. In the end, one should get used to seeing these types of places as normal when they become a routine visit, but it is still striking for those who visit it for the first time.

Steve Jobs Theater, the icing on the cake

If you are a regular of the keynotes that Apple celebrates, you will have observed that the place where most of these take place is the Steve Jobs Theater. This is a building located in the Apple Park compound, but away from the ring . From the outside it looks like a circular structure surrounded by crystals everywhere. From an architectural point of view, it is striking as there is no pillar that supports the carbon fiber roof, having only the glass to keep everything standing.

Inside this ground floor there is a wide hall in which there is hardly more than an elevator and some stairs, which lead to the key place of this building: the amphitheater. With marble stairs and a design on par with the Apple Park, you can reach this room that has a capacity of 1.00 people. The stage has a giant screen that serves as a guide in each act of the company, such as when new iPhones are presented annually.

The name of the theater is not chosen at random, but serves as a small tribute to the company who was its most illustrious founder and the CEO who led them to the most resounding success. On September 12, 2017 , the doors were opened for the first time to the press to carry out the presentation event of the iPhone 8, iPhone X and Apple Watch Series 3. Prior to the beginning of this act, Tim Cook addressed some emotional words in memory of Steve Jobs.

While it’s true that the company does eventually resort to other buildings and cities for some events, the Steve Jobs Theater is still the main one. It is not open to the public except in those events, although neither is any public who can attend in those days. Only those previously accredited may pass, generally being people who work in the media or who have been invited by Apple as it is a public figure or one of special relevance to the company.

Awards and other recognitions

In late 2018, it was revealed that Apple had won a major architectural industry award for the design of the Steve Jobs Theater. Specifically, it was the Structural Artistry Award that was awarded. This institution recognized the project as a masterpiece of architecture by having a construction capable of transforming the vision and skill of the engineers into something exceptional.

In addition to the structure without beams, this building was also highlighted for specific characteristics such as the following:

• Excellence : Features that put the structural engineering solution beyond the ordinary, including demonstrable examples of how structural design enabled the project to meet or exceed customer expectations.

• Creativity and innovation : examples of originality and the application of new and improved technologies and processes in structural design, particularly when these have led to greater efficiency and economy in the solution.

• Elegance and Details : Engineered structures that demonstrate technical and / or visual elegance, even in attention to detail, or that contribute to the elegance of the overall design solution.

• Sustainability : structural solutions that implement sustainable techniques and technologies, as demonstrated through efficiency, specification of materials, recycling and reuse, socioeconomic factors, reduction of the carbon footprint and other factors.

• Value : economic viability and value for money in the structural solution, as well as non-financial value indicators.

Beyond this award, there have been numerous voices from the public sector that have praised the construction of Apple Park in general. Some of those who have been able to visit it, either outside or inside, highlight the impressive sensation of approaching the building, especially since its size is larger than it might appear in a photo.

Visitors Center

There are many Apple Stores in the world, but if there is a special one above the rest it is the one found in this place. It is known as the visitors center, or visitor center in Spanish, and it is a building attached to the ring and has a design similar to the Steve Jobs Theater. Instead of being round, it has a more oval shape, but it also has a carbon fiber roof and a main glass structure. It is the only place to visit in the Apple Park for those who want it.

Inside you can find the company’s products for sale such as the iPhone, iPad and Mac, but also other exclusive souvenirs such as caps and shirts. In these objects you can find texts that make references to what they have been acquired in the Apple Park, something that is not trivial if we consider that there is no other way to buy them if it is not in this same place. In this place you can even order a coffee, something that does not happen in other stores except in special events such as launches.

In addition to the store, the place has a space where you can see an interactive 3D model of the campus that forms the Apple Park. Through augmented reality technology, visitors can discover all the secrets of this place. On the other hand, it has a terrace where they can enjoy the immensity of the space in which they are, with the ring of the venue in the background and the trees as protagonists.

Technical specifications

Once we have known a little more detail about some aspects of Apple Park, we leave you with a summary of these and some other technical data that you may be interested in knowing.