Photo Gallery Apple's Spaceship
Steve Jobs still had the chance himself to decide which architect would design Apple's future headquarters in Cupertino, California: Norman Foster, one of the world's most famous architects. Among other projects, Foster was responsible for designing the dome of the Reichstag in Berlin, the expansion of Munich's Lenbachhaus Museum, the Millennium Bridge in London as well as the city's revamped Wembley Stadium. His firm Foster + Partners is now at work preparing Apple's new global headquarters.
The new Apple campus will be spread out over an area of more than 710,000 square meters. Employees will be able to travel to the campus by car, on foot, using bicycle lanes or shuttle busses. It will have parking for 10,980 cars as well as tanking stations for around 300 electric cars.
Apple says the plans for its new headquarters are sustainable and environmentally friendly. In order to ensure that the campus looks as green and natural as possible, more than 6,000 trees are to be planted. In the end, an "oak savanna" will be created that is reminiscent of the early Santa Clara Valley where it is located. Hewlett-Packard used to have offices at the location, but they will soon be removed to make way for the stark, modern new Apple campus.
An auditorium with space for 1,000 people is to be erected next to the main building. The entry is comprised of a round, glass construction that has already been given the nickname the "UFO" because of its appearance. The auditorium itself is to be located underground and could be used in the future for product launches that are often held today in San Francisco.
The new campus will have space for up to 14,200 employees -- considerably more than can fit in its current offices. And the headquarters will offer far more than just a place to work. The plans also include a fitness center, and the area around the main building can also be used for jogging or cycling.
The employee restaurant will be spread out over two stories. It is part of the main building and, like the rest of the campus, will rely on renewable energies from solar panels and fuel-cells run on biogas.
