Apple’s vision of always being forward thinking is not only affecting their products but now it is affecting their offices, as they accelerate their plans to build the most state-of-the-art eco-friendly office building to date.
The late Steve Jobs presented plans to the public last year for Apple’s new futuristic “Spaceship” building. The Apple headquarters, located in Cupertino City, California, is planned to be completed in 2015 and will house around 13,000 employees. The plans revealed that it will be one of the most technologically advanced offices in the world, being totally self-sufficient for power with the national grid acting only as backup. The move to “go green” was motivated by critics and eco-groups after they plowed into Apple a few years ago regarding their lack of green credentials. The general thought was that a successful and forward thinking company should also be a pioneer for the eco-conscious business world, as well.
The new corporate campus will have ultramodern energy efficient technology to control the building’s environment combined with an eco-friendly design and solar paneled roof. Apple plans to generate their own electricity from natural gas, as well. The 60.7 hectares site surpasses the U.S Pentagon in size and the design has been described as a “spaceship” due to the center-piece of the entire construction being a circular structure. Off the 150-acre site, Apple intends to make nearly 80 percent green landscapes by planting 2,300 trees under the guidance of Arborists. There will also be a company garden with a wide range of vegetation. The innovative architects responsible for the project are Foster and Partners who have a proven track record with progressive big buildings. Their track record includes the Berlin Reichstag and the eco-friendly Dallas Opera House.
However, there are skeptics about the new Apple HQ and its eco-friendly focus. Critics aren’t convinced that the new building will be as sustainable as Apple initially claimed and there are people that simply feel the mega-structure is unrealistic and too farfetched. Some Santa Clara residents have reported that Apple needs to guarantee the environmental impact is minimal, for example they will have to deal the increase of traffic into the area. And many feel the proper environmental studies need to be audited in order to reduce the effect of the building on people that live and work in the area.
A company like Apple is not one to cut corners. Being inventive and forward-thinking is a calling card of sorts for the Cupertino-based company, and hopefully proper actions will be taken to access the environmental impact of the new building. In the meantime locals and company employees will be on the lookout for more information on the advanced self-sufficient and eco-friendly HQ.
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Apple’s New Eco-Futurist Building
Apple’s vision of always being forward thinking is not only affecting their products but now it is affecting their offices, as they accelerate their plans to build the most state-of-the-art eco-friendly office building to date.
The late Steve Jobs presented plans to the public last year for Apple’s new futuristic “Spaceship” building. The Apple headquarters, located in Cupertino City, California, is planned to be completed in 2015 and will house around 13,000 employees. The plans revealed that it will be one of the most technologically advanced offices in the world, being totally self-sufficient for power with the national grid acting only as backup. The move to “go green” was motivated by critics and eco-groups after they plowed into Apple a few years ago regarding their lack of green credentials. The general thought was that a successful and forward thinking company should also be a pioneer for the eco-conscious business world, as well.
The new corporate campus will have ultramodern energy efficient technology to control the building’s environment combined with an eco-friendly design and solar paneled roof. Apple plans to generate their own electricity from natural gas, as well. The 60.7 hectares site surpasses the U.S Pentagon in size and the design has been described as a “spaceship” due to the center-piece of the entire construction being a circular structure. Off the 150-acre site, Apple intends to make nearly 80 percent green landscapes by planting 2,300 trees under the guidance of Arborists. There will also be a company garden with a wide range of vegetation. The innovative architects responsible for the project are Foster and Partners who have a proven track record with progressive big buildings. Their track record includes the Berlin Reichstag and the eco-friendly Dallas Opera House.
However, there are skeptics about the new Apple HQ and its eco-friendly focus. Critics aren’t convinced that the new building will be as sustainable as Apple initially claimed and there are people that simply feel the mega-structure is unrealistic and too farfetched. Some Santa Clara residents have reported that Apple needs to guarantee the environmental impact is minimal, for example they will have to deal the increase of traffic into the area. And many feel the proper environmental studies need to be audited in order to reduce the effect of the building on people that live and work in the area.
A company like Apple is not one to cut corners. Being inventive and forward-thinking is a calling card of sorts for the Cupertino-based company, and hopefully proper actions will be taken to access the environmental impact of the new building. In the meantime locals and company employees will be on the lookout for more information on the advanced self-sufficient and eco-friendly HQ.
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Photos via: Foster + Partners