Apple Campus 2 Drone Video Shows Work on Massive Curved Windows, Solar Panels

[Foggydog]

Is it just me or does it actually look kinda low? Four floors isn't a lot! There's a small shopping centre near my house that's bigger than this building.. I don't know, I was expecting BIGGER - SPACESHIP BIGGER! But I'm assuming it will look spectacular when it's finished either way.

Good evening to Ireland. As another has said about the square footage of the building I can give you another idea just how massive this campus will be.
I am from Vegas and several of the biggest resorts there employ about 8,000 employees It's the Venetian / Palazzo that is the largest hotel in the world, they also employee about 12,000 people.

 

[SlipperySlop]

Is it just me or does it actually look kinda low? Four floors isn't a lot! There's a small shopping centre near my house that's bigger than this building.. I don't know, I was expecting BIGGER - SPACESHIP BIGGER! But I'm assuming it will look spectacular when it's finished either way.

I believe there was a miscalculation and they will be 35% fewer offices than there should have been.

 

[ipedro]

I don't understand how that works. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. If a team is on the other side of the campus, walking there would take FOREVER. In a high-rise, the elevator traverses this in a straight line, and thus much, much faster. Unless they're installing those speed tracks they have in aiports and theme parks like Universal Studios in Florida.

This seems to me like yet another example of form-over-function Apple jackassery.

The entire point of this design is to encourage employee interactions. They want Apple employees to bump into each other on the way to a meeting somewhere else in the building. Closed spaces like elevators that hold a small handful of people make that much more unlikely.

 

[mrgraff]

I believe there was a miscalculation and they will be 35% fewer offices than there should have been.

So, it will be thinner and more magical?

 

[kdarling]

You must have missed the discussion about the reason for only four floors: it's designed to promote inter-department collaboration and communication. Separation by floors does not. Also, those on the top floor will still have beautiful views of the natural landscaping.

From the descriptions that state that the inner and outer rims on all floors are walkways, it doesn't sound like anyone will have a view from their office.

As for collaboration, I doubt that Apple is going to give up its vaunted internal secrecy. Perhaps related groups can be side by side, but the design seems best for keeping compartmentalized information.

If Apple really plans to let passing employees freely tell each other what they're working on, that would be a huge, huge internal cultural change. But does anyone here actually believe that's their plan??

 

[MentalFloss]

Impressive. Looking from the video the campus won't be taller than the surrounding trees, which makes this spaceship almost completely invisible to the surrounding area because of all the trees.

I drove past there just a couple of hours ago (despite the fence, it is quite visible from Homestead Road, where it is right next to the street), and I can tell you that there is no tree in Cupertino that is high enough to conceal that building in any way.

The building is really impressive, though it will stand out like a sore thumb there (which is not necessarily a bad thing). I just wonder what it will do for the traffic there when 10,000 cars roll towards that building every morning.

 

[Keirasplace]

I drove past there just a couple of hours ago (despite the fence, it is quite visible from Homestead Road, where it is right next to the street), and I can tell you that there is no tree in Cupertino that is high enough to conceal that building in any way.

The building is really impressive, though it will stand out like a sore thumb there (which is not necessarily a bad thing). I just wonder what it will do for the traffic there when 10,000 cars roll towards that building every morning.

Isn't the parking entrance just off a freeway exit? If they have flexible hours (meansing not everyone comes in at exactly the same time) like I had at my Fremont job, which I expect they do have, traffic shouldn't be too bad.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I just hope Apple does not lose focus though. I believe they have hardware on a good path, could be some minor improvements especially the MacBook, but the operating systems need some real Steve Jobs micro-management. I think it would be appropriate to bring back Scott Forstall just to focus on the details.

 

[Designx]

Steve is smiling.

Steve is pissed off and raging - his ghost will haunt the new campus.

 

[ipedro]

While I understand the logic behind designing the building as a ring to promote serendipitous encounters, I'm quite curious about how the interior layout will function and how they plan on optimizing getting around.

They'll likely arrange departments that will most often interact with each other in close proximity to one another. But that doesn't mean that someone on one side of the ring won't need to meet with someone on the opposite side of the ring. Every department has a Vice President, all of which who need to meet regularly with their managers, with Tim Cook and with each other.

The circumference of the ring has been estimated to be 4,778'. Given that one would only have to walk half the length in one direction or another to reach a point on the opposite side (while staying in the building), that's still about half a mile, or a 10-15 minute walk with no stops. That's a long walk to get to a meeting!

So how have Steve Jobs, Norman Foster and Jony Ive envisioned that people will get around efficiently? Are they just assuming that people related to one another will mostly stay in the same section and only occasionally have to walk far? Are they installing moving walkways? Is Jony Ive designing an internal use only Apple "Hoverboard"?

Granted, the exterior is beautiful and an awe inspiring piece of architecture and engineering, but the interior is going to be absolutely fascinating!

EDIT: Plans submitted to the City of Cupertino mention that there will be 1,000 bikes kept on the campus to get around. A rendering also shows that there's an indoor track on the outer periphery of the building:

But bikes? Jobs must have not envisioned the rise of the "hoverboard" in 2016.

 

[MentalFloss]

Isn't the parking entrance just off a freeway exit? If they have flexible hours (meansing not everyone comes in at exactly the same time) like I had at my Fremont job, which I expect they do have, traffic shouldn't be too bad.

Yes, the parking entrance is just off 280. I guess that off ramp will be quite heavily loaded in the mornings.

And yea, they probably have flexible hours, but I guess the core commute times will still be quite bad. But I assume they knew what they were doing when they planned it.

Is there any info on what will happen with the buildings Apple is currently occupying? I remember reading that they will not give up Infinite Loop, but I wonder what will happen with all those ugly buildings they have on De Anza and the slightly less ugly ones on Stevens Creek. They have that new Caffe Macs serving that area, so it would be weird to vacate those buildings now.

 

[Kajje]

That tunnel coming out on the courtyard can only mean 1 thing... The Apple Car is a real thing.
Now get that drone inside and search for Tim's office.

 

[lowendlinux]

That's going to be one cool building

 

[Glideslope]

Steve is pissed off and raging - his ghost will haunt the new campus.

I understand. He is raging at the majority of todays events. However, you must admit that Campus 2 is being completed as he envisioned. So, IMO he has a smile every now and then when the "sanctioned" videos appear on YouTube.

 

[Mr. Dee]

While I understand the logic behind designing the building as a ring to promote serendipitous encounters, I'm quite curious about how the interior layout will function and how they plan on optimizing getting around.

They'll likely arrange departments that will most often interact with each other in close proximity to one another. But that doesn't mean that someone on one side of the ring won't need to meet with someone on the opposite side of the ring. Every department has a Vice President, all of which who need to meet regularly with their managers, with Tim Cook and with each other.

The circumference of the ring has been estimated to be 4,778'. Given that one would only have to walk half the length in one direction or another to reach a point on the opposite side (while staying in the building), that's still about half a mile, or a 10-15 minute walk with no stops. That's a long walk to get to a meeting!

So how have Steve Jobs, Norman Foster and Jony Ive envisioned that people will get around efficiently? Are they just assuming that people related to one another will mostly stay in the same section and only occasionally have to walk far? Are they installing moving walkways? Is Jony Ive designing an internal use only Apple "Hoverboard"?

Granted, the exterior is beautiful and an awe inspiring piece of architecture and engineering, but the interior is going to be absolutely fascinating!

EDIT: Plans submitted to the City of Cupertino mention that there will be 1,000 bikes kept on the campus to get around. A rendering also shows that there's an indoor track on the outer periphery of the building:

But bikes? Jobs must have not envisioned the rise of the "hoverboard" in 2016.

They likely will have small shuttles to get around campus. I have been to Microsoft Redmond campus a couple times now, you have to take a shuttle to reach most buildings. I do believe the product groups, labs and executive team will be in close proximity. They are still separate buildings just in a circle and I think part of it also is for security reasons.

 

[Adam552]

I would love to work there Wish all office buildings were like this!

 

[ipedro]

They likely will have small shuttles to get around campus. I have been to Microsoft Redmond campus a couple times now, you have to take a shuttle to reach most buildings. I do believe the product groups, labs and executive team will be in close proximity. They are still separate buildings just in a circle and I think part of it also is for security reasons.

There are no roads immediately around the Apple HQ nor in its courtyard; only pedestrian paths. It turns out that Apple will have 1,000 bikes on site for people to get around. The perimeter of the building has an indoor track where employees will be able to bike or walk and probably ride a hoverboard or powered skateboard around.

 

[iPadCary]

The large, curved sheets of glass that surround the building
are designed to let employees look out over the campus ....

Yes, those things called "windows". Yet another Apple R&D miracle!

 

[ReneR]

so much money not spent on actual products, and development, ... sigh.

 

[C DM]

so much money not spent on actual products, and development, ... sigh.

More than plenty of that money to go around. And to spend that money wisely and better and to have those products researched and designed and developed better seems like an investment in having better facilities is part of it all.

 

[ipedro]

so much money not spent on actual products, and development, ... sigh.

You don't understand Silicon Valley. Building a campus where the best minds in the industry want to work is an investment in product development.

By your thinking, why not just throw Jony Ive in a broom closet and tell him to get inspired in product design?

 

[ReneR]

You don't understand Silicon Valley. Building a campus where the best minds in the industry want to work is an investment in product development.

By your thinking, why not just throw Jony Ive in a broom closet and tell him to get inspired in product design?

It is not that Jony Ive is working in a broom closet the last 15 or so years (and I'm not that impressed by his recent designs anyway, ...).

Well I do not know too many who would want to move to this overpriced bay area though, ... and many crazy inventive folks prefer to work in small focus groups, not big oldfasioned hierarchical institutions, so what is so wrong with the current spread of focus groups.

From the picture it already looks pain to get (walk?) a mile form the parking to your desk, ... and from one side to a meeting on another, or whatever. But maybe they install electric walking belts everywhere. Not very green and trendy either.

TLDR; for me it does not look like an attractive workplace.

 

[rhett7660]

I always dig watching these videos. Hopefully when it is all said and done, there is a time lapse video that this person puts together!

Cool video and the building looks even cooler!!!!

 

[Mr. Dee]

There are no roads immediately around the Apple HQ nor in its courtyard; only pedestrian paths. It turns out that Apple will have 1,000 bikes on site for people to get around. The perimeter of the building has an indoor track where employees will be able to bike or walk and probably ride a hoverboard or powered skateboard around.

Remember, it is still being developed, that type of infrastructure might be put in near completion. Shuttles don't necessarily have to be a full size motor vehicle, could simply be a golf cart or something like Google's little driverless compact car. I don't picture Jony Ive or Tim Cook using bicycles to get from one side of the circle, to the next. When you look at even areas of the campus such as the vicinity of the R&D buildings from the main campus and the Event Center; you will need more than a bike to get around that campus. Its big enough in the photos. Microsoft is about 500 acres, this campus is less than half of that which speaks to the size.

 

[melendezest]

They could walk across the courtyard... ?

The walk across the courtyard is still slower and further than an elevator ride.

Thus, "enhance collaboration between teams", my ass.
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The entire point of this design is to encourage employee interactions. They want Apple employees to bump into each other on the way to a meeting somewhere else in the building. Closed spaces like elevators that hold a small handful of people make that much more unlikely.

Please stop drinking the Apple marketing Kool-aid.

This design DOES NOT allow for increased collaboration, period. It makes things HARDER for people to come together, as it increases both the distance AND the time it takes to "get together".

A ring is about the most INEFFICIENT design you could use for such a purpose.

This is simple, obvious fact.

Buuuut, it looks cool. They should just say that instead: "we wanted to make a cool building".

Just don't lie to us with this "collaboration" BS.