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Apple has changed the world over with its innovative products
such as the iMac, Macintosh, iPad, iPod, and iPhone!
But where does this innovative company call home,
well the $5 billion dollar Apple Park,
which has just recently been completed as of 2017.
In today’s video we will be taking a look Inside the $5 Billion Apple Headquarters.
But before we get to that
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Alright, go to Apple Park!
The Design
The most unique aspect of Apple Headquarters in Cupertino, California is its spaceship like appearance,
surrounding a green courtyard.
In fact, its nickname is “The Spaceship”.
However, its official name is The Ring.
Late Apple founder Steve Jobs wanted the building to be an innovation hub for his staff
in addition to a site everyone would associate with Apple.
He also asserted that he believed that it could be
“the best office building in the world.”
Furthermore, he wanted all of Apple’s employees to be in one building,
as before they were spread out across over ten buildings.
There is even a separate research and development facility,
comprising of two 300,000 square foot buildings.
On the top floor of each building the human interface and industrial design teams
work their magic on the innovative Apple products we all know about.
Johnny Ive, the innovative Apple designer,
put his personal touch on many of the design considerations that went into the Ring.
One of these considerations were the intricate light wells on the stairs that connect the floors.
One of the central ideas behind the design was that the building would change as Apple does.
Interestingly, the Ring is symbolic of the interconnected collaboration
that Apple likes to see happening within the Ring.
These panels in fact as sliding doors to be opened during especially pleasant weather
to let natural light in for those working inside.
These panels also happen to be the larges of their kind in the world!
The architecture of the campus was designed by well known architect Norman Foster,
who also designed the German Reichstag.
His firm went with a neo-futurist design when designing the campus.
The interior of the building has floors and ceilings made up of pre-cast void slabs.
In addition, the facility has a base isolation system installed to protect against mid-sized
and significant magnitude earthquakes.
The system includes 692 big steel saucers located twenty feet underground.
There are also large meeting rooms that can be collapsed into smaller ones.
Perfect for those innovative breakout sessions!
Meticulous design details have factored into the interior office space as all the furniture in The Ring
is made of the same particular species of maple wood.
Furthermore,
Apple worked with companies from nineteen different countries
in regard to the design and construction of the Ring.
They even built a 755-foot tunnel
which commuters drive through to reach the underground parking garage.
Being a ring, there are nine entrances to the facility,
making it easier for the Ring not to be overcrowded like most modern office buildings in morning rushes.
Interestingly a central hallway runs along the length of the Ring.
And let’s not forget that you can get a sublime view of the Santa Cruz mountains
from the windows of the Ring.
. Now let’s see what members of the general public can see and do when they visit Cupertino!
Features for the Visiting Public
The building also has many features for the visiting public.
These include an Apple Store and a Visitors Centre.
The Apple store is quite large at 10,000 square feet
and is notable as you can buy Apple branded items there which you can not find in regular Apple stores.
The centre also includes an observation deck
and an augmented reality experience you can access from an iPad
that allows you to explore the campus.
There is also a café too where you can have a cup of joe and read Mac Life.
The Visitors Centre is the sole area of Apple Park that non-employees can visit.
The Visitors Centre is a testament to the popularity of Apple among the regular user of their products.
But if you thought these features were interesting,
check out what comes next when we go to the inner sanctum
where Apple’s best new products are revealed!
The Steve Jobs Theatre
One of the most impressive locales on the campus is the Steve Jobs theatre,
a 1,000-seat capacity auditorium specifically for Apple press releases and product launches.
This underground auditorium is located on a hill within Apple Park.
The first event held here was the September 12, 2017 launch of the iPhone 8
and the Apple TV 4K.
It is also a record-breaking facility as its 73 metric-ton carbon fibre roof
is the largest of its kind in the world!
Also, the auditorium has a 42-foot high glass elevator that rotates as it ascends at 171 degrees!
This is the tallest free-standing elevator in the world.
And of course, the auditorium also has all the state of the art presentation technology.
Oh, and get this:
the seats in the theatre are Poltrona Frau light-tan leather chairs.
Now imagine sitting in a work-related meeting in that type of seating!
Would you expect anything else from Apple?
Employee Perks
12,000 people work at Apple Park
and being an employee of one of the most wealthy and innovative companies in the work
provides them with immense perks!
For instance, employees have access to a 100,000 square foot fitness and wellness centre,
complete with gym, changerooms, and basketball courts.
There is even a two-storey yoga studio within this facility!
There are also seven cafes on site for meal periods, with seating for at least 3,000 people combined.
It is estimated that the kitchens on the campus are among the largest in the U.S.
and can serve 14,000 meals a day!
These cafes also serve the famous pizza the Apple food prep staff are known for.
The company even invented a special box
for workers that are in transit with their food that prevents the pizza from becoming soggy!
Now that’s innovation!
Apple also provides care clinics to give employees accessible healthcare
and to promote healthy lifestyles among their staff body.
Speaking of healthy lifestyles
there are 1,000 bikes available for staff use
so they can get around the complex.
And now let’s check out what Apple is doing to keep their facilities current with the times ecologically!
Sustainability and Eco-Features
This is also one of the most sustainable and environmentally friendly private office buildings in the world!
The campus is powered by 100% renewable energy.
And they definitely didn’t scrimp on reforesting the area as the massive inner courtyard
has over 9,000 plants and trees of various species.
. In all, there are 309 types of plant species present,
including savanna, oak wood, and of course fruit trees bearing cherries, apricots, and of course, apples!
What’s more is the trees are all drought resistant,
in order to contend with California’s unique climate.
There is even an herb garden located near one of the cafes.
Natural ventilation within The Ring allows it to be the greenest office on the planet!
The Ring is also the largest naturally ventilated building in the world.
Apple also cut a deal with the company First Solar
to provide 130 megawatts of clean energy to Apple Park.
One of the on-site data centres is even powered by a solar farm and fuel cells.
It is said there is even a micro-grid in Apple Park
that can generate 17 megawatts of power from solar sources
and hence provide 75 percent of the complex’s power.
The Ring does not even have to use HVAC for nine months of the year.
Now those are good costs not to have to deal with!
With all these features and initiatives there is no doubt that the Ring and Apple Park are LEED certified.
Apple saving the planet for the win!
Now let’s check out how much all of this epic Apple Headquarters cost!
Glendenning Barn
Apple also took part in paying tribute to the local history of the site on which the campus is located,
in the form of the restored Glendenning Barn which dates back to 1916.
The family that farmed the land had been farming it since the 1850s.
Theis barn was originally part of the farmland that contained the cherry, prune, and apricot orchards.
Apple actually took apart the barn and put it back together in a different site on the campus.
They are using it to store gardening supplies and sports equipment.
However, it stands as an endearing tribute to the advancement of technology
and the land which Apple calls home.
The Immense Cost
The 175 acres of land Apple Park sits on
cost $160 million dollars! alone
Not to worry though,
as Apple could afford it!
The company is worth a staggering $2 trillion dollars.
The main building cost an astounding $4.17 billion dollars!
It is definitely a facility and property that Apple can be immensely proud of.
The Visitor’s centre cost came to $80 million once it was complete.
The underground parking garage for the visitors’ centre cost a “humble” $26 million dollars.
The lobby of the Steve Jobs auditorium alone cost $12 million dollars,
with the auditorium coming in at $18 Million!
And they definitely got their money’s worth.
Apple also pays quite steep property taxes as well,
totally $40 million dollars in one particular year.
This is invaluable to the local community of Cupertino
as 25 percent of this tax goes to Cupertino’s elementary school
and 15 percent goes to the fire department of the town.
The presence of this new Apple headquarters has also led to increased tourism in the community
as well as tourists come to the Visitors Centre.
Apple Park has also led to increased property values in the immediate proximity
as Apple employees seek to live closer to where they work.
It is no wonder why Apple Park is well-known as the premier suburban office campus
in the United States.
Well that has been our look Inside the $5 Billion Apple Headquarters!
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bye for now.