How Apple’s New ‘Spaceship’ Headquarters Expresses Steve Job’s Vision

Apple will soon find itself living in a new home in Cupertino, CA. Construction crews are working to complete the new facilities prosaically called Apple Campus 2, but more generally known as the Apple Spaceship, a gigantic circular building located one mile east of the company’s original campus. Around the Spaceship, employees will have access to restaurants, a fitness facility, bike paths and more. Campus 2 was the brainchild of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. With a huge courtyard in its center that includes an orchard, the spaceship isn’t designed as place to pack in as many employees as possible. It’s designed to perhaps inspire them to be more creative and productive. This slide show will describe in more detail “spaceship Apple” and the amenities that will be available to Apple’s employees when they move into the sprawling facility later this year.

Apple Campus 2 will be downright monstrous when it’s complete. The facility will span 2.8 million square feet and will accommodate up to 14,200 employees (though it’s estimated that 13,000 employees will be there). It’s sitting on 176 acres of land and the spaceship itself will be more than a mile around.

Apple’s late co-founder Steve Jobs played a critical role in making Apple Campus 2 a reality. He had a hand in designing the facility and placed demands on the architectural team to ensure the facility would match his vision. He also was the most vocal supporter for the project and worked with the City of Cupertino until his death to get it approved.

Apple’s new campus will rely solely on renewable energy. Solar panels, fuel cells and design features will deliver all the power the campus needs—and it will need a lot. It’s part of a broader effort by Apple to act as a leader in “green” initiatives around the world.

Apple traditionally has used its current campus for some press events and hosted other, larger gatherings at venues including the Moscone Center in San Francisco. But Apple Campus 2 will have an auditorium large enough to host major events.

Apple hasn’t released a final estimate on construction costs, but the price tag will be hefty. Apple initially hoped to spend less than $1 billion on the facility, but soon boosted those estimates. As of this writing, it’s believed Apple Campus 2 will cost Apple more than $5 billion.

Since Apple Campus 2 will be both bigger than its current campus and able to house more employees, Apple reportedly plans to shutter some of its offices and move those employees to the new facility. However, Apple also plans to maintain its current campus at 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino.

Apple’s campus site has some history. Hewlett-Packard once had a campus at the same location. But Apple’s facility will be downright forest-like (approximately 7,000 trees) and put more employees into more environmentally friendly space.

Apple’s obsession with detail is on full display at Apple Campus 2. For one, the Spaceship is a big round building with curved glass throughout, and will be home to the world’s largest piece of curved glass. And a recent Reuters report noted that Apple required tolerances much lower than the standard 1/8 of an inch and even placed those demands on “hidden surfaces.”

The campus will include bike paths, several restaurants and a state-of-the-art fitness center that will be open to employees all day, every day. The company is hoping to turn Apple Campus 2 into a community.

The big question on everyone’s mind is when Apple will move into the facility. While the company itself hasn’t announced a move-in date, it’s expected to get into its new digs sometime this year.