Via inhabitat.com, 15/08/2011
We've all been waiting with bated breath to see pictures of Apple's design for its new green headquarters in California, and we're excited to say they're finally out! The city of Cupertino has unveiled official renders submitted by Steve Jobs to the community for approval. The plans reveal that Foster & Partners will indeed lead the design team, which will also include ARUP and Kier & Wright, a local engineering firm. Click on through our gallery for a closer look at this extraordinary self-sufficient curved glass building encircling an envy-inducing green space for the employees.
Not surprisingly, Foster & Partners' design for Apple's new campus is exciting and bold but pricey. It will consist of a 260,000 m2 office building that will house up to 13,000 employees, a corporate auditorium fit for roughly 1,000 people, a corporate fitness facility, and a 28,000 m2 research and development park.
Special glass will have to be developed for the circular design, which also facilitates natural ventilation, while energy self-suffiency will be achieved by an on-campus power plant. Although we're guessing Apple will go alternative, the details of how the company plans to generate its power have yet to be revealed. Work-weary employees will be able to rest in all kinds of carbon-absorbing, uplifting green respites throughout the campus which, reportedly, has already received the go-ahead from California's Cupertino municipality. Apple fans should prepare for takeoff around 2015!
