Arguably, Steve Jobs made Apple what it is today - or, also debatable, what it used to be. He was both the face and the brain behind Apple, the man who dreamt up the iPhone and so much more. His efforts and his contributions to the tech industry are immeasurable, but Apple is trying to pay tribute to its late executive.
As Business Insider claims, Jobs inscribed the signatures of his team on the original Macintosh computer, which only proves the eye to detail that he had. His last piece of work, Apple's new headquarters in Cupertino, is the same. The design is futuristic and massive and detailed to the last possible aspect. From the more elaborate electrical wiring to the nuances of hidden pipes, absolutely nothing has been left unturned and disregarded.
Jobs' original plan for the Apple Campus 2 as a grand reveal in 2015, but that estimate was made way back in 2011. The idea has obviously not come to fruition yet, but it is estimated that the new office will open in Spring this year. Reportedly, the city's approval process is partly to blame for the delay. The wait, however, is believed to be worth it.
According to Reuters, the entire space is 2.8 million square feet, which is massive for any company no matter how large an employee base. Several individuals have stepped forward and criticized the structure. Louise Mozingo, a professor and chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at UC Berkeley pointed out that it is the opposite of current trends, which make use of open spaces.
The thinking here is that the design is not meant to foster collaboration between departments and employees. "It's not about maximizing the productivity of the office space," Mozingo said. "They are creating an icon."
Befitting for a man who himself created several tech icons that will be recognized for years, the world over. But the attention to detail and relatively severe planning is likely causing the delay as well. And for a project that is reportedly costing Apple upwards of US$5 billion, it seems that the micro management is completely unnecessary. US$1 billion alone is apparently for the fittings of the building.
The publication, who spoke with previous employees familiar with the project, noted that Apple's managers were insistent on treating Apple Campus 2 the same way they treat its minuscule - in comparison - products. There are several rules that construction teams implemented, such as that no vents or pipes could be reflected in the class. Special wood that is frequently used took up as much as 30 pages alone.
The project is a massive one, there is no denying that - and it will be an icon if the design is anything to go by. Furthermore, the company is sticking to designs that it already knows and has become somewhat synonymous to its branding. The curved glass, for example, and as pointed out by Architect German de la Torre, was inspired by the company's products. Apple Campus 2, according to the 2013 project description, will house up to 14,200 employees.
