Apple Park,
design: Foster+Partners
Apple Park, designed by Foster + Partners and completed in 2017, is the largest office building in the world. It is located in Cupertino, California, and is Apple's second campus. The facility covers an area of 175 acres, and its main office covers more than 260,000 square meters spread over four floors. About 12,000 people work there every day.
Apple Park in Cupertino, California - the glass facade of the ring
photo by Nigel Young © Foster+Partners
sustainable space
and human-centered
The campus was designed to be integrated with nature and open, in line with values typical of California. Apple Park places a strong emphasis on sustainability, taking care of both the environment and the well-being of employees. The entire facility uses only renewable energy. What's more, it is the largest LEED Platinum certified office building in North America.
Apple Park in Cupertino, California - the distinctive architectural feature is floor-to-ceiling glass walls
photo by Nigel Young © Foster+Partners
Apple Park puts people at the center, creating a space that fosters creativity, innovation and well-being, the
- note the architects.
Apple Park in Cupertino, California - the building is divided into nine radially arranged wings
photo by Nigel Young © Foster+Partners
campus as a green oasis for work and leisure
Prior to the construction of Apple Park, the site was mostly covered with concrete, and green areas made up only 20% of the area. Steve Jobs wanted the campus to have the character of a nature reserve rather than a traditional office. Accordingly, the goal was to significantly increase the green space. Today, most of the space is occupied by vegetation, and the building's minimalist glass structure is integrated into the natural landscape. The campus offers more than 6 kilometers of walking and running paths, as well as 9,000 trees, including oak trees, fruit orchards, meadows, sports fields, terraces and an isolated pond.
Apple Park in Cupertino, California
Photo by Nigel Young © Foster+Partners
The Ring - the heart of Apple Park
The Apple Park campus includes various facilities, such as the ring building, the Steve Jobs theater, a fitness and wellness center, a visitor center and a parking lot. The entire area is surrounded by greenery. The main building, known as The Ring, is designed as a circular, low-rise structure.
The building resembles a huge spaceship with a radius of about 230 meters and a width of about 55 meters
- the architects add.
Apple Park in Cupertino, California - the glass facade of the ring
photo by Nigel Young © Foster+Partners
The ring is surrounded by lawn and trees, with an orchard in the center. It is the largest office building with a precast concrete structure, a curved glass facade and a glass roof. Innovative features include long-span concrete elements, liquid cooling systems and built-in fire protection systems.
Apple Park in Cupertino, California - a bird's-eye view of The Ring.
photo by Steve Proehl © Foster+Partners
The office spaces consist of common areas, private offices and glass corridors overlooking the greenery. The building is divided into nine radially arranged wings, connected by seven entrances. On the northeast axis is a four-story cafeteria with terraces, separated by sliding doors 15 meters high - the largest of its kind in the world. A distinctive architectural feature is the floor-to-ceiling glass walls, with no visible metal framing, which required the ceilings and floors to be precisely aligned and offset from the building's structural lines.
Apple Park in Cupertino, California - one of the key architectural elements of The Ring is the floor-to-ceiling glass walls
photo by Nigel Young © Foster+Partners
Steve Jobs' theater:
glass structure and innovative architectural solutions
Other buildings are also an integral part of Apple Park. At the highest elevation of the entire complex is the Steve Jobs Theater. The visible glass structure is only the lobby.
Apple Park in Cupertino, California - the glass interior of the Steve Jobs Theater.
Photo: Nigel Young © Foster+Partners
A roof weighing 72 tons and made of carbon fiber was set on glass panels 6 meters high.
Apple Park in Cupertino, California - the lump of the Steve Jobs Theater.
Photo: Nigel Young © Foster+Partners
The rest of the building is underground. This space is accessed by two spiral staircases that run along the walls. Rotating elevators have been installed next to them.
Apple Park in Cupertino, California - the Steve Jobs theater.
photo by Nigel Young © Foster+Partners
fitness and wellness pavilion
and visitor center
A pavilion housing a fitness and wellness center is located in the southern part of the campus. Its glazed interiors open onto the park, offering bright exercise rooms and treatment rooms. Between the two segments of the building is a bar serving snacks and drinks.
Apple Park in Cupertino, California - inside the visitor center
photo by Nigel Young © Foster+Partners
A visitor center has also been located within the park, with a rooftop terrace overlooking the main building. Surrounded by an olive grove, the pavilion features a glass facade and carbon fiber roof.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of Foster + Partners studio.
