{"id":10155,"date":"2017-10-02T22:06:29","date_gmt":"2017-10-02T22:06:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.buildzoom.com\/blog\/?p=10155"},"modified":"2018-08-07T21:52:24","modified_gmt":"2018-08-07T21:52:24","slug":"what-it-takes-to-build-apple-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.buildzoom.com\/blog\/what-it-takes-to-build-apple-park","title":{"rendered":"What it Takes to Build Apple Park: The Ultimate Cost Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"apple-park-campus-2-dome-1\"<\/p>\n

Few construction\u00a0projects have\u00a0garnered as much excitement as Apple’s new multi-billion dollar headquarters in Cupertino.\u00a0\u00a0Also known as Apple Campus 2 and aptly nicknamed\u00a0“The Spaceship” for its futuristic design, the behemoth project – first announced in 2011 by Steve Jobs in what would be his\u00a0last public appearance – \u00a0is finally reaching its much-anticipated completion.<\/p>\n

Apple already began moving its employees to the new office\u00a0in April, and as the last tenant fit-outs\u00a0and landscaping work\u00a0are finished, it’s a good time to look back at what it actually took to build this state-of-the-art facility.<\/p>\n

Using BuildZoom’s Open Building Permit Database,<\/a> we’ve estimated the minimum costs for each of the 15 major structures at Apple Park and ranked them by descending value- all the way from the $427 million Spaceship to the $360,000 storage barn. Want to know how much these\u00a0buildings actually cost?\u00a0 We break it down for you with a list of the most notable building permits.
\n<\/a>
\n\"Apple<\/p>\n

Using BuildZoom’s Open National Building Permit Database<\/h3>\n

As a data-driven marketplace for remodeling and construction services, BuildZoom uses various construction data to find the best contractors for any residential or commercial project.\u00a0 To date, we’ve\u00a0collected over 120 million building permits, including permits for large-scale\u00a0projects like Apple Park and the Tesla Gigafactory, as well as projects of local interest such as new food & drink\u00a0or commercial developments.\u00a0 The research team is happy to\u00a0help track projects of interest to develop news stories.<\/p>\n

Jump to:<\/h3>\n

1. The Main Building AKA Spaceship<\/a>
\n2. Steve Jobs Theater<\/a>
\n3. Visitor Center<\/a>
\n4. Office Building<\/a>
\n5. Parking Structures<\/a>
\n6. South Testing Building<\/a>
\n7. Central Plant<\/a>
\n8. North Testing Building<\/a>
\n9. Parking Garage\/Data Center<\/a>
\n10. Fitness Center<\/a>
\n11. Tantau Reception Building<\/a>
\n12. Wolfe Reception Building<\/a>
\n13. Maintenance Building<\/a>
\n14. Marcom Building<\/a>
\n15. Glendenning Barn<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

1. The\u00a0Main Building AKA Spaceship<\/h2>\n

Price Tag: $427,570,867<\/h3>\n

The most impressive structure by far is the 2.8 million square-feet donut-shaped building with a\u00a0one mile outer circumference, capacity for 12,000 employees, and 8,255 parking spaces. The aggregate value of building permits comes in at a whopping $427 million dollars, but it’s not inconceivable considering the quality of materials and the level of detail. The building includes over 3,000 custom-made giant curved glass panes<\/a> for the majority of the four-story building,\u00a0for example.<\/p>\n

\"Main<\/p>\n

The ten largest building permits for\u00a0the main building\u00a0include $231.9 million for the main structure, $85 million for landscaping and irrigation, and nearly $26 million for the entrance tunnel\u00a0on Apple Parkway that connects N Wolfe Rd to the Parking Structures.<\/p>\n

We also see nearly $15 million dedicated for the photovoltaic roof, and nearly $9 million for the two outdoor dining facilities\/cafe. According to the latest plans submitted to the City of Cupertino, “there will be a dining facility of about 60,000 sq. ft. with movable seating at ground level for 2,100 occupants, as well as about 20,000 sq. ft. of mezzanine space to seat an additional 600 people, with 1,750 seats on terraces for outdoor dining.” Other amenities include 83,000 square feet of communal meeting space, and 260,000 square feet of mechanical rooms.<\/p>\n

\"Early
An early rendering of Apple Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One notable\u00a0change\u00a0is the location of the pond. Early renderings\u00a0show the pond situated at the center of the circle, but has since been moved to the Northwest corner of the inner courtyard.<\/p>\n

Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

2. The Steve Jobs Theater<\/h2>\n

Price Tag: $179,437,885<\/h3>\n
\"Courtesy
Courtesy of James Martin \/ CNET<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Apple has gotten a lot of attention in September not only for the launch of\u00a0five\u00a0shiny new products, but also for the public unveiling of the newly completed\u00a0auditorium where the\u00a0presentation took place.\u00a0The underground theater\u00a0seats 1,000 people, and according to the $161 million building permit filed in January 2015, the total square footage is 159,382.<\/p>\n

The circular lobby area above ground has a sleek and luxurious feel consistent with Apple’s product design. According to Norman Foster, Executive Chairman at Foster + Partners<\/a>, “[Steve] wanted just the lobby to be\u00a0visible and for it to be discovered like a ‘jewel’ in the park.”<\/p>\n

\"Theater<\/p>\n

Creating\u00a0the jewel is an architectural feat in itself.\u00a0 A lens-shaped carbon fiber roof rests on just four\u00a0layers\u00a0of curved glass- not a single column helps to support it. The roof itself is comprised of 44 radial panels which masterfully mask all electrical lines and sprinkler pipes within the silicone joints. A custom glass elevator uses ‘helical guide rails’ to spin the car as it descends.\u00a0 It’s no wonder that the lobby alone comes with a $12 million price tag. Notable permits are listed below.<\/p>\n

\"Theater
\nBack to Top<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

3. The Visitor Center<\/h2>\n

Price Tag: $109,670,640<\/h3>\n

\"Visitor<\/p>\n

The visitor center is the third-most expensive structure at Apple Park, and includes a visitor reception area, a display area, and a cafe\u00a0on the ground floor with three\u00a0levels of underground parking. The nearly 2 million square-feet underground parking structure costs $26 million and provides 150 spaces for the visitor center and 660 spaces for the auditorium and for employees.<\/p>\n

\"Visitor<\/p>\n

\"Visitor<\/p>\n

External materials include painted carbon fiber (1) on the roof, stone cladding for the\u00a0walls\/stairwells\u00a0(2) connecting to the underground garage, and monolithic glass (4) for the outer envelope.\u00a0 The\u00a0cross-sectional architectural\u00a0drawings reveals plans for a roof terrace as well. Notable permits below.<\/p>\n

\"Visitor
\nBack to Top<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

4. Office Building<\/h2>\n

Price Tag: $115,370,380<\/h3>\n

Apple Park was built in two phases. Phase I involved developing the main site which includes the Main Building, the Fitness Center, the\u00a0North and South Parking Garage, and the Visitor Center.\u00a0 The Office Building,\u00a0the North and South Testing Buildings, the Parking Garage in the southeast corner of the park, and the Marcom Building were all\u00a0a part of Phase II.<\/p>\n

\"Office<\/p>\n

\"Office<\/p>\n

The building has\u00a0four\u00a0levels of office space\u00a0which includes a 15,000 square-feet cafeteria and espresso bar for employees on the first floor.\u00a0 The 110,000 square-feet parking lot on the B1 floor cost $1.9 million just for shoring and excavation, and tenant improvements for the cafe cost $7 million.\u00a0 Most recently, a\u00a0$2 million permit was issued on September 8th for tenant improvements to the first floor.<\/p>\n

\"Office<\/p>\n

Some elements of the\u00a0Office Building are reminiscent of the Spaceship’s design, with its sloping ‘roofs’\u00a0between every level and\u00a0the liberal use of floor-to ceiling frameless glass windows with silicone joints.\u00a0 Materials to be used in the building include (1) Rooftop mechanical screen, (2) Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) mounted on concrete slab, (3) High performance double glazed clear glass, (4) High performance double glazed opaque glass, and (5) Internal roller blinds.<\/p>\n

Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

5.\u00a0North and South Parking Structures<\/h2>\n

Price Tag: $113,731,332<\/h3>\n

\"Parking<\/p>\n

Coming in at a close fifth are the main site employee\u00a0parking structures along the southern edge of the campus.\u00a0 Apple Parkway leads into the parking structures, and a network of bridges connect the two buildings.\u00a0\u00a0Each of the structures have four stories of parking, with a solar canopy on the top floor.\u00a0 A $5.4 million permit was issued for the\u00a08736.78 kW photovoltaic system\u00a0comprised of\u00a025,324 photovoltaic panels.<\/p>\n

\"Parking
\nBack to Top<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

6. South\u00a0Testing Building<\/h2>\n

Price Tag: $72,350,000<\/h3>\n

\"Testing<\/p>\n

The South Testing Building is the larger of the two\u00a0research and design\u00a0facilities (north and south) where future magical Apple products are born. The testing buildings are nearly identical to the Office Building in design and materials, except they are only two stories high, and the ground floor is dedicated\u00a0as a workshop and testing space instead of an office.<\/p>\n

\"South
\nBack to Top<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\u00a07. Central Plant<\/h2>\n

Price Tag: $35,636,124<\/h3>\n

\"Central<\/p>\n

While the\u00a0central plant is treated as its own entity and has a separate address, it is actually contained within the western\u00a0tip of the South Parking Structure.\u00a0 \u00a0This large integrated development improves efficiency of the services delivered to the main site by\u00a0co-locating\u00a0the mechanical and electrical equipment in one location, including fuel cells, back-up generators, chillers, condenser water storage, hot water storage, an electrical substation, and water and fire pumps.<\/p>\n

\"Central<\/p>\n

Permits from the Central Plant show the installation of a lot of heavy equipment, as well as a permit for another\u00a0solar canopy of 390 panels.<\/p>\n

\"Central
\nBack to Top<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

\u00a08.\u00a0North Testing Building<\/h2>\n

Price Tag: $31,492,000<\/h3>\n

The North Testing\u00a0Building has a gross floor area of 35,500 square-feet, roughly half the size of the 70,000 square-feet South Testing Building. Permit values combined for\u00a0both R&D facilities\u00a0pushes the cost to over $100 million.<\/p>\n

\"North
\nBack to Top<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

9. Parking Garage\/Data Center<\/h2>\n

Price Tag: $30,353,171<\/h3>\n

\"Parking<\/p>\n

If all the other parking structures\u00a0weren’t enough, here’s another garage on the southeast corner of Apple Campus. This building has five parking levels with a total of 620 stalls (including 13 accessible, 18 EV charging, and 1 accessible and EV charging). Level B1 is a 28,700 square-feet data center, and\u00a0a 888 kW solar canopy has been installed on the roof.<\/p>\n

\"Parking\/Data
\nBack to Top<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

10.\u00a0Fitness Center<\/h2>\n

Price Tag: $16,731,000<\/h3>\n

\"Corporate<\/p>\n

The corporate fitness center is a two-story structure with a 50,000 square-feet footprint, bringing the gross floor area to roughly 100,000 square-feet.\u00a0 Amenities include changing rooms, showers, laundry facilities, gym equipment, and multi-purpose rooms for group classes.\u00a0\u00a0The floor plan also shows rooms dedicated for examinations, physical therapy, massages, chiropractic consultation, and wellness consultation.<\/p>\n

\"Fitness
\nBack to Top<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

11. Tantau Reception Building<\/h2>\n

Price Tag: $11,500,000<\/h3>\n

\"Tantau<\/h3>\n

Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

12.\u00a0Wolfe Reception Building<\/h2>\n

Price Tag: $7,500,000<\/h3>\n

\"Wolfe
\nBack to Top<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

13.\u00a0Maintenance Building<\/h2>\n

Price Tag: $1,955,000<\/h3>\n

\"Maintenance
\nBack to Top<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

14. Marcom Building<\/h2>\n

Price Tag: $994,000<\/h3>\n

\"Marcom
\nBack to Top<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

15.\u00a0Glendenning Barn<\/h2>\n

Price Tag: $360,000<\/h3>\n

\"Glendenning
\nBack to Top<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Note:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Permit values may be estimates or rounded and may not accurately reflect construction costs<\/li>\n
  • Permits do not reflect all of the project’s costs and are meant to supplement our understanding of the project as a whole<\/li>\n
  • Aggregate sums are minimum estimates and may not include permits for demolition work, temporary structures, or other public infrastructural improvements<\/li>\n
  • The data may not be exhaustive and is based on what has been made available by the City of Cupertino<\/li>\n
  • All renderings\u00a0are courtesy of Apple and the City of Cupertino unless\u00a0stated otherwise<\/li>\n
  • Questions? Please reach out to outreach@buildzoom.com<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Few construction\u00a0projects have\u00a0garnered as much excitement as Apple’s new multi-billion dollar headquarters in Cupertino.\u00a0\u00a0Also known as Apple Campus 2 and aptly nicknamed\u00a0“The Spaceship” for its futuristic design, the behemoth project – first announced in 2011 by Steve Jobs in what would be his\u00a0last public appearance – \u00a0is finally reaching its much-anticipated completion. Apple already began […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3009,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[50,7],"tags":[470,469,468,365,473,475,472,471,474],"class_list":["post-10155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-projects","category-buildzoom","tag-apple","tag-apple-campus-2","tag-apple-park","tag-construction","tag-cost","tag-iphone","tag-mothership","tag-spaceship","tag-steve-jobs","entry","has-post-thumbnail"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buildzoom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buildzoom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buildzoom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buildzoom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3009"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buildzoom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10155"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.buildzoom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10155\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.buildzoom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buildzoom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.buildzoom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}