Exclusive photos from the Apple Store Fifth Ave

[AppleInsider]

Apple Computer on Thursday morning officially unveiled its "most architecturally innovative" retail store to date with a press briefing for analysts and members of the media on the site of the store at 767 Fifth Avenue between 58th and 59th Streets.

The 20,000-square foot location, which will be the first to operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, features a distinctive 32-foot glass cube that creates an attractive new destination on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, one of the world's most popular shopping scenes.

When the store opens to the public at 7:00PM ET on Friday, it will feature more than 100 Macs and nearly 200 iPods for customers to try before they buy, as well as the world’s largest assortment of accessories.

"We opened our first New York store in SoHo in 2002, and it has been successful beyond our dreams. Now we’re thrilled to open our second New York store on Fifth Avenue," said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. "With outstanding service and an amazing location open 24 hours a day, we think the Apple Store Fifth Avenue is going to be a favorite destination for New Yorkers and people around the world."

Several photos taken Thursday morning at the site of the new retail store have been published, below, for your enjoyment.













(Thanks to our pals from cheechandchong.com for supplying several of the photos.)

Meanwhile, Curbed has posted some so-so quality photos from inside the store. The New York City-based real estate publication continues to allude to "surprises" tomorrow evening out on the store's plaza, where a live band is rumored to make a performance.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[rongold]

Interesting that they are not selling third party cameras or video equipment.

[crees!]

Gotta love those digital timestamps.

[macgyver2]

Fountains around the outside would look fantastic, especially lit ones at night.

[TenoBell]

I'm not even in town for the opening. I'm in Los Angeles working.

Oh and there are jets on either side of the cube that shoot up water. There is also a giant fountain across the street in front of a hotel.

[jbh0001]

.

[jbh0001]

The inside reminds me of a jewelry store. (Just an observation.)

[SpamSandwich]

I can just imagine a bunch of thieves running a truck through that glass to try to rob the place... oy, vey! Hopefully there's good security.

OTOH, it looks stunning.

[backtomac]

Looks stunning in the photos. Will visit next time i'm in the big Apple.

[audiopollution]

I wonder if the Prada store in Soho has realized that their elevator has gone missing?

[a_greer]

Originally posted by rongold
Interesting that they are not selling third party cameras or video equipment.

understandable, a huge chunk of space went to the cube and stair way, something had to give...

[a_greer]

What does this store offer for folks who dont do so well on stairs? I see no elevator, is it attached to the building behind it or something?

[ecking]

Originally posted by SpamSandwich
I can just imagine a bunch of thieves running a truck through that glass to try to rob the place... oy, vey! Hopefully there's good security.

OTOH, it looks stunning.

And the truck falls down a level into the store onto it's side, killing all 96 geniuses at the genius bar. Two of the robber died in the crash while one remains in intensive care in a coma after having recived an extsensive blood transfusion and the amputation of the leg that got trapped between the seat and the door on the side that has resting on the floor.

If he ever recovers prosecutors are expected to charge him up to his maxium sentance for the crime as well as the reckless endangerment and murder of 96 people....

[mark2005]

Originally posted by a_greer
What does this store offer for folks who dont do so well on stairs? I see no elevator, is it attached to the building behind it or something?

The elevator is the tube right in the very center of the cube. When you go in the front, it is directly in front of you. The stairs are off to the side and wind around the tube.

The store looks great. Much more spacious than the average store. The downstairs layout looks a bit like the Regent St store in London.

[a_greer]

Originally posted by mark2005
The elevator is the tube right in the very center of the cube. When you go in the front, it is directly in front of you. The stairs are off to the side and wind around the tube.

The store looks great. Much more spacious than the average store. The downstairs layout looks a bit like the Regent St store in London.

WOWZA

that is amazing, no cables, pullies, counter weights or anything are visible! I just thought that was support structure for the stairs...how did they do that?

[SpamSandwich]

Originally posted by ecking
And the truck falls down a level into the store onto it's side, killing all 96 geniuses at the genius bar. Two of the robber died in the crash while one remains in intensive care in a coma after having recived an extsensive blood transfusion and the amputation of the leg that got trapped between the seat and the door on the side that has resting on the floor.

If he ever recovers prosecutors are expected to charge him up to his maxium sentance for the crime as well as the reckless endangerment and murder of 96 people....

Not to mention the incalculable loss of iPod accessories!

[audiopollution]

Originally posted by a_greer
WOWZA

that is amazing, no cables, pullies, counter weights or anything are visible! I just thought that was support structure for the stairs...how did they do that?

It's on a big hyrdraulic cylinder. I'll bet a pile of money that you've ridden on a fair number of elevators that are on hydraulics, you've just never noticed the fact since that bit of the works is usually hidden from view.

(The Prada store just around the corner from the Apple Soho location has one that is remarkably similar - along with a skateboard-ramp-like bit that one day I will ride. They've already kicked me out once for taking a picture of it. I may as well really piss off their security guards next time!)

[Elixir]

that is seriously the most amazing store i've seen.

[Sybaritic]

Absolutely gorgeous.

Keep making great products, Apple. You guys have taken a cue from Pei's pyramid in Paris with a from-the-skies entry to beauty.

[trtam]

Originally posted by SpamSandwich
I can just imagine a bunch of thieves running a truck through that glass to try to rob the place... oy, vey! Hopefully there's good security.

OTOH, it looks stunning.

I think in the pictures I saw bollards surrounding the cube. Those might stop a truck, or a runaway baby carriage at least...

[BWhaler]

I saw the cube first hand today, but pure chance. I was early to a meeting and was just walking around and stumbled into it.

Let me say this: the pictures in no way capture how incredible it looks.

3 stories of glass just doesn't translate well in a picture. Sure the pics are cool.

But to see it in person is a different experience. It is breath taking. So clean. It looks unreal. The engineering will blow you mind.

On your next trip to NYC, this is an absolute must-see.

[ecking]

Originally posted by SpamSandwich
Not to mention the incalculable loss of iPod accessories!

lol Of course they were the most important part of the store lost in the crash how could I forget it!? Stupid me.

[a_greer]

I guess Apple cant throw stones any more; living in a glass house and all!

I'll be here all week! tip your waitress.

[SpamSandwich]

On a more serious note, I think the design of the cube is effective because it is reminiscent of some of the design proposals for the "Freedom Tower" and the memorial site proposals for the WTC in NY. Like a ghostly building rising from an open excavation site from the earth. An interesting concept.

[solidbreakz]

Originally posted by ecking
And the truck falls down a level into the store onto it's side, killing all 96 geniuses at the genius bar. Two of the robber died in the crash while one remains in intensive care in a coma after having recived an extsensive blood transfusion and the amputation of the leg that got trapped between the seat and the door on the side that has resting on the floor.

If he ever recovers prosecutors are expected to charge him up to his maxium sentance for the crime as well as the reckless endangerment and murder of 96 people....

nice...very nice

shmuck

[WelshDog]

Originally posted by trtam
I think in the pictures I saw bollards surrounding the cube. Those might stop a truck, or a runaway baby carriage at least...

You mean those 8" high stainless steel cylinders around the cube? Maybe - but they aren't high enough. However, there are automatic bollards that use a magnetic sensor. When an approaching vehicle is detected they quickly shoot upwards and block the path. At first I thought those short cylinders weere lighting, but now I'm not sure.

Automatic Bollards: That would be a very Apple thing to have, but would they be made of glass?

[a_greer]

Originally posted by WelshDog
You mean those 8" high stainless steel cylinders around the cube? Maybe - but they aren't high enough. However, there are automatic bollards that use a magnetic sensor. When an approaching vehicle is detected they quickly shoot upwards and block the path. At first I thought those short cylinders weere lighting, but now I'm not sure.

Automatic Bollards: That would be a very Apple thing to have, but would they be made of glass?

Very dangerous...imagine the lawsuit, some guy is just standing outside the cube and these things raise up... right under him, and if they raise up FAST, that ould be insainmly painfull...

8 inches is fine...it is higher than any curb and would stop any vehicle that could access the plaza in the first place (I assume BigFoot cant drive the streets of manhatten, although, if this store ever closes, it would be one hell of a cool stunt, ramp the truck through the cube)

[WelshDog]

Originally posted by a_greer

8 inches is fine...it is higher than any curb and would stop any vehicle that could access the plaza in the first place

8" is not enough - hell my Outback has 7.5" clearance! Almost any large truck or decent sized SUV could clear 8". Bollards take 2-3 second to rise. Here is a video: http://www.atgaccess.com/Automatic_R...d_System01.wmv

I guess all of this begs the question - why would anyone want to drive a truck through the glass and then fall into a two story hole? Makes no sense. Accidental maybe, but on purpose? Pointless.

Unless the plaza is raised up enough from street level to preclude a vehicle getting to the cube, auto-bollards would be the way to go. Even if some guy managed to get his nads smashed in the process.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally posted by WelshDog
I guess all of this begs the question - why would anyone want to drive a truck through the glass and then fall into a two story hole? Makes no sense. Accidental maybe, but on purpose? Pointless.

Accidents happen. NY is a big city, man. Out here in L.A. cars go out of control all the time.

[trtam]

Awww...that'd be sad. $9-mil (correct?) shattered. Steve's own money too (although he is rich). Imagine the outcry by the Apple community. I can imagine them trying to petition for the idiot to get the death sentence or something.

[joeurb]

Went by the cube at 12:30 am. It is absolutely stunning. Archetecturally it is not held up by a metal frame, rather it looks as it if it is held up by glass pieces perpendicular to the outside glass skin panels which seem to be acting as columns. It's obvious lack of a metal frame makes it amazingly translucent.

Still at 12:30 am there was a HUGE line to get in... looked as the store was filled to capacity and they were just letting a few people in at a time, with a line wrapping in corrals all throughout the square. There must have been hundreds and hundreds of people still waiting to get in after midnight!

Here's a cell phone pic from accross 5th ave in front of the place formerly known as the Plaza Hotel.



ps -- I would not worry about anyone driving into it. It is set back from the street probably 50 feet. Also NOTHING goes too fast down 5th Avenue! (but everyone should still be wary of those Jersey drivers )

[Patrik_L]

Is there only a stair, or how do a person in a wheelchair get down? Just a question before I waste time going there...

[mike12309]

i think NYC just found the guys who would make a good 9/11 memorial (Apple/Jobs)... shame it will still become a mess because of the politics.

[joeurb]

Originally posted by Patrik_L
Is there only a stair, or how do a person in a wheelchair get down? Just a question before I waste time going there...

I looks as if it is very accessible. There is a circular elevator that rises up inside the cube, also there is a bridge-type of situation to get into it, with no steps leading up to it.


Here are a couple of cool links (apologies if these are reposts):

This one is a photog who got in to the pre-opening. (80+ pics)
http://flickr.com/photos/neps/sets/7...38660723/show/

A time-lapse hour by hour account from Apple themselves:
http://www.apple.com/retail/fifthavenue/

[cactus]

Originally posted by Patrik_L
Is there only a stair, or how do a person in a wheelchair get down? Just a question before I waste time going there...

there is an elevator in the middle of the staircase.

[watashi]

Did you see the guy propose to Uschi Lang at about 5:40 this morning?

Held up signs in front of the time lapse camera...

Uschi Lang,

I love you

Will you marry me?

[tonton]

...And when Steve's wife is in a joking mood, she calls him by his new nickname, "I Fom Pei".

Anyone who gets the joke gets a brownie point.

But really, that glass cube is about as original as Windows 3.1.

[the cool gut]

That stores pretty hot - no idea what their gonna do during the winter with all the slush and snow, the glass floor and staircase would turn into a mess.

[tonton]

Where's the wheelchair access? And how do women in miniskirts avoid the geek voyeurs?

[mynamehere]

Originally posted by the cool gut
That stores pretty hot - no idea what their gonna do during the winter with all the slush and snow, the glass floor and staircase would turn into a mess.

One word: iMop