Apple planning massive 12,000 employee 'spaceship' campus in Cupertino

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  • Reply 21 of 308
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by The-Steve View Post


    Why is there no mention of solar collectors? For a building of this size, in an area with almost year-round sunshine?



    Yes, I don't think Apple should have carte blanche to do what they want just because it's already so stunning... Maybe the real questions the city council as well as the state should be asking is what about solar? There are many new office buildings around the world being built that are already "greener" than this. Yes, architect students will come to see it but it's not really an epitome of a green building.
  • Reply 22 of 308
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Mister Snitch View Post


    All the city council clowns could think of was to ask "where's our cut?". Apple should move to Mountain View, sell off the land, and let the remaining Cupertino residents drag their pathetic corpses through the streets. I'm pretty sure Mountain View's (or almost any city's) leaders would show a lot more appreciation for what Apple brings to the table.



    As I mentioned above, I'm sure there are many *governments* of countries around the world that have tried to make Steve an offer he couldn't refuse.



    It's quite intriguing (and hilarious, if you will) to see how much power city councils have gained in the USA and other Western countries.



    Of course, here in the developing world, it's the other extreme. Someone like Steve in this city and country wouldn't even have to show up let alone make a presentation, some lowly minion of his would "settle" anything and everything with the appropriate bureaucracy. We have so many failed "technology parks" and stuff like that lying around.
  • Reply 23 of 308
    dluxdlux Posts: 666member
    I wish I could recount some of the stories I heard about the custom architecture of the NeXT campus back in the day, but I don't have time right now.



    One aspect of all that glass that I'm not fond of is the heat load from the sun. If not done properly the south-facing rooms all have their blinds drawn most of the time, and the air-conditioning becomes a huge operating cost. I would hope and assume that the architects know all this and compensate accordingly, but I would rather see something in that climate with a lot more shade overhangs.



    (I've spent summers in Silicon Valley, and it typically hovers around 80-90 degrees fahrenheit for five months out of the year. Corporate architects and clients often have more design ego than brains, and I don't think Jobs, for all his accomplishments, is above this.)
  • Reply 24 of 308
    lowededwookielowededwookie Posts: 1,172member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by The-Steve View Post


    Why is there no mention of solar collectors? For a building of this size, in an area with almost year-round sunshine?



    Because solar is still extremely inefficient. There is more power from a gas turbine than could be made with a massive array of solar panels which is actually an environmental nightmare when you're talking about so many trees.



    The reflection from the panels will make those trees a ticking time bomb and I'm sure that's exactly what California needs is more risk of fire.
  • Reply 25 of 308
    rtm135rtm135 Posts: 310member
    He's finally getting his Infinite Loop
  • Reply 26 of 308
    hattighattig Posts: 860member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Dlux View Post


    I wish I could recount some of the stories I heard about the custom architecture of the NeXT campus back in the day, but I don't have time right now.



    One aspect of all that glass that I'm not fond of is the heat load from the sun. If not done properly the south-facing rooms all have their blinds drawn most of the time, and the air-conditioning becomes a huge operating cost. I would hope and assume that the architects know all this and compensate accordingly, but I would rather see something in that climate with a lot more shade overhangs.



    I guess that's why Apple's planting another 3000 trees on the site - some will be large enough to provide partial shade to the problem areas - after ten years or so anyway.



    I also wonder if the building is architected for air flow, so that somehow the air would get cycled naturally rather than via expensive air con.



    The orchards are a nice idea, in terms of returning the land to traditional use. I hope that other fruit trees are also placed on site (especially rare varieties) - nothing like employees being able to go for a walk and pick their own healthy snacks.
  • Reply 27 of 308
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Since Apple said that they grow like a weed, they should eliminate all of the trees in the middle of the spaceship and grow weed there instead. It could be the world's finest weed garden, and the Apple campus would smell lovely and it would also serve as a relaxing park, unlike no others. Steve Jobs doesn't like smoking, so each office would have a personal Volcano installed. Of course, this idea wouldn't be 100% legal just yet, so perhaps in the future sometime.



    As far as the design of the spaceship goes, I'm sure that it'll look nice when it's done and not too many buildings are made of huge curved glass, so it'll be unique in that regard. It is rather simplistic though in it's geometric shape, it's simply a circle with a hole in the middle of it.



    Apple stores do look really cool, but the exterior designs are as minimalistic as can be. A cube in New York, a cylinder in China. Maybe I've missed this one, but do they have a pyramid somewhere yet? That has to be coming, as there are only so many simple, geometric shapes that they can choose from.



    I also think that the importance of architects is sometimes overrated. Steve Jobs could have simply drawn a square on a napkin when he was eating out one day and viola, that's the amazing cube on 5th ave. The next day you draw a sphere and you have the complete design idea for the next store. The day after that you draw a circle and you have a new office complex. Don't get me wrong, I think that Apples stores look great, but I think that what makes them look special is more due to their choice of materials rather than their simple, geometric shapes. If Apple hadn't made many of their stores using primarily glass, then nobody would have cared about a cube made out of bricks.
  • Reply 28 of 308
    onhkaonhka Posts: 1,025member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nvidia2008 View Post


    Yes, I don't think Apple should have carte blanche to do what they want just because it's already so stunning... Maybe the real questions the city council as well as the state should be asking is what about solar? There are many new office buildings around the world being built that are already "greener" than this. Yes, architect students will come to see it but it's no Guggenheim or [insert really cool epitome of a green building]. It is as understated as it is elegant.



    Did you watch the entire presentation?



    Do you realize the 'green' efforts and accomplishments that Steve has lead Apple to achieve?



    Is your home solar powered?



    Quote:

    There are many other aspects that can affect the efficiency of your panels. We find the following to be the most common: how often you clean them, are they infrared, how much sun do they get and how hot do they get. It is a surprise to many people that for most panels their efficiency drops when the temperature starts to go above 25 Deg Celsius (77F) .



    http://www.solarpowerfast.com/build-...-solar-energy/



  • Reply 29 of 308
    stelligentstelligent Posts: 2,680member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post




    I also think that the importance of architects is sometimes overrated. Steve Jobs could have simply drawn a square on a napkin when he was eating out one day and viola, that's the amazing cube on 5th ave. The next day you draw a sphere and you have the complete design idea for the next store. The day after that you draw a circle and you have a new office complex. Don't get me wrong, I think that Apples stores look great, but I think that what makes them look special is more due to their choice of materials rather than their simple, geometric shapes. If Apple hadn't made many of their stores using primarily glass, then nobody would have cared about a cube made out of bricks.



    Perhaps if you had training in architecture, or at least grade 6 math, you would know the difference between a sphere and a cylinder.
  • Reply 30 of 308
    bwikbwik Posts: 565member
    The powers of medicinal marijuana! Go Steve.
  • Reply 31 of 308
    stelligentstelligent Posts: 2,680member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nvidia2008 View Post


    Yes, I don't think Apple should have carte blanche to do what they want just because it's already so stunning... Maybe the real questions the city council as well as the state should be asking is what about solar? There are many new office buildings around the world being built that are already "greener" than this. Yes, architect students will come to see it but it's not really an epitome of a green building.



    Well, if this was supposed to be a city council meeting to approve the construction, I think it sounded like approval was unanimous. These councilors couldn't have been more obsequious if they had tried. So yes, Jobs pretty much got carte blanche.
  • Reply 32 of 308
    stelligentstelligent Posts: 2,680member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by bwik View Post


    The powers of medicinal marijuana! Go Steve.



    Yeah, growing like weed indeed.
  • Reply 33 of 308
    ksecksec Posts: 1,569member
    I don?t understand the questions of residents? gains and free WiFi? Sorry I am not American.



    I read some of your comment and I still don?t understand. Please Lighten up on things.



    Do the ?council? have the power to say no? And why would they say no?



    I didn?t watch the video yet. I hope it was a joke. It seems Jobs was threatening them who is in charge, who is more powerful and who pays their salary.
  • Reply 34 of 308
    hattighattig Posts: 860member
    From the map in the article, and the schematics provided, it looks like Apple has purchased more land alongside the eastern side of their 2006 and 2010 purchases - the white building in the corner of the 2006 purchase, and a strip of land to the east of N. Tantau Ave.
  • Reply 35 of 308
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stelligent View Post


    Perhaps if you had training in architecture, or at least grade 6 math, you would know the difference between a sphere and a cylinder.



    You're right, I don't have any training in architecture, as that is not my field. And you're also right that I did mix up sphere with cylinder, and the store in China is of course a cylinder.
  • Reply 36 of 308
    matrix07matrix07 Posts: 1,993member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post


    then nobody would have cared about a cube made out of bricks.



    Cube made of bricks can be beautiful if done right. You have no idea what you're talking about.
  • Reply 37 of 308
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ksec View Post


    I don?t understand the questions of residents? gains and free WiFi? Sorry I am not American.



    It's in California, a lot of commies and liberals live there. They were looking for free handouts.
  • Reply 38 of 308
    jeffdmjeffdm Posts: 12,953member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by halhiker View Post


    And the apartment complex in the corner is not for sale?



    Can you say eminent domain for Cupertino's largest taxpayer?



    I think that's pretty dangerous, to use government power to take property, purely to benefit a single corporation.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by lowededwookie View Post


    Because solar is still extremely inefficient. There is more power from a gas turbine than could be made with a massive array of solar panels which is actually an environmental nightmare when you're talking about so many trees.



    The reflection from the panels will make those trees a ticking time bomb and I'm sure that's exactly what California needs is more risk of fire.



    If the panels are facing _up_, how is that going to reflect down to the trees? Or if they're motorized to be sun-pointing, the light vector is pointed back at the sun again. Assuming the panels are on the roof, I'm not seeing where it hurts the trees here.
  • Reply 39 of 308
    bwikbwik Posts: 565member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stelligent View Post


    Well, if this was supposed to be a city council meeting to approve the construction, I think it sounded like approval was unanimous. These councilors couldn't have been more obsequious if they had tried. So yes, Jobs pretty much got carte blanche.





    At the Cupertino City Council, they ought to treat him like Jesus. He just proposed an environmental improvement, a sensitive architecture landmark and 12,000 jobs?!
  • Reply 40 of 308
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by matrix07 View Post


    Cube made of bricks can be beautiful if done right. You have no idea what you're talking about.



    Art is all subjective. Some people can look at a blank canvas and see absolutely nothing and other people can look at that same canvas and see something amazing.
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