Site cleared for Apple's new flagship retail store at San Francisco's Union Square
Apple's efforts to build a large new flagship store at Union Square in San Francisco have nearly completed the demolition of the existing building on the site, where little remains apart from a concrete foundation, steps and a folk art fountain that will be relocated as part of the construction project.
An oddly triangular building that formerly occupied the prominent Union Square corner (most recently serving as a retail outlet for Levi's) has been dismantled and trucked away for materials recycling. In its place, Apple plans to build a new glass and steel retail palace similar in design to the West Lake store featured in a grand opening video during the company's "Spring Forward" event earlier this month.
The new San Francisco store is unique in that it will incorporate giant sliding doors on the front of the building, enabling the location to take full advantage of the city's pleasant climate during business hours.
Three months ago, the work to remove the former building (below) was just getting started. Despite the demolition progress, a source familiar with Apple's construction timeline said the new Union Store location isn't expected to open until the summer of 2016.
At the time the was built, the Union Square shopping district was struggling to recover from the Dot-Com Boom, and Apple's entry into the neighborhood was greeted as a force for helping to accelerate a recovery.
Since then, Apple's San Francisco retail store helped launched iPhone in 2007 and iPad in 2010. The store has outlasted may of its neighbors, including the "old media" Virgin Megastore across the street (now a Forever 21) and a CompUSA store nearby (which closed when the entire electronics chain went through bankruptcy).
Apple's current store, located three blocks away from the new construction site, is at the intersection of Stockton, Ellis and Market Streets. The location has been plagued with nonstop construction of the Central Subway, which has dug underneath Stockton using tunnel boring machines over the past year.
While intended to be minimally invasive compared to digging a "cut and cover" subway passage, the tunnel boring work has closed Stockton Street for more than two years. The street (which passes in front of the current Apple Store) isn't expected to reopen until 2017 at the earliest.
The construction work over the last two and a half years hasn't stopped customers from lining up around the block for the iPhone 5, iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 product launches, and Apple's store remains very busy most of the time, particularly during the holidays.
To mitigate the subway's construction on Union Square' holiday traffic, surface level street work related to the Central Subway project was put on hold at the end of last year, and the closed street was temporarily reopened as "Winter Walk SF," a pedestrian mall covered in astroturf (below).
After the holidays ended, the intersection in front of the Apple Store at Stockton and Market has returned to being an open pit, offering a glimpse into the former pedestrian pathways that once connected BART and Muni's Powell Station to a metro entrance incorporated into the corner of the store.
Once the Central Subway is finished (perhaps as early as the end of 2019), new pedestrian walkways will connect the existing Powell Station to a new Union Square station a couple blocks away, on the opposite corner of the park from Apple's new store.
An oddly triangular building that formerly occupied the prominent Union Square corner (most recently serving as a retail outlet for Levi's) has been dismantled and trucked away for materials recycling. In its place, Apple plans to build a new glass and steel retail palace similar in design to the West Lake store featured in a grand opening video during the company's "Spring Forward" event earlier this month.
The new San Francisco store is unique in that it will incorporate giant sliding doors on the front of the building, enabling the location to take full advantage of the city's pleasant climate during business hours.
Three months ago, the work to remove the former building (below) was just getting started. Despite the demolition progress, a source familiar with Apple's construction timeline said the new Union Store location isn't expected to open until the summer of 2016.
Winter Walk makes way for continued Central Subway construction
Apple's existing flagship store in San Francisco opened just over eleven years ago in February 2004, as noted by retail watchdog site ifoAppleStore . It was one of the company's first "high profile" retail locations, featuring a prominent glass stairway positioned under a large skylight. As with its new location, Apple built its existing store from the ground up after demolishing the previous building on the site.At the time the was built, the Union Square shopping district was struggling to recover from the Dot-Com Boom, and Apple's entry into the neighborhood was greeted as a force for helping to accelerate a recovery.
Since then, Apple's San Francisco retail store helped launched iPhone in 2007 and iPad in 2010. The store has outlasted may of its neighbors, including the "old media" Virgin Megastore across the street (now a Forever 21) and a CompUSA store nearby (which closed when the entire electronics chain went through bankruptcy).
Apple's current store, located three blocks away from the new construction site, is at the intersection of Stockton, Ellis and Market Streets. The location has been plagued with nonstop construction of the Central Subway, which has dug underneath Stockton using tunnel boring machines over the past year.
While intended to be minimally invasive compared to digging a "cut and cover" subway passage, the tunnel boring work has closed Stockton Street for more than two years. The street (which passes in front of the current Apple Store) isn't expected to reopen until 2017 at the earliest.
The construction work over the last two and a half years hasn't stopped customers from lining up around the block for the iPhone 5, iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 product launches, and Apple's store remains very busy most of the time, particularly during the holidays.
To mitigate the subway's construction on Union Square' holiday traffic, surface level street work related to the Central Subway project was put on hold at the end of last year, and the closed street was temporarily reopened as "Winter Walk SF," a pedestrian mall covered in astroturf (below).
After the holidays ended, the intersection in front of the Apple Store at Stockton and Market has returned to being an open pit, offering a glimpse into the former pedestrian pathways that once connected BART and Muni's Powell Station to a metro entrance incorporated into the corner of the store.
Once the Central Subway is finished (perhaps as early as the end of 2019), new pedestrian walkways will connect the existing Powell Station to a new Union Square station a couple blocks away, on the opposite corner of the park from Apple's new store.
Comments
As much as that fountain is an historical piece of San Francisco folk art, it really doesn't fit in with the modern architecture of the new store. Too bad Apple can't pay to have it moved to some other neighborhood that is more period correct for that piece.
“oh no an unfortunate accident has caused the destruction of the fountain what a horrible turn of events we are deeply saddened by this loss the construction will continue under the original plan for the property”
I walked by that corner three weeks ago and was stunned to see how fast they demolished the old building. I was there a couple weeks prior to that and they were really hauling during that time.
That fountain though is an eyesore. Some art "aficionados" may take a liking to it, but it is grotesque and has ZERO artistic quality in that area. I think SF should simply sell it to the highest bidder (if anyone would even buy it) and use that money to waste it on the money-pit that is the homeless program.
?I just looking forward to the store revitalizing that area of Union Square. The old building was a hangout for all kinds of miscreants and panhandlers due to the layout of the tiny plaza that building had. Of course, they loitered right next to that fountain. I generally stayed away from that corner.
“oh no an unfortunate accident has caused the destruction of the fountain what a horrible turn of events we are deeply saddened by this loss the construction will continue under the original plan for the property”
They could just dig a hole where it's supposed to go, pour concrete over it "protect it" from the ravages of decay, and call it a day? That think looks like millions of people threw their used chewing gum at it.
As much as that fountain is an historical piece of San Francisco folk art, it really doesn't fit in with the modern architecture of the new store. Too bad Apple can't pay to have it moved to some other neighborhood that is more period correct for that piece.
Perhaps a nearby landfill?
Two big glass sliding doors seems like a big mistake. If anything it will increase the amount of homeless and pan handlers to that area looking to trick tourists into giving away some money. Not to mention what are they going to do with all the bugs crawling and flying into the store when the doors are open? Are the Apple employees now going to become security in removing homeless from the front of the store? Then to have the noise of the city along with all the people in store while the doors are open? Seems like a total nightmare of a design as far as employees and customers are concerned.
Maybe they should install high-pressure fire hoses near the front door just in case they are needed for "crowd control".
Pigeons could be a problem too.
Two big glass sliding doors seems like a big mistake. If anything it will increase the amount of homeless and pan handlers to that area looking to trick tourists into giving away some money. Not to mention what are they going to do with all the bugs crawling and flying into the store when the doors are open? Are the Apple employees now going to become security in removing homeless from the front of the store? Then to have the noise of the city along with all the people in store while the doors are open? Seems like a total nightmare of a design as far as employees and customers are concerned.
I don't think there were that many homeless on Union square, last time I was there (5 years ago), though they're usually not that far in the Tenderloin (just a few blocks really). When I was living in SFO in 1999-2002, don'T remember that many homeless around the square. I was living on Telegraph Hill though and mostly walked/cycled to my job in SOMA, so wasn't spending that much time around the square; so I can't vouch to how it was in general.
The fountain is one of my least favorite Ruth Asawa works, though I don't think it should be pitched in the garbage or anything like that. I prefer her series of airy, hanging metal sculptures that are on display at the DeYoung Museum.
I doubt Apple will demolish the old store at Stockton and Market, but they will no doubt completely gut the space before moving out, glass stairs and all.
Bugs are not too big of a worry in San Francisco, as the climate is fairly cool and dry there. That would be a more relevant concern in Texas or Florida or some other warm, humid climate. Some pigeons may wander in, but they won't find much in the way of food in the Apple Store, so they'll stick to the Square itself across the street, where there are restaurants and cafes.
As for the homeless: between the Union Square BID workers who regularly patrol the area, and Apple's own security staff, I don't see that being much of a problem.
The fountain is one of my least favorite Ruth Asawa works, though I don't think it should be pitched in the garbage or anything like that. I prefer her series of airy, hanging metal sculptures that are on display at the DeYoung Museum.
I doubt Apple will demolish the old store at Stockton and Market, but they will no doubt completely gut the space before moving out, glass stairs and all.
Bugs are not too big of a worry in San Francisco, as the climate is fairly cool and dry there. That would be a more relevant concern in Texas or Florida or some other warm, humid climate. Some pigeons may wander in, but they won't find much in the way of food in the Apple Store, so they'll stick to the Square itself across the street, where there are restaurants and cafes.
As for the homeless: between the Union Square BID workers who regularly patrol the area, and Apple's own security staff, I don't see that being much of a problem.
I don't see too many homeless people in Union Square itself. Sure, a few here and there mainly panhandling but are generally shooed-away by police, or on their own simply because of the amount of shoppers clogging the sidewalks.
There were panhandlers and other miscreants that used to loiter by that ugly fountain only because the design of the original building gave them a hidden area where they would cause trouble. I'm thankful that Apple is putting a store there because it will clean up that one corner and hopefully rid the problem the original property had.
Never have an issue with bugs at the park. It's pretty clear most of the time.