Apple says Chicago store's snow problems are result of software issue
Troubles with snow and ice at Apple's North Michigan store in Chicago were attributable to glitches in a rooftop warming system, rather than any inherently bad architecture, according to the company.
The warming system "needed some fine-tuning," and was reprogrammed on Friday, Apple spokesman Nick Leahy told the Chicago Tribune. "It's hopefully a temporary problem."
Leahy added that while the roof lacks gutters to catch melting snow, it does drain water, passing it through internal support columns instead.
Apple endured criticism and ridicule last week when it was forced to rope off surrounding areas to cope with falling material. The store sports an unusual flat roof with rounded edges, reminiscent of a MacBook lid. As usual, Apple's design help came from London's Foster & Partners.
Apple is often accused of prioritizing aesthetics over practical concerns. For years, for instance, the company made the thinness of iPhones a key selling point, even as some people complained they were becoming hard to hold and that they would rather have more battery life.
The warming system "needed some fine-tuning," and was reprogrammed on Friday, Apple spokesman Nick Leahy told the Chicago Tribune. "It's hopefully a temporary problem."
Leahy added that while the roof lacks gutters to catch melting snow, it does drain water, passing it through internal support columns instead.
Apple endured criticism and ridicule last week when it was forced to rope off surrounding areas to cope with falling material. The store sports an unusual flat roof with rounded edges, reminiscent of a MacBook lid. As usual, Apple's design help came from London's Foster & Partners.
Apple is often accused of prioritizing aesthetics over practical concerns. For years, for instance, the company made the thinness of iPhones a key selling point, even as some people complained they were becoming hard to hold and that they would rather have more battery life.
Comments
"I'm sorry, Dave. I can't do that."
What?
It's funny, people love their sci-fi devices of impossibly-thin (and clear!) tech in the future, but meanwhile in the present the whiners say "Stop making improvements!" and suggest all technology be frozen with today's norms and comfort levels. Odd.
It's not about stopping making improvements. A bigger battery could be an improvement. The key is to not go too far in the other direction.
It had a heated eaves on the roof and a heated driveway.
The roof worked great -- no snow dams or icicles...
The driveway -- not so much -- the streets weren't heated
If there were some exceptional power outage to the store resulting in unsafe roof conditions, do you really think people would be shopping under it? Knowing what we know about the other Michigan Avenue stores and similar cones and warnings, I simply cannot fathom what makes people "concerned" about Apple and its roof. It's hand-wringing of the first order.
I suspect Apple has backup power to keep the basic store systems operational -- not necessarily open for shopping, but for basic heating, lighting, security, etc.
I know right it's like people were jumping to conclusion with out having the whole story.
theyre actually fairly commonplace.
Also, not sure if you've heard, but Apple is pretty big on renewable energy.
"warming system in a cold and snowy climate must be quite expensive to power" From previous experience, they are low power consumption, typically DC, systems that have sensors and cycle times to keep costs low.
"they could have been much more environmentally considerate" It seems that you just have uninformed/non-factual opinion and guesses here? Or do you have some source you are not mentioning?
On a factual basis, one could argue that none of Apple's stores are energy efficient with their mostly glass exteriors. Even multi pane glass with non-conductive gases do not have the R value of a well insulated wall