The Observatory is Apple Park's picturesque new event space
Apple has opened a new building as part of the Apple Park campus, with The Observatory being a subterranean venue for product demonstrations, including the iPhone 16..
The outside view of Apple's new building, The Observatory [Dezeen]
Aside from the main building, visitors to Apple Park attending product launches will be familiar with the Steve Jobs Theater. However, a new building is being opened up to coincide with the "Glowtime" event that attendees will interact with for the first time with the iPhone 16.
Revealed in a series of photographs from Dezeen, The Observatory is Apple's latest construction effort. Taking the form of a subterranean building, the "contemplative space" will be used to demonstrate new products as part of launch events.
"When we built Apple Park, we wanted the entire campus to be seamlessly integrated into the landscape, and this building follows that same approach," said Apple global head of design (real estate and development), John De Maio.
The entranceway to The Observatory [Dezeen]
While an underground building may give off evil lair vibes, the photographs of the building offer something completely different in tone.
Using natural stone, terrazzo, and wood, the building is entered through a large circular entrance hall. At the top is a three-meter-wide (9.8 feet) oculus that brings in light from outside.
Inside The Observatory's main space [Dezeen]
Visitors are then taken to a main event space, which has a terrace with a "portal-like opening" to Apple Park. Borrowing some of the Apple Store town square aesthetic, the space has lots of seating and potted trees.
The construction of The Observatory was very environmentally-minded throughout, including its 100-percent use of renewable energy. For its construction, around 90 trees were removed, but they were then replanted after the project had been completed.
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Comments
As far as I can tell, there's a lot of -- how do I put this? -- outright dismissal/ignorance for decent acoustics.
A lot of Apple Stores have horrible acoustics and now I realize it's a major reason why I can't willingly stay in an Apple Store more than 10-15 minutes. Too many hard surfaces, too many sharp angles, almost no textiles. Visually a lot of these Apple spaces are striking but the acoustical properties in these locations are appalling.
Note that I feel the same way about a lot of non-Apple locations including some horrific places that were designed for performances. Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall -- home to the San Francisco Symphony -- debuted with heavily flawed acoustics. I'm not singling out Apple here, it's just that a lot of these sites with modern aesthetics are atrocious for sound. Davies Hall was notorious in that many of the symphony musicians couldn't hear some of their fellow musicians because of the terrible sound on stage.
After a couple of renovations, the acoustics at Davies Hall is now acceptable but it will never be a world-class venue for sound.
I've just been in too many buildings like Apple Stores or modern-ish performing arts centers that suck acoustically.
I'm really sorry to say this but the best way to (acoustically) experience an Apple Store is to put on a pair of AirPods Pro and enable active noise cancellation before stepping through the front door.
I really feel pity for the Apple Store workers who have to endure that acoustic hell for 8 hours. At some point companies will have to come to grips that a healthy workplace environment also includes the acoustics (much like air quality or workplace harassment). Hopefully it will not take Apple 20 years and a grassroots movement to understand this.