X

Apple's 'spaceship'-like campus reboot (images)

Apple is still in the planning stages for its new headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. Here's what the campus will look like.

Josh Lowensohn
Josh Lowensohn joined CNET in 2006 and now covers Apple. Before that, Josh wrote about everything from new Web start-ups, to remote-controlled robots that watch your house. Prior to joining CNET, Josh covered breaking video game news, as well as reviewing game software. His current console favorite is the Xbox 360.
Josh Lowensohn
slide-3.png
1 of 14 Apple/City of Cupertino

Apple's proposed campus 2.0

Apple this week detailed its plans to build a new campus in Cupertino, Calif., where its current headquarters are situated. The new campus would house 12,000 of the company's employees under one roof, as well as take advantage of technologies the company's picked up by building its retail stores over the years.

Click on to see more views.

old-and-new.png
2 of 14 Apple/City of Cupertino

From the sky

Here you can see Apple's existing headquarters on the bottom left, with the new site situated on the top right.

slide-8.png
3 of 14 Apple/City of Cupertino

Floor plans

Apple's new campus will house its own energy center to power the complex. It also splits apart the research and development facilities from the main building.

slide-10.png
4 of 14 Apple/City of Cupertino

Lots of glass

Like Apple's retail stores, Apple's new campus will have a heavy focus on glass. During his presentation to the city council earlier this week, CEO Steve Jobs said there won't be single piece of straight glass in the building.

slide-2.png
5 of 14 Apple/City of Cupertino

The spaceship has landed

Jobs referred to the building as looking like a spaceship. Here's what it would look like at the new site.

slide-11.png
6 of 14 Apple/City of Cupertino

Nested in the trees

Apple's said it plans to increase the landscaping on the property by 350 percent, as well as increase the number of trees by 60 percent.

Slide-4.png
7 of 14 Apple/City of Cupertino

Sun through the trees

A rendering of the new campus at daybreak.

Slide-7.png
8 of 14 Apple/City of Cupertino

More landscaping

The pathways around the building are featured in this rendering. Is she rocking out on an iOS device perhaps?

Slide-5.png
9 of 14 Apple/City of Cupertino

Tucked away

Renderings of Apple's new building show it tucked away from any nearby roads or intersections. Apple's current campus is both right next to the freeway and De Anza Boulevard.

Slide-6.png
10 of 14 Apple/City of Cupertino

More pathways

This rendering gives you an idea of how much land Apple's campus would take up.

Pentagon.png
11 of 14 Office of the secretary of defense

The Pentagon

An aerial shot of the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia. Cupertino city mayor Gilbert Wong commented during Wednesday's press conference that Apple's building was a similarly large undertaking.

Screen_shot_2011-06-09_at_1.31.37_PM.png
12 of 14 Foster + Partners/URS Group

Concept for National Museum of African American History and Culture

An aerial rendering of Foster + Partners/URS Group's concept for a circular National Museum of African American History and Culture. The Smithsonian ended up going with another design, and will break ground on that building next year.

anillo_GYG_02.JPG
13 of 14 Jose Maria Sanchez Garcia Architectural

Centro de Tecnificacion Deportiva in Spain

The Centro de Tecnificacion Deportiva in western Spain is a large, circular building designed by José María Sánchez García. It too is surrounded by trees, though is focused on training athletes rather than create new technology.

Screen_shot_2011-06-09_at_1.49.05_PM.png
14 of 14 Google Maps

The Hirshhorn museum and sculpture garden

The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. features a perfectly round design, much like Apple's plans. It was designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft, with construction beginning in 1969.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos