Apple gave Bay Area media outlet KQED a tour of their currently under construction Apple Campus 2 project, providing an up close, ground level look at the project’s progress.
Apple’s new campus is being built with the environment in mind, with features like toilets that flush using recycled water, solar arrays for power, and even using recycled parts from older buildings that were demolished to make way for the new campus.
“What Apple inherited on the property was several older buildings, all of which were broken down and deconstructed,” says KQED Science reporter Amy Standen, following her tour of the site. “Much of the material from those old buildings was recycled into new building material to make the new campus, according to Apple.”
While previous peeks at the construction project have been from the air via drones, this is the first ground-level look at the massive bit of construction.
KQED identifies the photo below as that of Apple’s new amphitheater. Apple will likely use this space for town hall meetings and other important events.
Work on the new campus began in the last half of 2014, and is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2016. While much progress has been made, there is still plenty of work to be done before the new campus is complete, with more new offices, parking structures, testing facilities and more to be completed.
Local critics of the project complain the building’s design is too insular, and not well integrated into the community.
“Once the campus is open, Apple employees will have relatively little reason to leave the building,” says reporter Standen. “And some say, ‘Why not put this in the middle of San Jose? ‘”
Apple says Cupertino is the company’s home — and they are building a campus that fosters innovation.
For more information and additional photos, visit the KQED News’ website.
