Apple is currently constructing a new campus, known as Apple Campus 2, not far from its existing one in Cupertino, California. But the look of the new building is dramatic—it’s virtually something ripped straight out of science fiction, a giant, shimmering loop coated in solar panels. It looks breathtakingly impressive and possesses that distinct, terrifying-yet-exciting, bold new future vibe.
Now, thanks to the intrepid work of a drone pilots Matthew Roberts and Duncan Sinfield, there’s no need to sit around impatiently waiting to see what it looks like. Both have shared new videos documenting the new campus’s construction progress for December, captured with a drone from DJI.
Sinfield’s video, recorded on Christmas Day, shows nobody on site—the only day construction stopped, giving workers the day off and nearby residents some relief from hearing construction machinery. The site was also closed on Thanksgiving but some workers were still on site.
The footage shows much of the heavy equipment gone, with the entire site’s landscaping being developed on a larger scale than previously seen. Across the campus, the solar installations campus-wide are estimated to be around 65 percent complete. Additionally, a small solar array has popped up on ground level near the Tantau Avenue facility.
Additionally, many kinds of California-native trees have been planted around the city, giving the construction a more natural and green feel. Notably, the huge piles of thousands of tons of dirt for landscaping and to cover up the underground parking garage is completely gone, giving a more complete look at what the finished product will look like.
In 2011, Steve Jobs announced the project to the world, saying over 12,000 employees would work in the 2.8-million-square-foot “Spaceship” structure. While there is no official date on when the facility will open, we will certainly keep an eye on construction, expected to finish in 2017.
