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Steve Jobs Presents His Ideas For A New Apple Campus

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Re: Steve Jobs Presents His Ideas For A New Apple Campus

#61

Post by latch »

thematt wrote: post #25

I find it extremely interesting that they'll be using natural gas as their primary energy source for the campus and using the electrical grid as their backup. Is this really cost effective? Are many businesses doing this?

One of the benefit you get is that you don't lose ~7% from transmission/distribution. The other is that it burns cleaner than coal (but isn't as clean as Nuclear, or renewable as solar/wind/blah)

Beyond that, the cost comes down to availability. There are parts of the world where every single house has a natural gas line for heating (water and air). I've heard that in Japan, small/clean/quiet (relatively) generators are installed in some apartments and provide electricity.

This article has some information on natural gas usage in California. It seems like most of it come from out of state (or country): http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/puc/energy/gas/natgasandca.htm

Re: Steve Jobs Presents His Ideas For A New Apple Campus

#63

Post by jad »

jacoblyles wrote: post #37

Apple style - one monolithic building designed down to the square foot. Google style - a motley assortment of buildings spread out over a large campus, some of which are better than others.

Ypu're reaching. Didn't Jobs say at the beginning that Apple is currently in "a motley assortment of buildings spread out over a large campus, some of which are better than others."

Re: Steve Jobs Presents His Ideas For A New Apple Campus

#65

Post by rflrob »

tudorizer wrote: post #58

Is it bigger than the Pentagon?

It's close, depending on what you mean by size. Looking at the Pentagon diagram on wikipedia and using the above estimates of 1100-1200 feet for the Mothership, it's about comparable in diameter. I'm fairly sure the Pentagon rings are thicker, though, so that probably contributes to it's ability to house 26k (employees + support personnel) instead of Apple's 12-3k.

Re: Steve Jobs Presents His Ideas For A New Apple Campus

#66

Post by yid »

Locke1689 wrote: post #53
davepeck wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft's Redmond campus is pleasant, collegial, and consists of nondescript corporate buildings of varying design connected by wooded pathways and large lawns. Actually a really nice place to work. The campus has grown so much, however, that it has sprawled over several wide/ugly/pedestrian-unfriendly suburban roads in the process; there is substantially less greenery today than even a few years ago.

I worked in one of the main campus buildings that's been there for a while (Bldg 25) over the summer and walked to work every day. That is, hands down, one of the most pleasant walks I've had the joy of taking. I absolutely love the Microsoft main campus and think their design blends in perfectly. I'm not sure how to describe it but it just has this Seattle feel that makes the buildings seem very harmonious with the…

Chicago winters are where you come to atone for your transient enjoyment of other cities.

Re: Steve Jobs Presents His Ideas For A New Apple Campus

#67

Post by Tichy »

jacoblyles wrote: post #37

Apple style - one monolithic building designed down to the square foot. Google style - a motley assortment of buildings spread out over a large campus, some of which are better than others.

Has Apple found a way to make the sun shine from the North? Otherwise I think there will be rooms that are better than others in the round spaceship, too.

Re: Steve Jobs Presents His Ideas For A New Apple Campus

#68

Post by sylvinus »

sjwright wrote: post #48
guelo wrote: post #45

I don't know, I worked in a campus with a huge courtyard in the middle, though smaller than this, and it was mostly wasted unused space. I think it actually makes different parts of the company feel more isolated from each other because the other side of the building is so far way, the middle almost feels like an intimidating wilderness that you stay away from. If instead you have multiple smaller buildings connected…

I suspect the middle courtyard will have a lot of features not shown in the design, including meandering pathways, benches and lawns for laptop jockeys, full wifi coverage, and maybe even an outdoor cafe (or two, or three). It's the job of a landscape architect to create an environment that is both inviting for those walking outside, and serene for those looking out the window. Somehow I doubt they'll screw it up. (E…

I second this, don't forget Jobs' experience with "creative" spaces like the offices of Pixar.

Re: Steve Jobs Presents His Ideas For A New Apple Campus

#70

Post by swombat »

pjy04 wrote: post #8

They should have asked when the iPhone 5 is coming out Plus: very sneaky for the council to ask for free wifi, ipads, more apple stores, donations for schools in this presentation...

An architect friend of mine commented: "they always ask for free wifi".

He also said that it's amazing salesmanship on Steve Jobs' part to have pitched this and basically given nothing to the council. Most councils manage to squeeze all sorts of concessions from even large multinationals (e.g. banks in the UK). Steve gave them, basically, nothing - not even free wifi.

If they'd been more savvy they could probably have had their free wifi and Apple store - it's cheaper to Apple than relocating 10k employees to another city and drawing all the plans again from scratch. Steve may be known for holding grudges, but he's also a relatively rational businessman.

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