First announced by Steve Jobs in 2006, Apple kicked off construction on its new 176-acre “Campus 2” in late 2013/early 2014 and expects to move in around 12,000 of its employees when the project is complete. Apple currently plans to wrap up construction by late 2016, so it’s possible the company could move into the new 2.8 million sq ft location starting sometime in early 2017.
Apple has been providing sporadic updates on progress on the site, but we have a more comprehensive timeline below that we’ll update as we follow along with Apple’s progress on the under-construction Campus 2 facility in Cupertino.
We start things off with video of Steve Jobs’ original presentation to city council in Cupertino back in April, 2006, where he first announced the company’s plans for Campus 2:
April, 2006:
Steve Jobs announces Campus 2 plans to Cupertino City Council
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWYvJ6nHeGM
June, 2011:
Steve Jobs presents a proposal for the new campus to the City of Cupertino
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtuz5OmOh_M]
First renders surface as Cupertino approves of proposal
June, 2012:
Detailed site plans and permits surface
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- 6 Introduction
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- 3 Site Plan & Landscape
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- 16 Site Plan & Landscape
Sept, 2012:
Detailed blueprints & indoor renderings leak
New images of Apple’s Campus 2 building show amazing detail [Gallery]
April, 2013:
Report says Apple’s spaceship campus is $2B over budget
November, 2013:
New renders of Apple’s Spaceship HQ provide the most detailed view yet
February, 2014:
Earthwork and demolition begins
July, 2014:
City of Cupertino provides update on Apple’s Campus 2 progress with new aerial shot
August, 2014:
City of Cupertino shares official updated aerial shot of Apple’s Campus 2 and surrounding area
Apple ‘spaceship’ campus construction caught on film by flying drone
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfZvimPkKio]
September, 2014:
Tim Cook says new Apple ‘Spaceship’ HQ will be the greenest building on the planet
Apple provides facts & figures to support “greenest building on the planet” claims
October, 2014:
Majority of Apple Campus 2 foundation laid according to latest drone video
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDv-mdNw1Nk]
November, 2014:
Apple & Cupertino share new Campus 2 aerial shot showing construction progress
December, 2014:
Apple planning to spend $161 million on its own auditorium at ‘spaceship’ campus
January, 2015:
Apple shares updated aerial image showing Campus 2 construction progress
Apple Campus 2 progress shown off in 4K drone flyover video
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj8cI4G5_PQ]
February, 2015:
Apple provides first on the ground ‘sneak peek’ of its new campus as construction continues
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- Image via KQED
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- Image via KQED
-
- Image via KQED
Apple’s Campus 2 gets off the ground w/ erection of main structures in new drone flyover (4K Video)
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZTRTv56k58]
Apple shares latest official aerial shot through Cupertino’s website (Feb. 17):
Tim Cook inspects the last of 2400 giant glass panels for Campus 2 at glass maker seele in Augsburg (Feb. 23):
[tweet https://twitter.com/tim_cook/status/569868529064943616]
Apple shares new Campus 2 aerial shot of construction progress on city site (Feb. 28)
March, 2015:
Latest 4K drone video of Apple Campus 2 posted, roof now started
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGmq9e7ifLY]
Apple shares new official aerial shots in March
March 23
March 25
Apple recycled water project for Cupertino & Campus 2 approved amid California drought concerns
March 30
New Apple Campus 2 drone flyover gives up close look at construction progress (in 4K!)
[youtube=https://youtu.be/9vy6M3qXbdQ]
April, 2015:
April 3
Beautiful aerial photography shows Apple’s latest Campus 2 construction progress
April 6
April 14
April 21
Reader @AsimMomin22 sent in this shot taken during a recent flight over the site:
April 28, 2015: Apple’s latest official aerial shot via The City of Cupertino
May, 2015:
May 1st: Apple shares a new image showing construction progress:
May 12:
May 12: Drone master @myithz sent in these new photos of Campus 2 from 375ft up:
May 18: Drone flies low to give first close-up look at Apple’s new Campus 2 auditorium (Video)
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV0XaTH7KWE]
May 19:
May 27:
June, 2015:
June 5: The latest official aerial shot from Apple:
June 30: Latest Apple Campus 2 drone flyover shows the spaceship taking off
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH7Ct-VMqtQ]
July 14:
August, 2015:
Aug 19:
Aug 31:
Aug 31: Drone pilot Duncan Sinfield shares a new flyover of the site (via MacRumors)
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FqH02gN29o]
October, 2015:
October, 5: new drone footage courtesy of MyithZ:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj5zSunX8UQ]
October, 19: Apple shares Campus 2 aerial shot showing progress on solar panels, glass walls, and more:
October, 26: Apple’s latest Campus 2 aerial shot with an angle that shows the significant progress made on the main circular structure in recent months:
November, 2015:
November, 1: A new drone flyover from Duncan Sinfield (via MR):
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUias4L-Znc]
November, 17: Apple’s latest official aerial shot via the City of Cupertino:
November, 21: A new official aerial shot via the City of Cupertino:
December, 2015:
December, 4: A new drone flyover from Duncan Sinfield (via MR) shows off a ton of progress made in recent weeks including on the underground auditorium Apple is building not far from the main circular building:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X7RCNGo9qA]
December, 20: Some new footage courtesy of this month’s 60 Minutes piece on Apple.
December, 21: Apple’s latest aerial shot of Campus 2 via The City of Cupertino:
January, 2016:
Jan 4: Apple’s latest aerial shot of Campus 2 construction progress via the City of Cupertino:
Feb, 2016:
Feb 1: Latest Apple Campus 2 flyover gives up close look as exterior nears completion [Video]
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_w1LGDHEps]
Feb 2: Apple latest official aerial shot via the City of Cupertino:
Feb 8: Another official aerial shot from Apple via the the City of Cupertino:
Feb 22: New photos of glass panels, the largest curved pieces of glass in the world, recently installed at Campus 2 (via DailyMail):
Mar, 2016:
Mar 3: Apple makes progress on Campus 2 solar panels, R&D facility, auditorium & more in latest flyover [Video]
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIS0goqasgk]
Mar 7: Apple shares details & photos of Campus 2 ‘Theatre’ where it will hold future product launches
Mar 29: Apple’s latest aerial photo of Campus 2 construction progress via City of Cupertino.
Apr, 2016:
Apr 27: Ground-level video takes us for a walk through Apple’s Campus 2
May, 2016:
May 2: Apple Campus 2 drone flyover shows progress on the Theatre, solar panels, R&D facility & more [Video]
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUs_YrLvA0k]
May 31: An update as we head into June with a new flyover of the site today and some aerial shots:
June, 2016:
Jun 13: Popular Science takes us on a tour of Apple’s Spaceship Campus construction [Video]
Jun 30: Apple Campus 2 drone flyover captures progress on solar panels & fuel cells, underground theater, and R&D buildings
Aug, 2016:
Aug 5: Latest Spaceship Campus drone footage shows landscaping underway; emphasizes scale
Sept, 2016:
Sept 1: Apple’s Campus 2 gets some green with solar/fuel cells & landscaping in latest drone flyovers
Sept 30: Apple’s spaceship glows to life at Campus 2 in latest drone flyovers
Oct, 2016:
Oct 6: Report: Apple to unify cloud services backend with new ‘Pie’ platform, will move all employees into one campus
Oct 12: Ground shots at Campus 2:
Oct 26: Apple prepares for finishing touches at Campus 2, extends construction schedule into 2017
Oct 31: Latest Apple Campus 2 drone videos show outer facade almost complete, new landscaping & more
Nov, 2016:
Nov 11: Apple begins hiring staff for new Campus 2 ahead of move-in early next year
Nov 21: Apple’s latest official aerial shot via City of Cupertino:
Dec, 2016:
Dec 8: Apple shows enormity of rapidly progressing Campus 2 w/ interior shots ahead of move-in
Dec 11: 4K drone footage timelapse dramatically illustrates pace of Campus 2 construction [Video]
Dec 26: Apple Campus 2 4K drone footage captures auditorium close-ups, much more [Video]
Dec 29: New aerial images from SkyIMD (via MR):
Jan, 2017:
Jan 11: Apple’s Campus 2 starts looking less like a construction site as it prepares for grand opening [Video]
Feb, 2017:
Feb 7: Apple spaceship campus interior details: polished concrete ceilings, iPhone-like elevator buttons, flat doorways
Feb 22: Apple’s spaceship campus officially named Apple Park; auditorium is Steve Jobs Theater [Gallery]
Feb 27: First drone footage since naming of Apple Park shows completed parking garage & more [Video]
Mar, 2017:
Mar 4: Latest drone footage offers clearest look yet at Apple Park ahead of next month’s opening [Video]
Mar 7: Rumor: iPad event speculated to be April 4th at Steve Jobs Theater on new Apple Park campus
Mar 15: Latest drone footage of Apple Park makes iPad event there look unlikely [Video]
Mar 15: Apple Maps updated with proper Apple Park details and satellite imagery [Gallery]
Mar 30: Apple Park drone flyover shows signs of life at the spaceship as move-in begins
Apr, 2017:
April 12: As we wait for Apple to finish the real thing, watch a Minecraft tour of Apple Park now [Video]
Apr, 19: Latest drone footage shows work on Apple Park continuing into the night, offers look inside [Video]
May, 2017:
May 2: Tim Cook auctioning lunch meeting at Apple Park for charity [U]
May 14: Latest drone video shows how Apple Park construction has progressed over the last year
May 16: Photos posted from exclusive tour inside Apple Park, with video coming soon [Gallery]
May 30: Latest Apple Park drone tour provides our first peek inside the Steve Jobs Theater [Video]
June, 2017:
June 1: Latest flyover footage offers look at Apple Park cafe as finishing touches continue [Video]
Jun 14, 2017: A stroll through Apple Park reveals green landscape progressing [Gallery]
Oct 4, 2017: Report breaks down cost of $5B Apple Park, $427M spaceship, $180M theater, $113M parking structures, and more
Nov 8, 2017: Apple to hold Apple Park Visitor Center grand opening on November 17
Nov 13, 2017: Before the spaceship: A look back at the previous campuses that Apple called home
Nov 17, 2017: Hands-on with Apple Park Visitor Center’s AR campus experience [Video]
Nov 18, 2017: A brief tour of Apple Park’s new visitor center [Video]
January 26, 2017: Apple now given permission to move employees into five of the 12 Apple Park sections
January 29, 2017: Review: Living with Vitra’s Pacific Chair, Jony Ive’s choice for Apple Park
February 16, 2018: Some ‘distracted’ Apple employees accidentally walking into Apple Park’s clear glass panes, claims report
Mar 21, 2018: Sculptures of Apple Park, Sunnyvale campus on display at new exhibition of technology architecture
Apr 16, 2018: Apple Park drone pilot thinks company tracking all flights, planning counter-measures [Video]
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That is one hell of an article, thanks Jordan! No other Apple centric website has this.
Thanks, Phil!
Very nice! I would love to see a documentary on this building.
I’m sure Apple is filming All of it!
And they’ll probably show it at the building inauguration.
It’s so incredibly beautiful… I work in a high rise, and just the thought of working on a self-contained campus like this, with surrounding greenery and serenity makes me drool with envy.
The US now needs several more large shapes, to complete the set of geometric campuses. The circle and the pentagon are a good start.
Borg cube? Borg sphere? (These would have to levitate somehow…)
I don’t think there will be any “serenity” for occupiers of houses and businesses in the immediate surrounding streets – (see my other remark in a contribution just below)
So what the hell should Apple have done, build their HQ in the desert?
The site seems very tight in its surrounding environment – I do wonder how the influx of the huge numbers of staff every morning will affect the traffic in the immediate neighbourhood.
I admit I don’t see it in the overhead shots now, but I swore in the original proposal it was going to essentially have it’s own freeway exit. That said, given the mass of the building, I think it is only adding a few thousand employees overall, and I know the streets immediately around the site have been upgraded.
From the air shots it looks like it is in the middle of a tightly packed residential area – does anyone familiar with the immediate area know otherwise ?
What an awesome article, I just spent a fair bit of time there watching the videos and looking over all the images. Brilliant job guys!
This is the last great brainchild of Steve Jobs.