Tech giant Apple has set a date for the opening of its new headquarters and revealed that it features a building named in tribute to founder Steve Jobs.
Until now, Apple’s incredible 2.8 million square foot main building and its leafy surroundings were known as Campus 2.
But the stunning development in the Santa Clara Valley has now been officially been named Apple Park.
The massive building at the centre, which we’ve dubbed the “Fruit Loop”, features the world’s largest panels of curved glass.
Apple will begin moving its 12,000 staff into the building in April, although construction will continue throughout the summer.
It will be surrounded by 175 acres of grasslands and forest featuring 9,000 native and drought-resistant trees.
The Apple Park will also feature an building called the Steve Jobs Theatre which pays tribute to the firm’s legendary founder.
This building will contain a 1,000-seat auditorium within a 20-foot-tall glass cylinder, 165 feet in diameter, covered by a metallic carbon-fibre roof.
“Steve’s vision for Apple stretched far beyond his time with us. He intended Apple Park to be the home of innovation for generations to come,” said Tim Cook, Apple CEO.
“The workspaces and parklands are designed to inspire our team as well as benefit the environment. We’ve achieved one of the most energy-efficient buildings in the world and the campus will run entirely on renewable energy.”
Laurene Powell Jobs, Steve's wife, added: “Steve was exhilarated, and inspired, by the California landscape, by its light and its expansiveness. It was his favourite setting for thought. Apple Park captures his spirit uncannily well.
“He would have flourished, as the people of Apple surely will, on this luminously designed campus.”
The Apple Park will also include a visitors' centre with an Apple Store and cafe open to the public as well as a 100,000-square-foot fitness centre for Apple employees.
Its parklands will feature two miles of walking and running paths for employees plus an orchard, meadow and pond within the centre of the ring.
The project was designed in collaboration with Foster + Partners and replaces five million square feet of asphalt and concrete.
Briton Jony Ive, Apple’s chief design officer, said: “Steve invested so much of his energy creating and supporting vital, creative environments. We have approached the design, engineering and making of our new campus with the same enthusiasm and design principles that characterise our products.
"“Connecting extraordinarily advanced buildings with rolling parkland creates a wonderfully open environment for people to create, collaborate and work together."
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