Apple’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City is a beautiful piece of architecture, with its shining glass exterior and 20,000 square feet of underground retail space. The giant Apple logo suspended midair in glass is an unmistakable landmark for daily commuters and tourists alike.
Apple started renovating its Fifth Avenue store last summer. The $6.6 million project focuses on upgrading the plaza and iconic glass cube that stands on top of the retail space.
Back when Apple originally started construction, it was unclear as to what would be done to the glass cube’s design. The barrier that Apple put up around the glass cube left much room for speculation. Apple re-routed customers through a covered passageway that led to the store’s entrance.
A new sign has been posted on the barrier surrounding the Apple store’s glass construct, and it has been revealed that Apple will completely replace the glass cube with larger, “seamless” glass panels.
“We’re simplifying the Fifth Avenue cube. By using larger, seamless pieces of glass, we’re using just 15 panes instead of 90.”
The new diagram reveals that the glass cube will have three panes of glass on each side, with each pane stretching the full length of the cube. Pretty slick.
This redesign is part of what some are calling the Apple store ‘2.0’ initiative, with Apple looking to revamp and invest more in its retail locations around the world. The addition of iPad Smart Signs could be seen as part of this plan, while Apple is also looking to open more flagship locations, like the upcoming store in Grand Central Station.
(via MacRumors)
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
17 responses to “Apple’s Fifth Avenue Store to Feature Simplified, Seamless Glass Panes”
Guess when you have more cash on hand than the US Govt a little thing like $6.6 million for a cosmetic change is chump change. But not what I would consider a necessary expenditure. It’s not like the 90 pieces of glass were “totally ugly” or leaking.
As F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote in The Rich Boy, ” “Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me.”
Think Different?
New York Times headlines the day after the revamped store opens:
“Thousands of mimes trapped in glass box turns out to be customers who cannot find the exit door to Apple’s newest store”
I just paiid $21.87 for an i P a d2-64GB and my girlfriend loves her Panasonic Lumix GF 1 Camera that we got for $38.76 there arriving tomorrow by UPS. I will never pay such expensive retail prices in stores again. Especially when I also sold a 40 inch LED TV to my boss for $657 which only cost me $62.81 to buy. Here is the website we use to get it all from, http://to.ly/aUia
what a complete and utter waste of time and money. Oh well, it’s theirs to burn…
there are probably other reasons behind it…like maybe they plan to reuse the 90 panels in the new cupertino building or something like that.
I suspect this is more an engineering exercise than cosmetic. They have penned a 4 story tall glass spaceship for the new HQ. Reducing the number of panels would reduce cost and maintenance. My question is why they are using a German firm to make the glass rather than right here at home.
There are very few companies in the world that make this kind of structurally reinforced glass. http://www.seele.com/ It’s highly specialized – I don’t believe there is a company in the US that can do this.
Doubtful, but it is nice that you see the best in people.
Best comment I’ve read in a while.
+1