With plans underway to build two adjoining facilities on the border of Los Angeles and Culver City, Apple has signaled it means business in the entertainment industry. The new development will serve as its regional headquarters, the Cupertino tech giant said.
Apple, Netflix, HBO, Amazon and other streaming media players have added office and production space in the area in recent years. As recently as July, Apple reportedly searched for production space to lease for Apple TV+.
So Apple’s new move seems like a strong bet on streaming media continuing to grow even after the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic — even more homebound binge-watching than usual — have ebbed.
LA expansion of Apple TV+, Apple Music and more
The company currently has more than 1,500 employees in LA and Culver City. They include Apple TV+ and Apple Music personnel plus teams working on artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Apple stated in April it planned to spend $430 billion while creating 20,000 jobs in the U.S. over five years. The company said then the Culver City team would grow to 3,000+ employees by 2026. It added that the expanded workforce would, of course, need a larger campus.
Adding over half a million square feet
Once completed, the complex will cover 550,000 square feet, adding to about 500,000 square feet of office space the company occupies in the region now.
Apple has indicated it will be a “mixed use” facility, but it did not say what sort of production facilities might be included or when construction will be complete.
The two adjoining mid-rise buildings will cover parcels surrounded by Venice, National and Washington boulevards. Small retail and light industrial buildings.
Renewable energy will power the new complex, which will incorporate environmentally sustainable building features, Apple said.
