Let’s say Steve Jobs came to your little town and said he wanted to build an awesome frickin’ spaceship HQ there that would not only prettify the town and serve as a tourism draw, but also could provide an intergalactic life boat for the local populace in case worlds collide… what would you say?
“Hell [expletive] yes!” would be most people’s answer, and that’s just what Cupertino Mayor Gilbert Wong said in a press conference yesterday: there’s just no way we’re going to pass this opportunity up.
The importance of the project is quickly evident: not only did CEO Steve Jobs make a personal plea for the 150+ acre campus, but akin to you following your favorite Hollywood star, the City of Cupertino has a website with the sole purpose of tracking the progress of the new Apple headquarters. Jobs even posted his presentation ( a 2.3MB PDF) to the city leaders for download.
Wednesday, Wong put to rest any doubts the city would not approve the project, expected to break ground in early 2012. “Cupertino is ready for this, there is no chance we are saying no.” In an enthusiastic flourish, the mayor added: “The mothership really has landed here in Cupertino.”
Details of the project are slowly emerging. Although Apple paid $300 million for a 98-acre property adjoining its current headquarters in 2010, the plan quickly mushroomed, dwarfing even the Pentagon’s dimensions. Despite the size, Apple seems determined to keep much of the structure hidden, somewhat fitting for its usually tight-lipped manner. Although the four-story structure will house 12,000 employees, 90 percent of it will be underground, according to reports.
Additionally, apt to prompt applause from the environmental community, the new Apple headquarters reportedly will primarily use a natural gas-powered electrical generator with public electricity left as backup.
Although it appears approval is a shoe-in, the official okay from City of Cupertino leaders won’t happen until this fall. Until that time, you can keep up-to-date at the city’s website.
