Apple’s Steve Jobs theater has a secret wall

After spending $5bn on its new ‘spaceship’ HQ, it may come as no surprise that the Steve Jobs theater hidden underground inside ‘the ring’ has a few tricks up its sleeve.

The Theater will be used for the first time next week to unveil the next generation iPhone, in a special event on 12th September.

According to Bloomberg, the underground auditorium has everything from leather seats to a revolving elevator and even a secret demo area hidden behind a revolving wall.

The entrance of the Steve Jobs Theater: Attendees to Apple events will use this circular building inside the ‘Spaceship’ to access the theater hidden below.

The Steve Jobs Theater has four underground levels, and according to Apple’s blueprints, journalists and other visitors get to it by descending a staircase spiraling down alongside the walls after entering the circular entrance – the only part visible from above.

The theater also has two specially made rotating elevators, which turn as they ascend and descend so that passengers enter and exit by the same door – even though they go in and out from different directions.

However, the lower level attendees see before entering the auditorium also has a hidden surprise.

Once the event is over, a giant interior wall will retract to reveal a demo area where journalists will be able to try out the new products, Bloomberg claims.  

Given the theater’s 1,000-person capacity, one engineer said back in March that the building’s budget meant each leather seat had cost Apple the equivalent of $14,000 apiece.

New photos shared online earlier this week show the underground portion of Apple’s new 1,000-seat Steve Jobs Theater for the first time.

While the upper part has been seen in other photos, this is the first look at the main part of the theater where the firm will unveil the new iPhone next week.  

The photos show lower and upper sections that appear to have bleacher seating, natural wood finishes, and a large stage in the front. 

New photos shared online show the underground portion of Apple's new 1,000-seat Steve Jobs Theater for the first time. This image appears to have been taken from an upper level of seats and shows the large stage

New photos shared online show the underground portion of Apple’s new 1,000-seat Steve Jobs Theater for the first time. This image appears to have been taken from an upper level of seats and shows the large stage

NEW LOOK AT THE STEVE JOBS THEATER 

While the upper part has been seen in other photos, this is the first look at the main part of the theater where the firm will unveil the new iPhone next week.  

The photos show lower and upper sections that appear to have bleacher seating, natural wood finishes, and a large stage in the front.

While the photos were just discovered and shared by MacMagazine, a user originally uploaded them to Google Maps at the end of June.

It’s probable construction on the theater has come along a great deal since they photos were taken and that these aren’t the current conditions.

But while the final aesthetics aren’t shown, the images give a good idea of what the buzzed-about theater will look like spatially and set the scene for the launch even next Tuesday.

It is, however, possible to spot what appears to be natural wood finished that contrast the minimal design and 20-foot glass walls of the above ground lobby. 

Additionally, Above Avalon founder Neil Cybart has shared diagrams of the new theater’s layout, noting it’s almost entirely underground. 

He also inquired as to how Apple will handle the exhibit space, which it appears attendees may have to pass by to get to the auditorium. 

The photos show lower and upper sections that appear to have bleacher seating, natural wood finishes, and a large stage in the front

The photos show lower and upper sections that appear to have bleacher seating, natural wood finishes, and a large stage in the front

.While the upper part has been seen in other photos, this is the first look at the main part of the theater where the firm will unveil the new iPhone next week. Multiple pictures show the seats, which appear to be bleacher-style

While the photos were just discovered and shared by MacMagazine , a user originally uploaded them to Google Maps at the end of June. It's probable construction on the theater has come along a great deal since they photos were taken and that these aren't the current conditions

.While the upper part has been seen in other photos, this is the first look at the main part of the theater where the firm will unveil the new iPhone next week. Multiple pictures show the seats, which appear to be bleacher-style

Apple usually keeps the exhibit space – where attendees can try out the new devices – off limits until after the presentation. 

Last week, a behind-the-scenes look at Apple’s nearly-finished headquarters in Cupertino was revealed thanks to Snapchat.

The Steve Jobs Theater is situated on top of a hill ¿ one of the highest points within Apple Park ¿ overlooking meadows and the main building. Opening on September 12th, the entrance to the 1,000-seat auditorium is a 20-foot-tall glass cylinder, 165 feet in diameter, supporting a metallic carbon-fibre roof

The Steve Jobs Theater is situated on top of a hill — one of the highest points within Apple Park — overlooking meadows and the main building. Opening on September 12th, the entrance to the 1,000-seat auditorium is a 20-foot-tall glass cylinder, 165 feet in diameter, supporting a metallic carbon-fibre roof

Apple will unveil the new iPhone on this stage next week on September 12. While the buzzed-about Steve Jobs Theater is expected to be ready for the event, the rest of Apple's $5 'spaceship' campus in Cupertino, California is still under construction

Apple will unveil the new iPhone on this stage next week on September 12. While the buzzed-about Steve Jobs Theater is expected to be ready for the event, the rest of Apple’s $5 ‘spaceship’ campus in Cupertino, California is still under construction

Construction workers building the Apple Park have been posting photos and videos of the firm’s new $5 billion headquarters, including the Steve Jobs Theater where Apple will unveil the new iPhone during a special event on September 12.

They show the exterior of the spaceship, the sleek walls of the new theater, the ‘Apple Campus tunnel,’ and several areas still under heavy construction. 

Above Avalon founder Neil Cybart has shared diagrams of the new theater's layout, noting it's almost entirely underground

Above Avalon founder Neil Cybart has shared diagrams of the new theater’s layout, noting it’s almost entirely underground

He also inquired as to how Apple will handle the exhibit space, which it appears attendees may have to pass by to get to the auditorium. Apple usually keeps the exhibit space - where attendees can try out the new devices - off limits until after the presentation

He also inquired as to how Apple will handle the exhibit space, which it appears attendees may have to pass by to get to the auditorium. Apple usually keeps the exhibit space – where attendees can try out the new devices – off limits until after the presentation

While the videos are not showing up on the Snapchat map, they can be found by typing ‘Apple Park’ into the Stories search feature. 

The stories all appear to be coming from construction workers, who are pictured in some of the videos taking breaks and using construction equipment. 

A behind-the-scenes look at Apple's nearly-finished headquarters in Cupertino has been revealed thanks to Snapchat

Construction workers have posted photos and videos of sleek walls on the interior as well as the exterior of the 2.8 million-square-foot office

A behind-the-scenes look at Apple’s nearly-finished headquarters in Cupertino has been revealed thanks to Snapchat. Construction workers have posted photos and videos of sleek walls on the interior as well as the exterior of the 2.8 million-square-foot office

The first video offers a look at the new 1,000-seat glass auditorium honoring Apple founder Steve Jobs, which measures 20 feet tall and 165 feet in diameter.

The theater is expected to open for the first time on September 12th for the launch of the iPhone 8 as well as the iPhone 7s and 7s Plus, a new version of the Apple Watch and a new 4K Apple TV. 

In subsequent videos, both interior and exterior walls of the 360-degree curved glass office building, which has been nicknamed ‘spaceship, can be seen.

Trees and foliage can also be seen in the background of some of the videos, lending to the idea that the landscaping is almost complete.  

It’s expected the final tree count will be around 9,000 and will include apple, apricot, and cherry trees.

Other shots show Apple signs, stairs, parking lots, and a modern-looking tunnel captioned ‘Apple Campus tunnel’ by one of the construction workers.

Several of the videos show heavy machinery and the construction workers operating various types of equipment. 

KEY FEATURES OF THE SPACESHIP-LIKE CAMPUS 

Appearing as a giant saucer, the Silicon Valley site near the 280 Highway will be home to 13,000 Apple employees.

There will be jogging and cycling trails, with more than a thousand bikes kept on site at all times, which staff can use to make their way around.

The Spaceship will have 360-degree curved glass fronted walls and central courtyard as well as a 1,000-seater auditorium, a gym and 300,000 square feet of ‘research’ space.

Apple Campus 2 will additionally have underground parking hidden from view, meaning 80 per cent of the site can be covered in trees. The site was previously owned by Hewlett Packard and the majority of the area is currently covered in asphalt.

Elsewhere underground, the auditorium will be where Apple’s CEO Tim Cook will present the companies keynotes ahead of product launches, for example. This auditorium will be covered with a circular glass pavilion that will also be an access point for employees and guests.

Natural gas will, primarily, provide the building’s power and the local energy grid will only be accessed in emergencies. 

The glass structure will also be fitted with solar panels. 

The circular, four-storey building will be around a mile in circumference and a third of a mile wide and was recently described by the San Fransisco Weekly as a ‘massive glass doughnut’.

The building stays eco-friendly with natural ventilation that works instead of air-conditioning for 70 per cent of the year, low energy LED lighting where natural light doesn’t reach, and on-site recycling.

The 2.8 million-square-foot ‘Apple Park’ campus was originally commissioned by the late Steve Jobs in 2009.

Jobs called it ‘the best office building in the world’ and the current Apple CEO, Tim Cook, now refers to it as a ‘gift’ to the future of Apple employees. 

Estimated to cost a staggering $5 billion, the campus was built on a massive 175 acres.

The finished product will span 2.8 million square feet and house 13,000 Apple techies. 

Inside the circular building, each floor will be lined with fins called ‘canopies,’ which will be equipped with specially designed vents on the underside that will allow the Ring to ‘inhale’ air and breathe.

The footage includes a look at the Steve Jobs Theater - where Apple will unveil the new iPhone at during a special event on September 12

It also show signs on the campus as well as construction and the foliage, which is expected to include 9,000 trees

The footage includes a look at the Steve Jobs Theater – where Apple will unveil the new iPhone at during a special event on September 12 – and the signs on the campus.

It is a stunning scene ¿ the sun setting over what Steve Jobs had called ¿the best office building in the world¿. The video shows parts of the spaceship lighting up as the sun starts to go down and although the main building looks near complete, the landscape suggests otherwise

It is a stunning scene – the sun setting over what Steve Jobs had called ‘the best office building in the world.’ The video shows parts of the spaceship lighting up as the sun starts to go down and although the main building looks near complete, the landscape suggests otherwise

Shafts placed elsewhere will allow it to exhale warm air to the outside.

It will be mostly self-sufficient with a ‘mini forest’ of thousands of drought-resistant trees planted in the surrounding area as well as a new micro-grid capable of delivering 17 megawatts of solar power and handling about 75 percent of the facility’s power requirements.

In total, it will have 805,000-square-feet of solar paneling. 

The campus will also have a 100,000 square-foot Fitness and Wellness Center – and, this will contain a two-story yoga room built from distressed stone from ‘the right quarry in Kansas,’ to mimic the stone at Jobs’ favorite Yosemite hotel. 

The building will have a massive four-story atrium as its café, with four-story glass doors that will open up on nice days so employees can eat outside.

The building will be home to scores of glass-encased ‘pods’ designed for the many different activities that will take place within its walls, from work and collaboration to socializing, according to Wired.

Apple began developing the project in 2014 and has since been working around the clock to finish the campus, which opened to employees in April – although the entire space is not yet complete. 

THE OBSESSION WITH DETAIL INSIDE ‘APPLE PARK’

Construction on Apple’s futuristic campus has been estimated to cost roughly $5 billion.

Apple has specified every part of the project with rules for contractors, and features include:  

  • ‘Breathing building’ that uses soffits beneath the canopies to inhale, and shafts to exhale warm air – as Steve Jobs hated air conditioning and fans
  • Artificial hills and a mini-forest of 9,000 native trees, all drought-resistant with hopes they can ‘survive a climate crisis’ with some hand picked by Jobs
  • 100,000-square-foot Fitness and Wellness Center (including a two-story yoga room made of distressed stone to look like Steve Jobs favourite Yosemite hotel)
  • Canopies (fins along the glass) on every floor to help the building ‘breathe’ 
  • A cafe with four-story glass doors that will open up on nice days so employees can eat outside
  • ‘Pods’ designed for the many different activities that will take place within its walls, from work and collaboration to socializing
  • 1,000-seat Steve Jobs Theater 
  • 805,000 square-feet of solar panelling
  • 755-foot tunnel adorned with thousands of tiny white tiles
  • Shock absorbers to withstand earthquakes
  • Offices panelled with ‘custom timber veneer’ from recycled wood – and guidelines for the special wood used frequently throughout the building ran to some 30 pages
  • Patented pizza boxes to keep food from getting soggy
  • Contractors were told no vents or pipes could be reflected in the glass 

Timelapse videos have shown a birds’ eye view of the construction of the site from 2015 to 2017.

The video begins with the ‘spaceship’ in the center of Apple Park standing as gray, lifeless pieces.

As time goes by, it begins the take shape – the gaps are filled in to make the iconic circle.

The surrounding area also progresses during the timelapse, as viewers can see the Steve Jobs Theater and wellness center rise from the dirt.

And surrounding artificial hills and mini-forests also begin to sprout up.

Although the campus is not yet fully completed, Apple has not shied away from boasting about the wonders that it will soon be home to.

A drone video released in May also shows stunning footage of the developing headquarters as well.

Duncan Sinfield, a YouTuber and independent drone pilot, shared the 4 minute and 41 second video of the progress.

The video shows parts of the spaceship lighting up as the sun starts to go down and although the main building looks near complete, the landscape suggests otherwise.

Parts of the campus still looks very much like a construction zone- there are mounds of dirt and empty space that should be filled with lush vegetation. 

This image is an artist's impression of what the Apple Campus 2 will look like from above when its complete. The site will be surrounded by a man-made forest featuring 7,000 trees. It was previously owned by Hewlett Packard and is currently covered in around 80 per cent asphalt

This image is an artist’s impression of what the Apple Campus will look like from above when its complete. The site will be surrounded by a man-made forest featuring 9,000 trees

Not all of the parking spaces will be hidden. The parts of the multi-storey car park that will be on show, according to this image from Apple, will be covered in plants and greenery to help the concrete structure blend in

Not all of the parking spaces will be hidden. The parts of the multi-storey car park that will be on show, according to this image from Apple, will be covered in plants and greenery to help the concrete structure blend in

During his initial proposals, Apple's co-founder Steve Jobs said he wanted the building to be covered in 40ft floor-to-ceiling panes of curved glass so that all of the building's four storeys would be visible from the outside and offer a large amount of natural light (pictured). Pictured is an artist's impression

During his initial proposals,Jobs said he wanted the building to be covered in 40ft floor-to-ceiling panes of curved glass so that all of the building’s four storeys would be visible from the outside and offer a large amount of natural light

More than $1 billion was allocated for the interior of the main building alone, according to a former construction manager.

The campus is something of an exception to the trend of radically open offices aimed at fostering collaboration, said Louise Mozingo, a professor and chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at University of California, Berkeley.

Its central office building – a massive ring of glass frequently likened to a spaceship – could be a challenge just to navigate, she noted.

‘It’s not about maximizing the productivity of the office space, it’s about creating a symbolic center for this global company,’ she said. ‘They are creating an icon.’

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