Apple's new "spaceship" campus will be entirely closed off to outsiders, so don't count on taking a leisurely stroll through the quad or stopping by a new campus store anytime soon. That's just one of several details that Apple has begun revealing to neighbors as it prepares to build the new campus, which will act primarily as a research facility in Cupertino. (It won't replace the 1 Infinite Loop headquarters—at least not yet.) The company is asking neighbors for feedback on the designs before it finalizes the plans and begins building. Apple doesn't expect to occupy the new campus for another three years.
Apple has begun mailing pamphlets to neighbors of the new campus outlining the company's plans. 9to5Mac obtained one of these brochures and posted several photos—the letter to residents outlines the boundaries of "Apple Campus 2" and explains which changes will be made to the current landscape of the area. The company also highlighted its commitment to the environment and said that the main, ring-shaped 2.8 million square foot building (as well as the surrounding research buildings) will all be LEED certified. "Respect for our neighbors was a priority as we designed Apple Campus 2," wrote Apple.
Although the Campus 2 will have some of the same amenities as the original campus, such as a restaurant and fitness center, the general public won't be able to visit it. This is most likely to keep Apple's R&D work under even tighter wraps than it is at 1 Infinite Loop, which is often sprinkled with visitors and executives from other companies. Apple was also recently approved to build a separate off-campus restaurant in Cupertino for its employees so they can discuss projects freely without worrying about outsiders spying on their discussions.
The Campus 2 plans certainly appear to be moving along, but it's important to note that the city of Cupertino has yet to give its final approval (Apple says that's expected to happen later this year). Apple has been pitching the city on the idea of building a new research facility for at least six years now, but presented its current ring-shaped design to the city council in August of 2011. The company doesn't expect to occupy what many call the "spaceship campus" until 2015. Apple's executives will most likely stay behind at 1 Infinite Loop—at least until Apple turns it into a museum one day.
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