flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

New $5 Billion Apple Headquarters Has a Glass Problem

Glass and Glazing

New $5 Billion Apple Headquarters Has a Glass Problem

The substantial use of glass on the interior of Apple Park has caused headaches for some employees, literally.


By David Malone, Associate Editor | March 5, 2018
Apple Headquarters Building - New $5 Billion Apple Headquarters Has a Glass Problem

Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Apple Park, the $5 billion Apple headquarters building in Cupertino, Calif., is as futuristic an office as you are likely to find. In order to create a sleek, futuristic aesthetic for employees, the complex’s design incorporated an extensive amount of glass walls and partitions. While the glass helps to create an open, airy floor plan, there appears to be an unintended consequence to all of the transparent walls.

As CBS San Francisco reports, employees are having difficulty seeing the glass walls and, as a result, are running into them, often times injuring themselves. That’s right, while some new buildings such as U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota have had issues with their extensive use of glass proving harmful to bird populations, Apple’s new campus is proving just as difficult to navigate for its human employees.

On more than one occasion calls have been placed to 911 describing employees that are bleeding or disoriented after colliding with the partitions. The current solution for the deleterious walls has been to stick small white stickers on the glass panes to help make them more visible. Whether a more permanent solution will be found remains to be seen.

Related Stories

Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | May 29, 2018

A shape-shifting aesthetic and energy efficiency define Manhattan’s iconic VIA 57 West

An audacious residential structure in New York City preserves spectacular outdoor views while minimizing solar heat gain.

Sponsored | | May 24, 2018

Accelerate Live! sponsor talk: The impact of new fire rated glazing technologies to design, performance, and the environment

In this 10-minute sponsor talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), Tim Nass, VP of Sales with SAFTI FIRST Fire Rated Glazing Solutions, details emerging applications for fire rated glazing technology.

| Apr 27, 2018

SAFTI FIRST receives U.S. Patent for fire resistive glass floor system up to 2 hours

USA-made GPX FireFloor System receives U.S. Patent 9,926,709 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office

Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Apr 4, 2018

The benefits of well-designed spaces in today's public workplace

Combining today’s collaborative spaces with workers’ needs.

75 Top Building Products | Mar 22, 2018

101 Top Products: Glass + Glazing

Among the best glass + glazing products included in BD+C's Top 101 Products report are Guardian Industries' CrystalBlue Glass, SageGlass's Electrochromic Glass, and Technical Glass Products’ Fireframes TimberLine Series.

Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Mar 20, 2018

'A sense of place': Connectivity and healing at ProMedica Health and Wellness Center

With 23 interconnected standard clinic modules, the center is designed for ease of movement for patients, staff and supplies.

Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Feb 1, 2018

Subtle or striking, always flexible

Interior design possibilities with the latest interior glass products

Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Nov 21, 2017

Back-painted glass: Luxury effects made easy

Products that give an elevated energy to their environment are important for builders and designers to consider.

Glass and Glazing | Nov 20, 2017

Smart glass maximizes comfort at Bowie State University

By blocking sunlight on hot days, the electrochromic glass will help reduce energy demand in the building.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category




halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021