After teasing its return with an eye-popping iridescent cover, Apple’s redesigned Fifth Avenue store has finally been revealed. Apple on Thursday released a preview on its website with new pictures and details about the work that went into transforming the landmark store.
Apple said the redesigned store is nearly double the size of the original, with higher ceilings and more natural light. There’s a new Forum for daily Today at Apple sessions, and the area dedicated to Geniuses has also been doubled.
The redesigned plaza is lined by 28 honey locust trees bordered with linear fountains providing a welcome and quiet setting to gather and sit. At the center stands the dramatic glass cube flanked by 18 mirror-glass Skylenses and 62 skylights that flood natural light into the expanded store below. Visitors enter by descending the new stainless steel spiral staircase, or by riding the dynamic circular elevator into the grand hall. The staircase is a remarkable design achievement with 43 cantilevered stair treads that support a floating cylinder of glass. Above is a back-lit, cloud-like ceiling made from curved fabric that combines artificial and natural light to match the real-time tones of sunlight throughout the day.
Remarkably, the Fifth Avenue store will be staffed with 900 employees who speak over 30 languages, Apple said, making it the perfect representation for New York City, which has for years been a hub for the world.
Apple said its Fifth Avenue store will reopen on September 20 at 8 a.m. ET, the same day the new iPhones and Apple Watch Series 5 launch. After the store reopens, it’ll be the only location that’s open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.