Apple NYC coming to Downtown Palo Alto?
Posted by Jessie Woodyard on Wed, Feb 03, 2010 @ 01:06 PM
There is a serious possibility of a new Apple store coming to downtown Palo Alto. The current store located at 451 University Ave - the heart of Downtown Palo Alto. It's hard to imagine it getting much more up-front-and-center than that but indeed, there is talk of retrofitting the old Z Gallerie space located at 340 University Ave., right next to Longs Drug and across the street from the popular restaurant Joya.
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson are the lead architects and if they are doing anything like what they've designed in the past, Palo Alto is in for a real treat.
You might have seen pictures of Bohlin's Apple store in New York City. If not, I've imbedded a few pictures below. Talk about infill, this store is perhaps the most creative use of sidewalk I've ever seen.
32' x 32' glass box that sits at the entrance of The GM Building mimicking the glass pyramid outside the Louve in Paris. 
Is this what Palo Alto is in store for?
Well, if they do take 340 University, the space will be about 10,700 square feet (50% larger than the store down the street).
Rumor has it, the new store's façade would be completely transparent up to about 25'; sidewalks meets Apple store.
There will be 2 new skylights installed- approximately 12' x 77' and 27' x 39'. 3 trees would be planted in the rear of the building just below one of these skylights. 27 LEED points could be achieved which would allow for a LEED Certificate.
The building is currently boarded up with little activity to note. Come this time next year though, we might be looking at something very different. We might be looking at "Before" and "After" pictures.
Want updates? Barry Swenson Builder is tracking Apple's progress and we'll be happy to keep you in the loop. Email: jwoodyard@barryswensonbuilder.com to keep in touch.