By Shannon Liao | CNN
Apple opened its redesigned store on Fifth Avenue Friday after two years of renovations.
The tech giant has expanded the store, which is 21 feet underground, to nearly twice its original size.
Crowds lined up around the block Friday morning for the launch of the new iPhone 11. CEO Tim Cook and senior vice president of Retail + People Deirdre OBrien were on hand to open the doors to the first customers in line, as well as shake hands and pose for some selfies.
Apples former chief design officer Jony Ive was highly involved in the stores design, according to Stefan Behling, architect and senior executive partner at Foster and Partners — which helped design the stores update.
Although Ive departed the company in June, Behling said the timing worked out.
“The thing was 100% cooked by the time he [left],” Behling told CNN Business. “As an architect you already get into trouble if you make decisions late. But if you make decisions for a September opening in June, youre [done for].”
Apple confirmed Ives involvement but did not provide further comment. CEO Tim Cook opened the stores doors and took selfies with those who waited in line.
To enter the store, customers use either a stainless steel staircase that spirals down a long metal column or a vault-view elevator that provides a view of the sky above.
Apple added lots of trees. The original store had 6 trees outdoors — the new one has 28.
“The best place to be is actually outside,” said Behling. “In a city like Manhattan thats super high density, this is a relatively big space for you to relax, think and calm down.”
Some elements stayed the same, such as the Apple logo and glass cube on the street level and the type of stone Steve Jobs chose for the outside.
The lights in the store change color, depending on the time of day and amount of sunlight coming from the windows. They turn blue-ish in the mornRead More – Source
