Apple’s iconic glass cube on Fifth Ave to temporarily come down

Retailer is renovating and expanding its flagship store

Apple's store outside the General Motors Building
Apple's store outside the General Motors Building

Apple’s iconic glass cube outside the General Motors Building is coming down temporarily as the retailer overhauls its store.

The city’s Department of Buildings issued a permit for the “full removal of a glass cubical structure at Apple store entrance” at the plaza outside 767 Fifth Avenue on April 12.

Apple is expanding its flagship location from 32,000 square feet to 77,000 square feet, as The Real Deal originally reported. In the meantime, it’s taking the former FAO Schwarz space before athletic apparel retailer Under Armour takes possession.

Apple’s job is expected to cost $2 million, as per the DOB filings, and demolition will be overseen by Englewood, New Jersey-based Waldorf Exteriors. The contractor-recommendation website BuildZoom first spotted the filings.

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One executive at a construction company told the New York Post that all parties involved signed documents agreeing not to discuss the project. Messages left with Boston Properties were not returned.

No permits have been issued to reinstall the cube. – Rich Bockmann