Apple to build large office complex at Cupertino campus 

Apple plans to redevelop parts of its Cupertino campus, according to documents filed with the city. The Silicon Valley municipality has given the tech giant the go ahead by approving its development permit.

Apple’s headquarters is located at 19191 Vallco Parkway. Plans call for adding about 140,000 square feet of office space. The redevelopment area consists of 8 acres, where Apple will  demolish an existing 141,024-square-foot office building and replace it with a four-story, 282,320-square-foot building. The new building will feature 2,300 square feet of retail, which will most likely be a bike shop. 

“That’s the use we think it’s going to be [bike shop] given its proximity to a trail; the zoning does allow for other uses. … But we really want to open a bike shop there,” Gary Chao from Apple, said at a public meeting.

Additional plans call for the development of two parking structures and a 9,000 square foot outdoor plaza. 

Chao presented the plans to the Cupertino City Council. Some members of the council questioned if Apple had future plans to vacate the property and rent it out to other businesses. Chao confirmed that the new buildings are intended for Apple employees.

Apple expanded its Silicon Valley presence earlier this year with the lease of a 150,000-square-foot building in Sunnyvale owned by Los Angeles-based Kilroy Realty. With this deal and the Cupertino expansion, Apple’s Silicon Valley office footprint has reached 724,000 square feet. 

While Apple works to expand its Silicon Valley presence, it has offloaded assets as well. In a deal with Santa Clara County, the tech company gave the county 5 vacant acres it owns at 10333 North Wolfe Road. In return, the county would give Apple 1.5 vacant acres at 10591 North De Anza Boulevard, the site of a former Outback Steakhouse across the street from Apple’s corporate hub.

The county plans to build workforce housing for between 75 to 100 teachers and staff on a third of its new site, south of Interstate 280 and the Apple Park campus. The project, which has yet to secure funding, also could open the door for more affordable housing in Cupertino, where the housing shortage is acute and the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $3,140.