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Apple Reveals Fifth Avenue Cube Plans: Larger, Seamless Glass Panes

Tuesday August 9, 2011 6:34 am PDT by Eric Slivka

Back in June, Apple began work on a $6.6 million upgrade of the plaza and glass cube at its iconic flagship retail store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Barriers surrounding the plaza and the glass cube itself quickly went up, with customers continuing to access the store through a covered passageway leading to the main entrance. At the time the work began, planning documents revealed that Apple would be removing the glass cube and working on drainage, pavers, and bollards on the plaza, but it was unclear just what changes Apple would be making to the cube itself.

Apple has now revealed its plans for the cube with a new informational sign posted on the barrier surrounding the plaza, showing that the company is completely replacing the cube's glass panels with new, larger panels that will also be "seamless" for a cleaner appearance.

We're simplifying the Fifth Avenue cube. By using larger, seamless pieces of glass, we're using just 15 panes instead of 90.

According to the diagram of the new cube, Apple will be using three glass panes per side of the cube (plus the top), with each side pane stretching the entire height of the cube.

Apple last year filed for a trademark on the original design of the Fifth Avenue store's cube, seeking to protect what was recently ranked as one of the most-photographed sites in Manhattan based on a study of geotagged photos posted to Flickr and Picasa.

Thanks, Vincent!

Top Rated Comments

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JimmyDreams

104 months ago

I read somewhere that Apple needed those 90 glass panels for their glossy monitors.....

:rolleyes:

Rating: 10 Votes

xUKHCx

104 months ago

I wonder how long it will be until it is made of only 5 :eek:

Rating: 10 Votes

jonnysods

104 months ago

Apple buildings are easily the prettiest and most amazing retail structures going.

Rating: 9 Votes

840quadra

104 months ago

It is nice to see something from Apple before it is officially unveiled. I wish they did this with some of their products too ;) .

Very interesting. I was there on opening day. I wonder what useful improvements will be made over the cosmetic ones... :)

It will be much snappier™.

Rating: 8 Votes

DavidLeblond

104 months ago

Or 1!!! :D

Unibody Apple Store?

Rating: 8 Votes

RafaelT

104 months ago

I'd hate to be the guy responsible for dropping a piece of that glass...

Rating: 7 Votes

mkjj

104 months ago

FFS, who really cares?
There is Mac rumors..and there is Apple obsessive..it is just the fabric of a high street retail outlet for God's sake !!

There are stores, and then there are Apple Stores....

(To quote M&S!)

Rating: 7 Votes

marksman

104 months ago

Someone has money to burn. i guess this is what happens when you make tons of money off chinese workers

Q: what do you call grocery cashiers in China?

A: Chinese Checkers?

Do you feel like Chinese workers are being exploited to make Apple products? Do you know the status of the average Chinese citizen compared to one who works on products Apple produces? I think you would be surprised.

Rating: 7 Votes