Apple to Build $2B 'Global Command Center' in Former GT Advanced Plant

Apple plans to take over the Mesa, Arizona factory where GT Advanced was formerly producing sapphire boules, transforming the facility into a massive $2 billion data center, reports CNBC. The data center will reportedly act as a "command center" for Apple's global data network.

gtadvancedlocation
According to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, the center will house 150 full-time Apple employees and its construction at the 1.3 million square foot facility will create 300 to 500 additional jobs.

In a statement, Apple called the investment one of the largest it had ever made and pledged that the facility would run on 100 percent renewable energy like the company's other data centers.

"This multibillion-dollar project is one of the largest investments we've ever made, and when completed it will add over 600 engineering and construction jobs to the more than one million jobs Apple has already created in the U.S. Like all Apple data centers, it will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy, much of which will come from a new local solar farm," Apple said in a statement on the project.

After GT Advanced filed for bankruptcy and abandoned the Mesa, Arizona plant, there were questions about what Apple would do with the facility. GT Advanced's closure caused a massive loss of jobs in Mesa, but Apple pledged to find a way to repurpose the location and preserve jobs in the city.

Image courtesy of AZCentral

Top Rated Comments

JoEw Avatar
120 months ago
Since October when a federal judge struck down Arizona's gay marriage ban, I think companies like Apple are more likely to feel comfortable doing business in this otherwise conservative state.

Ha! money isn't conservative or liberal...
Score: 43 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rei101 Avatar
120 months ago
I hope the original owners of GT Advanced get prosecuted. They are scammers.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
120 months ago
Since October when a federal judge struck down Arizona's gay marriage ban, I think companies like Apple are more likely to feel comfortable doing business in this otherwise conservative state.

So should Apple not do business in states or countries that don't jive with Tim Cook's personal political views? I'm sure there are places less friendly to gays than Arizona that Apple does business in.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Macsterguy Avatar
120 months ago
Currently...

Currently the global command center is in Tim Cooks Apple Watch
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tanegashima Avatar
120 months ago
Looks like Arizona got Apple Care protection plan...
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jtmarine73 Avatar
120 months ago
So should Apple not do business in states or countries that don't jive with Tim Cook's personal political views? I'm sure there are places less friendly to gays than Arizona that Apple does business in.

Ask China how they feel about Gay marriage. This statement (the original one) was moronic. Companies don't care about the politics of the state, unless those politics are costing them more in taxes.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Delta Feature

Delta Game Emulator Now Available From App Store on iPhone

Wednesday April 17, 2024 9:58 am PDT by
Game emulator apps have come and gone since Apple announced App Store support for them on April 5, but now popular game emulator Delta from developer Riley Testut is available for download. Testut is known as the developer behind GBA4iOS, an open-source emulator that was available for a brief time more than a decade ago. GBA4iOS led to Delta, an emulator that has been available outside of...
iPhone 15 Pro Action Button Translate

All iPhone 16 Models to Feature Action Button, But Usefulness Debated

Tuesday April 16, 2024 6:54 am PDT by
Last September, Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models debuted with a new customizable Action button, offering faster access to a handful of functions, as well as the ability to assign Shortcuts. Apple is poised to include the feature on all upcoming iPhone 16 models, so we asked iPhone 15 Pro users what their experience has been with the additional button so far. The Action button replaces the switch ...
Provenance Emulator

PlayStation, GameCube, Wii, and SEGA Emulator for iPhone and Apple TV Coming to App Store

Friday April 19, 2024 8:29 am PDT by
The lead developer of the multi-emulator app Provenance has told iMore that his team is working towards releasing the app on the App Store, but he did not provide a timeframe. Provenance is a frontend for many existing emulators, and it would allow iPhone and Apple TV users to emulate games released for a wide variety of classic game consoles, including the original PlayStation, GameCube, Wii,...
maxresdefault

Hands-On With the New App Store Delta Game Emulator

Wednesday April 17, 2024 12:19 pm PDT by
A decade ago, developer Riley Testut released the GBA4iOS emulator for iOS, and since it was against the rules at the time, Apple put a stop to downloads. Emulators have been a violation of the App Store rules for years, but that changed on April 5 when Apple suddenly reversed course and said that it was allowing retro game emulators on the App Store. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel ...
iOS NES Emulator Bimmy Feature

NES Emulator for iPhone and iPad Now Available on App Store [Removed]

Tuesday April 16, 2024 11:33 am PDT by
The first approved Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) emulator for the iPhone and iPad was made available on the App Store today following Apple's rule change. The emulator is called Bimmy, and it was developed by Tom Salvo. On the App Store, Bimmy is described as a tool for testing and playing public domain/"homebrew" games created for the NES, but the app allows you to load ROMs for any...