Apple Campus 2 'Theatre' Features Largest Freestanding Carbon-Fiber Roof Ever Made

Apple's progress on its second campus has been tracked by drone videos and ongoing construction updates, but the company recently gave Mashable details on the new location, sharing impressive photos and inside information on the main ring-shaped structure and surrounding buildings like the auditorium.

As we know, Apple's new campus features massive curved glass windows to give the building an open feel. Outfitting the campus in curved glass requires 3,000 panels, each of which is 46 feet long and 10.5 feet wide, and getting those panels into place required Apple to build custom machines it calls "Manipulators."

applecampus2theatre2

Apple Campus 2 Theatre

Mashable got a first look at the "Theatre," the 120,000 square-foot underground auditorium where Apple will host future events. Designed to seat 1,000 people, the Theatre lobby is made of glass that offers 360-degree views of the campus with stairs down to the event area. According to Apple, the roof is the most impressive part of the auditorium. It weighs 80 tons and was assembled in Dubai before being shipped in pieces to California.

applecampus2theatre

Apple Campus 2 Theatre roof

But perhaps the most stunning addition is its roof, which Apple believes is the largest freestanding carbon-fiber roof ever made. Created by Dubai-based Premier Composite Technologies, it's a massive statement piece, in addition to a design feat. But please, Apple doesn't want you to call it a UFO. The roof was added to the Theatre last month.

The circular roof is made up of 44 identical radial panels averaging 70 feet long and 11 feet wide, and each connects to a small central hub positioned in the middle.

There are many unique elements included in Apple's second campus, and a 60,000 square-foot restaurant inside the ring-shaped building is no exception. Designed to house 2,800 employees inside and 1,200 on an outside patio, the restaurant will feature two glass doors that are four stories high.

Apple expects construction on its campus to be finished at the end of 2016, which is right on schedule. Tim Cook said in a past interview that employees will begin moving into the building in January of 2017.

The full set of photos from Apple Campus 2 are available over at Mashable and are worth checking out for those interested in a close-up look at the new campus.

Popular Stories

Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's CarPlay Ultra Is Here – Does Your iPhone Support It?

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:17 am PDT by
Apple's recently announced CarPlay Ultra promises a deeply integrated in-car experience, but not all iPhone users will be able to take advantage of the new feature. According to Apple's press release, CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 18.5 or later. This means if you're using an iPhone 11, iPhone XR, or any older model, you'll need to upgrade your device to access...
Apple CarPlay Ultra instrument cluster themes 01

Apple's 'CarPlay Ultra' Experience Now Available

Thursday May 15, 2025 5:07 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its next-generation CarPlay experience, now dubbed "CarPlay Ultra" begins rolling out today, starting with Aston Martin vehicles. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. CarPlay Ultra is now available with new Aston Martin vehicle orders in the U.S. and Canada. It will also be available for existing models that feature the brand's next-generation ...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Battery Capacity and Weight Allegedly Revealed

Monday May 19, 2025 2:22 am PDT by
Apple is expected to launch an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air later this year, and while there have been plenty of rumors about the camera's overall design and thinness, we haven't heard any details about the device's weight and battery capacity until now. According to the leaker going by the account name "yeux1122" on the Korean-langauge Naver blog, the 6.6-inch iPhone 17 Air has a weight ...
CarPlay Ultra Climate Controls

Apple Says These Vehicle Brands Plan to Offer All-New CarPlay Ultra

Thursday May 15, 2025 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. CarPlay Ultra features deep integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster and systems, built-in Radio and Climate apps, customizable widgets, and more. The interface is tailored to each vehicle model and automaker's identity, and drivers can also adjust...
iOS 18 Siri Personal Context

Apple Will Reportedly Be More Cautious About Announcing New Features Well in Advance

Sunday May 18, 2025 2:50 pm PDT by
Apple plans to mostly stop announcing new features more than a few months before they are ready to launch, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Drake Bennett. The pair of reporters revealed this noteworthy tidbit towards the bottom of a lengthy report about Apple's artificial intelligence shortcomings today. This alleged change in strategy comes after Apple was forced to delay its more...
Apple Intelligence General Feature

Report: Apple's Next-Gen Version of Siri Is 'On Par' With ChatGPT

Monday May 19, 2025 9:00 am PDT by
Apple has big plans to improve Siri over the next few years, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Drake Bennett report. Some Apple executives are now reportedly pushing to turn Siri into a true ChatGPT competitor. A next-generation, chatbot version of Siri has reportedly made significant progress during testing over the past six months; some executives allegedly now see it as "on par" with recent...

Top Rated Comments

stridemat Avatar
120 months ago
I'm sure this is impressive to somebody.
Being in the construction industry it is to me :)
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tuc Avatar
120 months ago
"The circular roof is made up of 44 identical radial panels averaging 70 feet long and 11 feet wide"

I don't get this. If the 44 panels are identical, why would they cite "average" length and width.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tcgjeukens Avatar
120 months ago
Why not a roof like ?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iamgalt Avatar
120 months ago
I wonder why they chose carbon fibre for the roof instead of traditional materials? It would be far more expensive! Internal acoustics?
Carbon fiber has a much better strength to size ratio; allowing apple to get a much thinner roof, that is much lighter, and needs fewer supports due to its strength. We all know how Apple enjoys thinness. :)
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
whooleytoo Avatar
120 months ago



If ever an image is crying out to be photoshopped...
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JesperA Avatar
120 months ago
Carbon fiber has a much better strength to size ratio; allowing apple to get a much thinner roof, that is much lighter, and needs fewer supports due to its strength. We all know how Apple enjoys thinness. :)
And they will replace the roof once a year for an even thinner one
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)