Bloomberg reports that Apple (AAPL)’s construction of a new spaceship-like headquarters in Cupertino, California, won’t be finished until 2014, meaning the expected completion date of the company’s 176-acre campus could be pushed back until mid-2016, as Apple revises its plans.
According to a new construction timetable in an updated proposal submitted by Apple to the city of Cupertino on Nov. 14, the iPhone-maker had wanted to break ground on the new campus this year, but an environmental impact report may not be completed until June of next year.
“They could conceivably break ground in 2013, but only if everything goes smoothly,” David Brandt, Cupertino’s city manager was quoted as saying to Bberg. “That depends on the city council approving the project quickly, and on residents not filing legal challenges. The project is running a little bit slow.”
Bloomberg notes Apple’s Nov. 14 submission show no major changes to the original campus plans, but does include moving a 1,000-seat auditorium farther away from a road, some additional parking spots, the removal of a footbridge over a creek, and adding a new building to house utility equipment. The main four-story circular building which features all curved glass and is designed to house over 14,000 employees in 2.8 million square feet remains as originally planned.
According to Bberg, the city was notified by Apple of the submitted changes in August, but by filing in November, a possible approval in early 2013 became unrealistic, said Brandt. Apple initially planned to have the complex completed by 2015.
The city of Cupertino said Apple’s recently-submitted plans will be posted online after Thanksgiving – after it has added enough servers to handle the crush of web traffic it expects from Apple fans.
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