Apple Store North Michigan Avenue

Apple has revitalized its commitment to design excellence and launched a program to build a network of direct retail outlets. The prototype stores with maple floors, white fixtures, and an elegant integrated ceiling system, provide an opportunity for consumers to have an up-close, tactile encounter with Apple products in an environment that supports a corporate identity of elegance and excellent interface design.

The North Michigan Avenue store is currently the largest store in Apple's ongoing development of "flagship" locations in international urban markets. It expands on the prototype concept by incorporating two floors of retail space and capitalizing on the experience of vertical circulation to create a powerful and memorable retail environment. The simple interior palette of the prototype was augmented with the addition of stone flooring, bead-blasted stainless steel panels, custom wood fixtures and structural glass elements. The large 28,670 square foot store is organized around a 15'-4" high clear glass staircase, a glass bridge, and a 70'-0" long skylight.

A unique challenge for the North Michigan Ave. Apple store was the development of a cladding system for the exterior of what was an existing corner building. Limestone panels were meticulously selected and developed into a pressurized rain-screen system. This system creates the clarity and subtle depth of shadows that is characteristic of the store interior, while respecting the existing limestone facades along this landmark street. Featured on the Michigan Avenue facade is a single large window in the form of the Apple logo. This is the only 'signage' along the street, and provides a distinctive silhouette that at night takes on the welcoming glow from within the store, and with daylight offers an inviting glimpse of the glass stair, bridge, and skylight beyond.

The glass staircase attracts visitors into the store and to the second floor by enticing one's tactile curiosity to experience 'walking on air'. The top of the treads are diamond-plate fritted for safety and etched for modesty. Cantilevered glass guardrails allow clear views throughout the space. The delicate stainless steel and glass skylight admits natural light and glimpses of the surrounding roofs and cityscape while the depth of the skylight well prevents direct glare from reaching computer screens below. The advancement of glass as a structural element was rigorously designed and tested. The structural span of the stair treads, stair landings, and bridge flooring relies on the precisely engineered connection of metal inserts with composites of laminated glass and inter-layers which are U.S. Patent pending. On the second level, a sophisticated demonstration theater with luxurious fixed seating, the dynamic 'Genius bar', combine with the rooftop public meeting room to expand the definition of retail by providing performance, seminar, and educational components. The 'Genius bar', display tables, and seating throughout the store are custom, simply detailed solid maple that balance the cool, technical character of the space with familiar warmth.

Throughout the space rigorous attention to detail has created a "static-free" environment. Functional aspects of the store such as heating/cooling, lighting, security and acoustics are carefully integrated into the design of the ceiling system. Supply and return vents for heating/cooling are disguised behind a consistent pattern of perforated holes in stainless steel panels surrounding the stair opening. Sprinkler heads, light boxes and cameras are aligned in the aluminium troughs of the custom ceiling system while extensive data cabling and speakers are hidden above a crisp white stretched fabric ceiling panel system. All distracting elements have been edited out of the visual field.

The resulting environment is one that is memorable and stimulating while carefully framing and organizing a space where the products gracefully assume center stage. Simple, honest materials and thoughtfully resolved details echo and reinforce qualities of the sophisticated, elegant computers and products on display.