The Cupertino Courier
News
Apple Computer to Expand in Cupertino
By Hugh Biggar
Steve Jobs, founder and head of Apple Computer, made a surprise appearance at CupertinoÕs city council meeting April 18 and a made an even more surprising announcement: Apple Computer is planning to build a second campus in Cupertino.
"At Apple our business has nearly tripled in the last five to six years, from $6 billion in sales to $20 billion in sales," Jobs told the city council. His blockbuster announcement was made to a nearly empty room, as the next most exciting thing on the agenda dealt with Bingo permits. Fueled in part by the popularity of IPod technology, the Fortune 500 company has climbed in the top business rankings to 159 from 263 in 2005.
According to Jobs, Apple now plans to build a second campus at Tantau Road, Pruneridge Avenue and Highway 280. At a time when the number of Apple employees has increased, the company has been looking for space to accommodate them. The new 50-acre campus is expected to accommodate 3,000 to 3,500 employees.
"We keep getting further and further away from our central campus," Jobs said of Apples' campus growth.
Apple, Cupertino's largest taxpayer, had looked at sites elsewhere in the Santa Clara Valley due to the high cost of land in the city, but decided to stay close to its original home. Apple moved to Cupertino 29 years ago after first operating out of Jobs' parents' garage.
"We found something unexpected," Jobs said, "and we're delighted to stay in a place we liked."
Cupertino's city council was also delighted with the news.
"We are thrilled and really appreciate Apple as a company and as an employer," Vice-Mayor Kris Wang said.
Councilman Patrick Kwok said he appreciated Apple's contributions to Cupertino and looked forward to working with the company in the future.
With the acquisition of the land at Tantau and Pruneridge, Jobs said Apple's plan for the site is now in development.
"It should take us about three years to design and build a new Apple campus," Jobs' said.
