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Apple Opens Norman Foster–Designed See-Through Store on Chicago’s Waterfront

The Foster + Partners structure embodies Apple’s new “Town Square” retail concept
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The exterior of Apple's store on Chicago's Michigan Avenue.Photo: Courtesy of Apple

Chicago has a long and storied legacy of towering, trend-setting architecture. Marked by skyscrapers and stately greystone structures, the Windy City skyline cuts an imposing figure. But the latest landmark building to grace historic Michigan Avenue is most notable for what can’t be seen, and it fits in perfectly with the design legacy of the company who commissioned its construction.

Today, Apple Michigan Avenue, the consumer tech giant’s newest flagship location, will open its doors to the public. Pritzker Prize winner Norman Foster’s Foster + Partners, the firm behind Apple’s space-age Cupertino headquarters as well as their new store in Singapore, designed the structure. A hyper-minimalist space comprising four glass walls supported by concrete pillars and an ultrathin carbon-fiber roof designed to withstand rough winter weather, it creates a new nexus point linking North Michigan Avenue, Pioneer Court, and the Chicago River. “Apple Michigan Avenue is about removing boundaries between inside and outside, reviving important urban connections within the city,” said Jony Ive, Apple’s chief design officer. “It unites a historic city plaza that had been cut off from the water, giving Chicago a dynamic new arena that flows effortlessly down to the river.”

The location boasts waterfront views.

Apple’s been a fixture on Michigan Avenue since opening its first flagship retail location there in 2003, but this new location represents a concerted effort to both reimagine the Apple Store concept and revitalize Chicago’s Riverwalk area. As opposed to a place one simply visits to buy or fix an iPhone, Apple envisions the new store as a community hangout spot and cultural enrichment space. To that end, the location will employ “Creative Pros” who will provide free daily lessons on how to use Apple’s suite of products and software for design, photography, and other artistic pursuits.

The store’s lower level.

To invite visitors to the new space, Apple is hosting “The Chicago Series,” a series of events that highlight the intersection of tech and community programming, beginning next week. At the very least, this aesthetically pleasing Apple Store should ensure that the wait to get your new iPhone X will be a little more tolerable.