Apple aims to build new spaceship-like campus

Apple is hoping to break ground next year on a new campus designed to house 12,000 workers in a building that resembles a huge spaceship.

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs argued for the new campus in Cupertino, California in a personal appearance on Tuesday before the city council, which later posted a video of his presentation on its website, Cupertino.org.

Jobs argued that Apple, which is currently based in the city, is "out of space," and said the new campus would be built on 150 acres (60.7 hectares) of land purchased from US computer giant Hewlett-Packard.

The Apple chief executive presented an architect's drawing of what the proposed main building on the new campus would look like, showing a circular four-storey building with a huge wooded courtyard in the middle.

"It's a little like a spaceship," Jobs said. "There's not a straight piece of glass on this building."

Jobs said it would house 12,000 people and include a cafeteria that could feed 3,000 people at a time.

"I think we do have a shot at building the best office building in the world," Jobs said. "I really do think architecture students will come here to see this. I think it could be that good."

Jobs said Apple would soon submit formal plans to the city council with the aim of breaking ground next year and moving into the building in 2015.

Jobs's appearance before the city council came a day after he presided over an Apple event in San Francisco.

The Apple co-founder has been on medical leave since January with an undisclosed illness.

(c) 2011 AFP