Apple set for construction at San Jose tech campus
SAN JOSE >> Apple is preparing construction activities at its huge north San Jose office campus, a move that could bring thousands of jobs to the mixed-use tech hub.
Cupertino-based Apple will be starting construction on a portion of its north San Jose property in the near future, a company spokesperson said.
Apple’s upcoming construction efforts would represent the vanguard of the tech titan’s expansion at the 85-acre San Jose campus, located near the corner of Orchard Parkway and Charcot Avenue.
The anticipated construction start arrives at the same time Apple has said it would spend millions to reach out to and relocate residents of a homeless encampment that has formed on the company’s land.
“It’s wonderful to see Apple’s expansion in north San Jose, where they’ve already demonstrated their strong commitment to the community through their generous efforts to support our unhoused residents in that neighborhood,” San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said.
Apple’s initial efforts to expand on the campus are likely to focus on two existing big office buildings that Apple owns within the campus footprint, according to sources familiar with the company’s intentions. Apple didn’t immediately confirm that.
The company intends to undertake wide-ranging tenant improvements to prepare the two office buildings for occupancy, the sources stated.
One of the buildings is at 2325 Orchard Parkway and totals 286,000 square feet. The other building is at 2509 Orchard Parkway and totals 202,000 square feet.
Part of the campus site will be devoted to affordable housing, but specific plans have yet to emerge about the number of homes and acres where the residences would sprout.
The Apple campus is a short distance from where Google is preparing plans for a green-friendly and pedestrian-oriented office campus called Midpoint that’s located near the corner of North First Street and Nortech Parkway.
These projects mean two household names in the tech world are pushing ahead with plans for major campuses in north San Jose at the same time.
“North San Jose appears poised for a strong surge with Apple and Google’s growth, and all the more if we can finally build housing there without incurring a lawsuit from the city of Santa Clara,” Mayor Liccardo said.
It makes sense that big tech companies have begun to craft plans to occupy new sites in Silicon Valley, said Dave Sandlin, an executive vice president with Colliers, a commercial real estate firm.
“All of these companies have to plan for the future,” Sandlin said. “Right now, the Delta variant has created a bit of a setback. Tech companies want to be sure to protect their employees.”
Still, the momentum is headed in the direction of a widespread move back to the office.
“Sooner or later, and probably sooner, people will be back at work,” Sandlin said. “People will be interacting, and creative job flow will start happening again.”
The potential expansion for Apple in north San Jose comes on the heels of a deal in May when Apple leased 701,000 square feet in Sunnyvale’s Pathline Park.
The Sunnyvale deal means potentially 3,000 Apple jobs for that city, and the company’s north San Jose endeavors could also mean thousands of jobs for that section of San Jose.
“All of this is good news because this will probably lead to more people in north San Jose for Apple,” Sandlin said. “Apple is not a company that just moves into two outlying buildings. They like to cluster.”
Contact George Avalos at 408-859-5167.