Just hoping it doesn't turn into another Sears Tower - an overly extravagant building built by a company at the peak of their existence, only to have markets shift out under them... soon winding up with way too much building for way too much cost.
You know, I’m not sure if this is a bad thing. Seemingly indomitable companies prove mortal, but the architecture they leave becomes part of the culture. Apple will not last forever, of course, but architecture... that can last a good deal longer.
I'd be more worried if Apple didn't have 256 billion dollars in cash reserves, which is frankly a kind of insane amount. Can't find how much cash Sears had on hand in 1973 but the equivalent to Apple's cash on hand vs building would be 7.6 billion.
It's not uncommon for the land under such buildings to have 100+ year leases. That much money and time put into that much building requires very long terms. Maybe Apple bought the land outright, but I'm certain they're thinking longer-term than 10 years here... as was Sears at the time they built their tower.
This also doesn't account for the annual maintenance costs of such a grand building. Apple's sitting on top of a big pile of money today, but that may not be the case 20 years from now (as was the case for Sears)... the maintenance costs will only increase as the building ages.
Honestly, it will, but worse. Look at X, it's crumbs compared to what we know they can be doing. Apple peaked in 2014, we all know it.
That said, Sear's tower is an emblem of Chicago. The AHQ is off to the side of the Bay and is 'harder' to see. If they built it like the Millennium Tower/TransAmerica, then that would be something different, but as is, it's going to go down like Falling Water. Off in a corner, a masterpiece truly, but never used. Like a Bugatti is with cars, only a thing for true architecture dorks.
Just hoping it doesn't turn into another Sears Tower - an overly extravagant building built by a company at the peak of their existence, only to have markets shift out under them... soon winding up with way too much building for way too much cost.