Apple Announced Its Expansion In Seattle With New Office

On June 24, Apple announced its plan to set up a brand new 650,000-square-feet office in Seattle in 2019 while increasing the number of employees up to 2,000 in 5 years. Among those, 200 will be hired by the end of 2019.

The expansion was announced by Kristina Raspe, Apple's Global Real Estate, and Facilities VP at a conference hosted by Jenny Durkan, Seattle Mayor.

Raspe said:

The location of the conference was at 333 Dexter, Apple's new Seattle office. Previously, it was rumored that the property will become a technology company’s Seattle office, like Amazon or Facebook. This location is near the headquarters of Amazon in Seattle’s neighborhood of South Lake Union.

While the 333 Dexter property is 635,000-square-feet, it is likely that 650,000-square-feet announced by Raspe includes retail as well as outdoor space over two, 12-story towers. The towers’ sustainability is ensured with LEED platinum certification. The power will be 100 percent renewable energy, said Raspe.

In a December press release published last year, the company announced its plans of building a campus worth $1 billion in Austin, Texas for with enough space for 15,000 staff. Apple pledged to open a Seattle site and have a total of 1,000 employees by 2022.

At the press conference on June 24, Mayor Durkan emphasized the importance of Apple's expansion in the city,  a reminder that Seattle has become a real technology and economic superpower.

She also acknowledged the importance of improving infrastructure in Seattle to be ready for the expansion such as innovation for better public transit and affordable housing.