Dive Brief:
Apple has started construction on a new $1 billion campus in Austin, Texas, the company announced this week. The facility is located near its Mac Pro facility, which began producing the firm’s latest top-of-the-line computer this month. The general contractor of the project has not been publicly identified. The 3-million-square-foot development, which is slated to be completed sometime in 2022, will be able to accommodate 5,000 employees at first, but Apple’s plan includes an eventual 15,000. Apple will power the buildings with solar power generated on-site, and the 133-acre campus will feature a 50-acre nature preserve, which will help the company achieve a total of 60% green space. The Austin campus is part of the company’s commitment to make $30 billion of capital investments in the U.S. from 2018 to 2023. During a press conference earlier this year, Kristina Raspe, vice president of global real estate and facilities for Apple, said that construction of the first building should take between 30 and 36 months.​ Click to read more at www.constructiondive.com.