Apple Scottsdale Fashion Square

Arizona’s harsh desert environment called for significant shading of Apple’s iconic glazing system. The interior ceiling acts as an exterior shading device, blurring the distinction between indoors and outdoors, while keeping the consumer visually connected to the world outside.

Engineered to cantilever a remarkable distance from the building façade, the sunshade reveals a structural slenderness. This simple and elegant structure, in combination with the low height of the store, results in a building that is both iconic and humble.

Laminated low-iron glazing is used for maximum transparency between the interior and exterior. The design reduces direct sunlight and heat gain on glass façades to improve the glazing performance and overall building energy performance. A performative perforated canopy of Ultra High-Performance Concrete cantilevers to shade the glass façade and eliminate direct sunlight in the store during hours of operation. Perforated with apertures, parametrically designed to the store’s exact latitude and longitude, and scaled in relation to their distance to the glazing, the canopy allows patrons unfettered views of the sky while keeping the façade and interior cool.

This project did not seek specific third-party certifications, however voluntarily complied with the 2015 International Green Construction Code (Scottsdale Green Building Program) and implemented the client driven Environmental Responsibility Guideline Objectives which focus on reduction of climate change impact, energy efficiency, enhanced commissioning, resource conservation and material safety. The project design yields an anticipated annual energy consumption savings of 36.7%, as compared to performance values set forth in ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010 and recycled/diverted construction waste of 88.96%.

Apple Scottsdale is the first Apple store in the country to comply with the International Green Construction Code, involving passive and active heating, cooling and lighting systems, renewable energy credits, water efficient plumbing and landscaping, indoor environmental quality and waste reduction.