Apple Park: iPhone maker’s biggest launch this year

San Francisco, March 31 (IANS) As Apple inches closer to open gates of its brand new campus this year, a new drone flyby video has surfaced, showcasing the 175-acre, $5 billion Apple Park facility in details.

Shot by drone videographer Matthew Roberts, the video provides a sneak peak at the solar panels on the roof of the 2.8 million-square-foot main building in Cupertino, California.

"As with the earlier videos, the research and development facility seems to be complete internally, with chairs and desks visible through the glass windows, and with external work to the building seemingly completed as well," appleinsider.com reported on Friday.

The Tantau Avenue parking garage is almost complete.

Other peripheral buildings are being constructed, with the Steve Jobs Theatre’s glass walls almost completely covered to hide the internal work.

There will also be an Apple store on the premises for over 12,000 employees.

"Some buildings towards the end of the video appear to be almost finished, but are surrounded with building materials and require the installation of glass panels in the roof," the report added.

A pair of staircases have been constructed at the base of the building, bringing visitors up from the road up to the same level as the landscaping just outside its doors.

"The main building, parking structure, theatre and fitness centre [are] under construction. Occupancy for main building will begin in April and phased to end of 2017. Phase 2 and ancillary building expected to be completed by 2018," read a progress report delivered to the Cupertino City Council in March.