Earlier this summer, Apple closed a portion of the Apple Park Visitor Center as it worked to “improve our store.”
That space has now reopened, and the big change is that Apple has removed the augmented reality experience that let visitors use custom iPads to view Apple Park.
When Apple opened the Apple Park Visitor Center to the public in 2017, here’s how the company touted the AR experience:
Inviting guests to explore Apple Park in an immersive and engaging way, a 3-D model of the campus is brought to life by augmented reality technology.
Visitors can learn about the world’s largest naturally ventilated building and view one of the largest on-site solar energy installations in the world. Visitors can also choose to lift the entire roof off the building to peek inside to the collaborative office pod layout.
Until this change, the Apple Park Visitor was divided into three sections: the AR exhibit, a traditional-style Apple Store, and a cafe.
Now, Apple has retired the AR exhibit and transformed that space into an extension of the more traditional Apple Store. As spotted by MacRumors, this includes Avenues along the wall showcasing accessories and redesigned display tables featuring Apple products.
The rest of the Apple Park Visitor Center, including the cafe, remains unchanged.
9to5Mac’s Take
The AR experience at the Apple Park Visitor Center was unique, but after nine years it was starting to feel like that space could be better utilized in other ways.
I wish Apple had tried something other than converting it into a traditional retail store, but at least the cafe remains as a unique fixture of the Apple Park Visitor Center.
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