Yokohama mayor confirms Apple R&D facility to open in 2016

Former Panasonic factory to be repurposed, joins other new global facilities

First announced late last year by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japanese media and the mayor of the host city have confirmed that Apple will begin repurposing part of a former Panasonic plant into a new research and development center late this year, which is expected to open sometime in 2016. Apple has recently opened similar offices in China, Israel, and will be adding England to the list shortly.

Apple will control some 269,000 square feet of office space across four stories in the building, reports broadcaster NHK. There is some speculation that the facility would be focused on display technologies, since many of Apple's display partners are located in the country. The plant itself is in a suburb of Yokohama called Tsunashimahigashi.

Included in the remodeling construction will be changes made to the facility to allow it to run on renewable energy sources, as has been done with most of the company's other facilities. This will include making use of recycled water for ancillary water use, as with a recent project in California, and other measures to keep energy usage to a minimum, alongside ensuring renewable sources of power. The company also plans to put foliage on the roof as a natural coolant.

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently flew to Israel to attend the opening of R&D offices in Herzliya, and may do the same when the Cambridge facility opens as well.

Source:   macnn.com