Apple's New Digs in Manhattan

Posted by: Arik Hesseldahl on June 18, 2008

Peter Kafka over at Silicon Alley Insider got a nice tip that Apple has leased two floors in this still-under-construction building in Midtown Manhattan. The building is 510 Madison, and is located at the corner of 53rd St. and Madison Ave. The New York Times profiled the project last year, though its been reported that developer Macklowe Properties has been having a hard time attracting tenants.

The buildings’ Web site says a lot about its features: A restaurant, a garden terrace, and a health club with a pool. It all sounds very nice, and from what I could tell of the Apple’s offices at the Citicorp Center, this will be nicer.

Another plus: The location is only four short blocks from the flagship cube store on Fifth Ave.

What plans Apple may have for 15,000 square feet on two floors in a high-profile building in Manhattan is a subject to a good bit of speculation. There is of course the potential for a push for more business among large companies, particularly as the iPhone 3G rollout begins next month. But for all intents and purposes, AT&T will function as Apple’s sales force for the iPhone among corporate customers. Perhaps Apple wants to beef up its ability to sell Macs into corporations given its unexpected and very interesting success in that market segment of late. given the There’s also a need for space to meet with Wall Street analysts and reporters. (My last visit to the offices at Citicorp was for an hour-long briefing on Leopard.) Whatever the reason, that’s a lot of room, and it suggests to me that Apple wants a bigger presence in the Big Apple than it already has.

Here’s what the neighborhood looks like, courtesy Google Maps.

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