Apple has unveiled its newest retail location at the historic Tower Theater in downtown Los Angeles. The historic theater is now one of Apple’s most significant building restoration projects undertaken to date.
Originally home to the first theater in Los Angeles wired for film with sound, the building was designed by renowned motion-picture theater architect S. Charles Lee in 1927. The theater however closed and has gone unused since 1988. It is perhaps fitting that the building’s legacy of technological innovation is revived today with Apple’s iPhone, iPad, and Mac, each of which has transformed modern-day filmmaking, photography and music composition.
Apple collaborated with leading preservationists, restoration architects, and the City of Los Angeles to thoughtfully preserve and restore the theater’s beauty and grandeur. Every surface was carefully refinished, and the building has undergone a full seismic upgrade.
Situated at the corner of Eighth Street and Broadway, the building’s iconic exterior features a fully restored clock tower, recreated Broadway marquee, terracotta cladding and a renovated historic blade sign. Walking through the Broadway doors, guests enter the monumental lobby inspired by Charles Garnier’s Paris Opera house, complete with a grand arched stairway, bronze handrails, and marble Corinthian columns.
At the heart of the store is the Forum and a signature video wall, located underneath the fully restored arch and surrounded by the theater’s original balconies. The theater’s original seating on the upper level has been modernized and made accessible to create an open, flexible space for Apple’s Genius Bar (where customers can receive service and support). Two new elevators have been installed, welcoming customers to every level.
This latest Apple studio aims to inspire more creativity in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Alongside the opening, Apple will also launch Today at Apple Creative Studios, a global initiative that will provide hands-on experience and mentorships to young creatives in the city.
