New Glass Panels Arriving at Apple's Fifth Avenue Store Cube

Apple has been working for over two months to upgrade the iconic glass cube and surrounding plaza at its flagship retail store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, with the company switching to larger panes of glass for the cube to make for a cleaner appearance as the total number of panes is reduced from 90 to 15.

apple store cube glass panes
TUAW notes that deliveries of the new glass panes have begun at the site, with workers utilizing a large crane to work through the night unpacking the large panes for installation.


According to Justin Parmer, who shot photos and brief video of the unloading process, the glass panes are roughly two inches thick. Based on the dimensions of the original cube, the new panes should check in at about 32 feet high by a little over 10 feet wide.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1

Survey: Nearly 70% of Users Plan to Upgrade to iPhone 17

Monday September 1, 2025 8:24 am PDT by
A new survey has found that nearly seven in ten iPhone owners in the United States plan to upgrade to an iPhone 17 model, signaling strong demand ahead of Apple's expected unveiling of the devices at its September 9 keynote. Smartphone price comparison platform SellCell surveyed over 2,000 U.S.-based iPhone users in August to assess upgrade interest and brand loyalty before Apple's event....

Top Rated Comments

PecanEater Avatar
183 months ago
I'm struggling to determine why this is noteworthy.
I love people who complain about these "unnecessary" posts as if they're cluttering up very busy lives but then take the time to post complaints.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
oceanwest Avatar
183 months ago
That's not glass – That is Transparent Aluminum. :p
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
writingdevil Avatar
183 months ago
^^^^ Agree.

Slow news day indeed.
Come on MR… surely you can do better than this Page 2 stuff? :confused:

i have to confess...i stop and look at construction cranes when they are doing something really big ass. my gf can't stand watching for a nano second and pulls my arm like she tugs at her dog. i still like to watch that kind of stuff and hold my ground from her tugs (for a short time, admittedly)
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gnasher729 Avatar
183 months ago
I hope the glass panes have some kind of protective laminate coating; one rioter throws a chair and there goes the whole panel.
During the riots in London some looters tried to get into a jewellery store. They tried for twenty minutes, and they used more than just chairs. Couldn't get through the glass. Probably the hardest twenty minutes of work in their sad lives :mad:

Just noticed these low lives read MacRumors and modded me down :-)
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C00rDiNaT0r Avatar
183 months ago
If the glass panels can fit into the cargoes, think they would ever make it into just 5 panels?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tsadi Avatar
183 months ago
Glass that's 2 inches thick - wow!

Aside from tank windows, I've never seen anything with glass that thick. That makes it interesting at least for me.

I wonder though, is it really difficult building glass that thick with those sizes? Or just very expensive?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)