Crowds gathered at Pioneer Court Oct. 19 for the opening of the much-anticipated Apple Store that overlooks the Chicago River in the Loop. As reported by Curbed Chicago, the flagship location was designed by London-based Foster + Partners and had a price tag of $27 million.

Carved from the side of Pioneer Court along the river, the building boasts a steel frame and glass facade with high-tech carbon panels on the roof. The design features unobscured views along the 32-foot glass walls overlooking the river, and the 111-by-98-foot carbon fiber roof was designed to be as thin as possible with support by interior pillars.

“Apple Michigan Avenue is about removing boundaries between inside and outside, reviving important urban connections within the city,” said Jony Ive, Apple’s chief design officer. “It unites a historic city plaza that had been cut off from the water, giving Chicago a dynamic new arena that flows effortlessly down to the river.”

The opening of the store was also the start of a set of five programs called “The Chicago Series.” The store is expected to host the program series over the course of four weeks with help from local nonprofits and creative organizations. Each program will focus on a different area that relates to the “intersection of technology and liberal arts.” 

Topics include “Accelerate Your Startup Idea,” “Create Collaborative Art,” “Prototype a Civic App with BLUE 1647,” “Photograph Chicago with VSCO,” and “Cultivate Your Voice with Young Chicago Authors.”

Since breaking ground in early 2016, the Apple Store along the river has been an architectural gem to talk about. Taking inspiration from the Prairie style architecture, the long and flat building blends into the city’s landscape intentionally. But many say the building just looks like a giant Macbook.