News: here are images of Foster + Partners' latest design for the new $5bn Apple Campus 2, which was unanimously approved by Cupertino City Council last night (+ slideshow)

Commissioned by late Apple CEO Steve Jobs, the 260,000 square-metre building, by British firm Foster + Partners, will take the form of a gigantic glass-and-steel hoop when completed in 2016. Parkland will both surround the building and fill its hollow centre.

"Steve [Jobs] transformed Apple into one of the most innovative companies in the world and we understand the responsibilities that come from carrying his legacy forward with this project," Apple's head of real estate and facilities Dan Whisenhunt told the city council in a planning meeting last night. "We've designed it with the same care and attention to detail as we do with all Apple products."

After six hours of debate, the entire council voted in favour of the project. The decision is final, pending a ten-day period for appeal, and will be formally announced on 15 November.

The approval follows an identical decision from members of the city's planning commission, who voted on the proposals earlier this month after consultation with members of the local community.

The Apple Campus 2 is set to be completed by 2016 and will be located a few blocks away from Apple's existing headquarters. It will accommodate up to 13,000 employees, providing office, research and development facilities alonngside a company fitness centre, a 1000-seat auditorium and a private park for staff.

The project was in the news earlier this year, after reports suggested that projected costs had spiralled from $3 billion to nearly $5 billion.

Photography is by Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group.