“Work is set to begin “any day now” on a prototype Apple store in the heart of downtown Palo Alto, according to city planning officials,” Jason Green reports for The Mercury News.

“The city issued a building permit on Dec. 12 for the modern two-story structure Apple wants to erect at 340 University Ave., about a block away from its existing downtown store,” Green reports. “Plans filed with the city call for a glass roof and facade that will allow natural light to flood much of the 15,030-square-foot store. Stone and steel also factor heavily into the design.”

Green reports, “Documents filed earlier this year for the $3.15 million project describe the store as a ‘new prototype’ and a ‘commons for (Apple’s) community to gather.’ Architectural firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, which has won numerous awards for its work on other Apple stores, is listed as the project applicant.”

Read more in the full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Microsoft’s replica store is due to open (free Bieber tix!) right across the street in 2014.