A unique and eye-catching feature of Apple's high-profile stores is the glass staircase, intended to attract visitors to visit the second (or even third) floor, which most retail shoppers avoid. Besides the visually interesting design, the stairways and their accompanying glass bridges are engineering and architectural marvels, and made possibly by recent advances in glass technology that allows its use in more demanding applications.
The staircase received a design patent in 2002 with Steve Jobs' name first, followed by several others. The staircase design itself received a design patent, and the complex glass and hardware system received a separate technical patent. The technical details are, of course, superfluous to the average visitor to an Apple store, where, "It's all about the experience."
The stairs are irresistible --you must simply ascend them once you spot them!
Your climb consists of gazing left-and-right at the elevated view of the store, and frequent stops to examine the stairs themselves. I find it necessary to hold the handrail, since the open design and semi-transparent glass provide a levitation effect. Once you reach the top (or bottom at Fifth Avenue), you inevitably turn around to look at what you've just climbed, and to study the structure to see how it was all done. As you turn left or right, you again are drawn to look down/up at the stairs, both for the color and form, but also for the structure. Going down the stairs is usually a slow endeavor, as you gaze downward at the glass and metal, and pause once again on the landing to look around. By the time you've reached the ground floor, you feel like you've actually been entertained!"