As suspected, it's not a disfigured star shape after all, but a huge Apple logo that's being affixed to the main window of Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.
Crews could be seen at the site midday today, hoisting the 15-foot-tall logo into place.
This is just one of several elements sprucing up the auditorium and its surrounding streets leading up to next week's Apple event. As first spotted by CNET reporter James Martin, large posters have been hung on the sides of the auditorium:
Setting up for Apple event next week at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium pic.twitter.com/aCI1pXBX6I
— James Martin (@Jamesco) September 4, 2015
Meanwhile, flags bearing the Apple logo wave atop the building...
...and Apple banners hang from lampposts around the Civic Center Plaza area:
The Apple event, expected to involve the unveiling of new iPhone models and other products, is scheduled for Wednesday Sept. 9th at 10am.