First LEED-Certified McDonald's in the USA!
Farah Ahmad
While visiting the Architectural delights of Savannah this October, I was thrilled to learn from our tour guide that Savannah is home to the country's first LEED Certified McDonald's! This fast food haven also happens to be located in the first LEED Certified Shopping Center! Ironically (or maybe fatefully so), the location was only a mile away from our hotel. #ThanksUber. This particular building was constructed in 2005 and received its LEED-CS (Core and Shell) Gold certification in 2006. We inquired within and, while we did receive more than our share of stares for photographing a local fast food spot, (I probably would have judged myself too) to my satisfaction, the employee knew of the LEED certification. However, she did not know it was the first of its kind in the country. The friendly employee also walked us around to the rear of the McDonald's to point out the hybrid vehicle parking spots (remotely located). While exploring the retail development, we questioned an employee of an adjacent retail store about the shopping center's LEED certification. He was clueless about the prestige this particular certification holds in the green building industry!
Want to learn about the project's features? Curious to see whether it lives up its actual certification? Check out my video below as I praise and critique its sustainable design features! For a more thorough project profile, click here.
Special credit to Jocelyne Jeannot for shooting & editing this on the go!
That facade has SO MUCH daylighting potential!
LEED Plaque proudly mounted on McDonald's' facade behind me!
LEED rewards applicants for installing a bike rack on the property to encourage sustainable transportation alternatives.
White 'cool' roof- proud to say we found this design feature implemented throughout the entire Abercorn Common Retail Development- white roofing everywhere!
Interior Daylighting- but why are those recessed light fixtures on? =(
For the win!
As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. So feel free to leave a comment below!
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UPDATE, NOVEMBER 2018
-Click here to check out McDonald’s newest energy-saving location in Chicago and the opening of their headquarters, now back in Chicago.
-During Greenbuild International Conference and Expo week held in Chicago this year, the city launched the Chicago Renewable Energy Challenge, encouraging the installation of renewable energy technologies on properties all over Chicago. McDonald’s is one of seven founding members of this initative! Per the announcement above, “founding members collectively commit to reducing a total of 184.5 million kilowatt-hours per year. That is the equivalent of taking nearly 30,000 cars off the road, enough electricity to power over 20,000 homes for one year, or 300,000 barrels of oil.”
-For more information on McDonald’s corporate sustainability goals, visit this page!