Pat Lobb Toyota of McKinney, Texas hopes to be the first car dealership in the US to be green-certified.
DALLAS — Pat Lobb Toyota of McKinney, Texas hopes to be the first car dealership in the US to be green-certified. The dealership, which the company says is "being designed from the ground up to maximize all environmentally sensitive possibilities," will incorporate approximately 75 percent recycled materials such as aluminum, steel, tile, carpet and more.
Designed by the Dallas office of Gensler and constructed by Turner Construction, the facility will have 53,000 square feet and will sit on 14 acres. It is set to be completed in June 2006.
"There are some things you do just because it's the right thing to do. This is one of those," said Pat Lobb, dealer principal.
Pat Lobb Toyota is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council, and it will be the first auto dealership in the nation to seek official LEED (Leadership of Energy and Environmental Design) certification. LEED is a system for rating buildings that are designed to be sensitive to the environment. It was designed by the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington D.C. To receive the LEED certification, green buildings are evaluated in six categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process.
Toyota buildings such as the South Campus of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, in Torrance, Calif., and the processing center in Portland, Ore., meet the LEED standards, but this is the first dealership.
"One of the reasons people choose to work and do business in McKinney is because our rolling hills, trees and creeks," said McKinney Mayor Bill Whitfield. "Stewardship of our unique environment is important to the people of McKinney and we're happy to welcome a company like Pat Lobb Toyota that shares our values."
Source: PR Newswire, Pat Lobb Toyota of McKinney
