McDonald’s Chicago flagship radically deviates from a typical prototype restaurant. The building begins to ask new questions about customer experience and impact. While one-of-a-kind, the flagship is generating valuable lessons that can be scaled to an expansive portfolio - impacting communities around the world.  

A solar pergola unites the restaurant while also providing 55% of electrical energy needs (2019 production was above projections). Beneath this 
“big roof,” indoor dining areas seamlessly connect to permeable outdoor plazas and a park. 

In the dining room, Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glulam beams are celebrated against a backdrop of white birch trees planted in a suspended atrium and hanging “plant tapestries.” The restaurant is the first commercial project in Chicago to use CLT. 
The flagship is a case study on environmental stewardship, embodying a global brand’s commitment to action all while creating a city oasis where people can eat, drink, and meet.