Perhaps a surprising first cab off the rank for the hospitality industry, the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has awarded the fast food eatery a ’4 Star’ Green Star.

Where restaurants previously fell outside the parameters of the Green Star accreditation system, the fast food giant took the industry lead and worked closely with GBCA to establish a new benchmark in the measure of sustainable construction and best practice for all restaurants, nationwide.

At Kilsyth South in Melbourne’s East, this particular development employs a range of sustainable initiatives, including energy-efficient lighting and mechanical systems, a rainwater capture system for irrigation and to flush toilets, solar panels and the use of more sustainable building materials including recycled concrete and steel. The restaurant also features low-VOC paints to improve indoor environment quality and externally: drought tolerant landscaping.

The GBCA was established in 2002 to develop a sustainable property industry in Australia and drive the adoption of green building practices, ten years on it is buoying to see that the food and beverage sector are now engaged in building initiatives that will go beyond mainstream design and construction but also into the ongoing operation of these facilities.

Aesthetically, this building may not pack too many punches, hemmed squarely within the norms dictated by the company’s existing architectural identity and brand standards – but with the proliferation of outlets from the likes of McDonald’s and the increasing awareness from a consumer level of the importance of sustainable practice, this is a welcome initiative.

Green Building Council of Australia

gbca.org.au