MCKINNEY, Texas, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Gensler has designed the first car dealership to register for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating with the U.S. Green Building Council, Pat Lobb Toyota of McKinney. Located at 3350 S. Central Expressway, the 53,000-square-foot facility recently celebrated its grand opening.

"Initially, the assumption was that it would be impossible for a car dealership to go green," said Gensler's project director, Rick Ferrara. "But we believe this project will serve as an example that sustainability can be made a natural part of any building type."

LEED is a voluntary rating system that provides a uniform way to measure a building's sustainability, providing point values in categories such as energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality, which determines a level of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. The dealership is on track for a LEED Silver rating.

"Opening this new dealership in McKinney is exciting in itself," Pat Lobb said. "We are also pleased to lead the way with a super energy-efficient and environmental facility."

Sustainable design highlights: Building's exterior is composed of 80 percent recycled aluminum; heat, when needed, is generated from oil-change waste; car wash uses recycled water; lighting and faucets are energy efficient; carpet is made of recycled windshield glass; bicycle racks and preferred parking for carpool vehicles encourage alternative transportation; native, drought-resistant plants and grasses comprise the landscaping; and rainwater is harnessed for irrigation.

The dealership is designed to meet Toyota's Image USA II specifications, a nationwide program to unify Toyota dealerships' public image and encourage dealers to incorporate sustainable design strategies. It will be serviced by Gulf States Toyota, the independent distributor serving dealers in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Mississippi. Turner Construction built the facility.

Gensler is a leading global design, planning and strategic consulting firm with 2,300 people and 30 offices worldwide. The firm has been a champion of sustainable design as a responsible practice and a smart design approach for many years. In 2005, Gensler received the Leadership Award from the U.S. Green Building Council for its commitment to the advancement of sustainable design.