43,000-sf Chicago Starbucks will be world’s largest

Spotting a Starbucks isn’t exactly rare or something to get excited about. Seeing the Starbucks Siren on a sign by the side of the road is about as common as seeing the McDonald’s Golden Arches or a trailer for another Fast and Furious movie.

With the sheer ubiquity of Starbucks locations across the country, news that another is opening in Chicago along the Magnificent Mile may not sound too exciting. Starbucks, however, promises the Chicago Reserve Roastery will be a “one-of-a-kind coffee experience.”

For starters, the new location will be the largest Starbucks store in the world at 43,000-sf. The massive Roastery will be constructed on North Michigan Avenue and Erie Street and will be the third Roastery in the U.S.

Details are still sparse and an architect has not yet been announced, but the company has released an early rendering and brief description of the new store. The location will be dedicated to roasting, brewing, and packaging Starbucks coffees from around the world across its interactive four-story space. Early renderings show a glassy façade that makes each floor visible from the street. In addition to the four floors, it appears a landscaped rooftop terrace will be included in the design with outdoor seating. The structure will also have dedicated space to allow for fresh baking on site.

“Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, so we took our time to find an incredible space to match the unprecedented coffee experience our premium Roastery will offer,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks Executive Chairman. “To be located on one of the best-known retail streets in the world is a proud moment for all of us and we can’t wait to bring Chicago and the world a coffee experience worthy of their most premier real estate.”

The Chicago Reserve Roastery will be the third, and biggest, location in the U.S. following Seattle, which opened in 2014, and New York City, which is schedule to open in 2018. Three international Roastery locations are also in varies stages of design and construction with Shanghai slated for a late 2017 opening and Milan and Tokyo schedule for 2018.

The rise of mobile devices and social media, coupled with the use of advanced survey tools and interactive mapping apps, has created a powerful conduit through which Building Teams can capture real-time data on the public. For the first time, the masses can have a real say in how the built environment around them is formed—that is, if Building Teams are willing to listen.