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Nation's First LEED Gold Certified Dealership Opens in Texas

Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:53pm EDT
Toyota of Rockwall is 17th LEED-Cert. Toyota Facility in D/FW Metroplex

ROCKWALL, Texas, April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota of Rockwall was awarded a
LEED Gold certification during the grand opening celebration held on April 2,
making it the first automotive dealership to receive LEED Gold certification.
Located at 1250 I-30E in Rockwall, Texas, the 11.25-acre dealership has been
designed from the ground up with environmental standards in mind.
    The majority of Toyota of Rockwall's 70,364 square-foot facility is made
up of construction elements that are designed to conserve energy and water and
incorporate recycled materials.  Eco-friendly elements include a roofing
system that reflects 90 percent of the sun's heat back into the atmosphere,
water cisterns that will store 63,500 gallons of water, an air-conditioning
system that conserves condensation for landscape irrigation, a green wall that
will provide a shaded micro-climate on the exterior of the building and
landscaping of native plants, trees and grasses, which are drought resistant.
The architect for the dealership is Gensler and the building contractor is
Beck Construction.
    "Opening this new dealership in Rockwall is exciting in itself," Steve
Jackson, dealer principal, said.  "We are pleased to lead the way with a super
energy-efficient and environmental facility.  Our team is already working with
our neighbors in Rockwall to provide tops in service in this great building.
We are thrilled to be part of the community."
    Toyota of Rockwall was awarded a LEED Gold certification during the grand
opening ceremonies on April 2.  LEED stands for Leadership of Energy and
Environmental Design.  It is a voluntary program designed to promote and
validate environmental leadership in the building industry.  Receiving LEED
certification is an extensive process and involves being evaluated in six
environmental categories by the U.S. Green Building Council.  Toyota of
Rockwall has been built to meet the standards and operate with high
environmental efficiency.
    Toyota of Rockwall is the first automotive dealership to earn a LEED Gold
certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.  Toyota has other LEED
dealer facilities currently under construction in Conway, AR; Granbury, TX;
Salt Lake City, UT; Eugene, OR; Oakland, CA and Nashville, TN., and one
completed in McKinney, TX.
    Toyota of Rockwall was awarded LEED innovation points based on its use of
Green Housekeeping and an Environmental Education program to teach the public
and school children about the environmental aspects of the dealership.
Additional innovation points were earned for the dealership's extraordinary
conservation of water and outstanding use of recycled building materials.  The
dealership is composed of 38 percent recycled materials.
    Initially 55 people have been employed by Toyota of Rockwall, with 25 in
sales, 21 in parts and service and nine in administrative positions.
Employment at the dealership is expected to rise to 138 by the end of the
year.  The dealership is open 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday,
with the service department open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and
7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
    Toyota of Rockwall is serviced by Gulf States Toyota, the independent
distributor serving 149 dealers in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and
Mississippi.
SOURCE  Toyota

Marilyn Pippin, +1-214-828-0066, ext. 108, Marilyn@HopkinsPR.com, for Toyota



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