Caldwell opens new LEED Toyota-Scion store

Jay Caldwell could go on and on about the new Caldwell Toyota-Scion store.

And on Thursday afternoon, before a crowd of community supporters and Toyota executives standing in the shade of the environmentally designed, energy efficient, high performance Green Building, he did.

Caldwell and his associates led tours through the dealership built to LEED (Leadership of Energy and Enviornmental Design) standards on 5 acres just off the interstate on the edge of South Conway. It’s the first retail building in Arkansas to receive LEED designation.

The groundbreaking was 11 months ago, and “This has been the fastest three years of my life,” Caldwell said with a knowing laugh from the audience.

He pointed out the extensive use of recycled building materials, rapidly renewable materials and regional materials, and he could explain the difference. Low-emitting materials including sealants, adhesives, paints and composite woods are great for the environment, better for employees and customers, Caldwell said.

In addition to the 8,600-gallon cistern that catches rainwater and air conditioner condensation for landscape irrigation, a reverse osmosis system recycles 80-90 percent of the water used to wash a car and, more personally, the building has waterless urinals that save about 40,000 gallons of water a year.

A simple change from using Styrofoam cups — about 1,000 a month — to providing real coffee mugs has saved lots in recyclables, Caldwell said.

Joining Jay Caldwell at the podium Thursday was his dad, Jack Caldwell, who began his automobile career as Jay did, in the service department.

“We learned that it all starts in the back – giving the customer what he wants,” Jack Caldwell said. He said the company has a great customer base in this part of the state but it takes “a great city” to grow as they have. Knowing that Hewlett-Packard will be in the neighborhood gives them “a nice feeling.”

Display cases in the customer waiting area have signs illustrating the various green materials used throughout the building.

“We’re inviting school groups to tour, and there’s a class at UCA that’s studying the building,” Jay Caldwell said. “We welcome that.”

A string quartet from the Conway Symphony Orchestra provided entertainment following the cutting of a green grand-opening ribbon.

Architect was Brian Black of Black, Corley, Owens and Hughes. Construction was by Kinco, Inc.

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