Starbucks Container Drive-Thru

CGI Container Project Description

Starbucks is known for taking something simple (a cup of coffee) and wrapping it in a total customer experience. There are many people that use their local Starbucks store as an informal meeting for business and pleasure. Starbucks has also used the simple and common shipping container for a new experience – a drive through Coffee Shop. Dubbed the “Reclamation Drive-Thru”, the project was completed in December of 2011. They managed to fit room for three baristas, rain water harvesting, and LEED certified construction in 448 square feet. Another unusual addition was the use of soy-based closed cell foam for insulation.

Clients & Partners

Starbucks
SG Blocks
DB Contractors-Jake Hatfield, Project Manager-Jeremy Habelman, Superintendent
ConGlobal Industries

Days to Complete

Dec 2011

Project Completion Date

Number of Containers

$42,000

Budget

Containers & Modifications

The Reclamation Drive-Thru was built using 4 shipping containers. Two of the containers are stacked on top of the two on the ground, providing easy drive-up and walk-up access. The ends of one container were modified to allow access for the customers; one end is the drive-up, and the other end is the walk-up window (convenient to the outdoor seating area).

Details & Summary

The visual appearance of the Reclamation Drive-Thru showcases several stacked and connected shipping containers, and the design clearly announces “Starbucks”. The upper containers are painted a light brown, and the lower containers are dark brown – both firmly in the palette of the Starbucks corporate color scheme. This location did not utilize any paneling or other modification to the corrugated steel of the standard shipping container. The use of the soy-based, closed cell foam for insulation is efficient and optimized the interior space. This structure is considered “transportable” because the landowner wanted a temporary facility.