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The Cheesecake Factory

Upscale Casual Dining Concept

Destiny USA, Syracuse, NY

TRM recently completed the LEED certified Cheesecake Factory which is located at the Destiny USA Mall in Syracuse, NY, part of the largest LEED Gold Certified commercial retail structure in the United States. This project was the first LEED certified Cheesecake Factory to date and has set a precedent for future TCF restaurants. TRM is also beginning to study past projects at the direction of TCF to determine the modifications necessary to achieve certification. TRM works closely and efficiently with a consultant design team of restaurant design experts located throughout the country on restaurants in a wide variety of locations. TRM took the lead in the LEED certification process and guided other consultant team members through the process.

The 11,400 sq. ft. restaurant also includes an 1,800 sq. ft. raised interior patio within the mall. The front of house includes various dining spaces, a bar and cocktail lounge, bakery and lobby. The interior of the restaurant contains elaborate curvilinear ceiling soffits, lighting coves and custom decorative lighting features. Numerous exterior windows, which include transoms with decorative grills, work together with large interior mirrors to bounce light through the interior of the building. The cookline includes a large tempered glass wall with butt joints that follows a curve creating sweeping views to the expo kitchen area while prohibiting the transfer of noise from the kitchen.

TRM successfully completed the Syracuse restaurant under tight schedule constraints despite numerous complexities like the project being located over a brownfield. The entire restaurant was built upon a secondary slab built over a 25” layer of foam insulation to provide adequate space for the routing of utilities, necessary for operation of the restaurant without puncturing the protective barrier and thickened floor slab. The raised secondary slab and various entrances along the exterior and mall interior created challenges in accommodating additional ramps and exit stairs than would be typical to a TCF restaurant. TRM also faced challenges and unique details in adding typical exterior finishes and façade elements over an existing precast concrete panel façade, including an a-typical existing tower element, to reinforce the restaurant’s strong brand image.

Destiny USA is the largest LEED® Gold Certified commercial retail structure in the United States.  In the spirit of sustainability merits achieved by the mall, The Cheesecake Factory pursued and was awarded LEED Certification.  The restaurant reduced its potable water consumption by 78.4% by utilizing grey water from a rainwater harvesting system.  In an effort to reduce energy consumption, the connected lighting power density was reduced 31.18%, while over half of the kitchen equipment and appliances were ENERGY STAR rated based on rated power.