Did you know McDonald’s has built a restaurant out of mass timber? In São Paulo, Brazil, the fast‑food giant has opened what it calls the most sustainable McDonald’s in the country, a 220‑square‑metre building constructed almost entirely from cross‑laminated timber.
Designed by local practice Superlimão Studio, the restaurant forms part of McDonald’s global “Recipe for the Future” initiative and showcases a striking tree‑inspired structure made from engineered wood. The project aligns with the company’s commitment to reach net‑zero emissions across its supply chain and its 40,000 restaurants by 2050.
“We’re trying to signal to our partners, investors, suppliers, other brands in the global community, policymakers, that we share that vision for 2050,” then‑Chief Sustainability Officer Jenny McColloch told Reuters.
Located at one of São Paulo’s busiest intersections, the new restaurant is built from wood and recycled materials and incorporates a composting system, electric‑vehicle chargers and a suite of energy‑efficient technologies.
Over the past five years, the company has increasingly turned to CLT as part of a broader effort to modernise its image and respond to shifting customer expectations. In 2018, it used the material to reinvent its Chicago flagship, the city’s most extensive timber construction since the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
According to then‑deputy buildings commissioner Asif Rahman, the city was “very open to the idea,” helping the design team navigate code requirements. That project marked a turning point for McDonald’s in exploring mass timber at scale.
Superlimão Studio says the São Paulo restaurant uses a biomimetic approach, drawing inspiration from the last remaining trees along Avenida Bernardino de Campos. CLT panels are braced with diagonal, branch‑like members to achieve the required spans and reinforce the project’s connection to nature.
“Since environmental awareness is just as important as actions, we decided to go beyond the project itself, turning it into a powerful tool for environmental education and awareness,” said Lula Gouveia, a partner at Superlimão. The structure is visible from the street through glass curtain walls, with exposed CLT panels left on display inside.
According to Gouveia, the CLT components were prefabricated off‑site, reducing material waste, lowering energy consumption and minimising disruption to the surrounding neighbourhood. A glass‑box ground floor and drive‑thru lane sit beneath a heavy timber platform that supports the main dining area, conceived as a tree canopy.
Glue‑laminated timber beams elevate the structure above ground level, while horizontal sunshades help regulate internal temperatures. The building also features a green roof that improves thermal performance and a system that captures rainwater and air‑conditioning condensate for reuse.
Inside, conventional finishes were replaced with sustainable alternatives from local suppliers. Porcelain tiles were swapped for Concresteel, and recycled PET laminate replaced traditional melamine.
The ground floor includes self‑service kiosks, a checkout area, a McCafé and a dessert station made from 100 per cent recycled polypropylene. A sweeping staircase with a curved timber handrail leads to the upper level.
Superlimão installed bleacher‑style seating inspired by nearby schools and universities to create a relaxed environment for studying and socialising. A yellow floor path guides customers through the space, while QR codes allow visitors to learn about the building’s sustainable features.
“This marks the first time McDonald’s and Superlimão have created a self‑explanatory project,” Gouveia said. “Visitors can intuitively understand the principles behind this construction.”
