Chipotle 3.0 Prototypes

Re-envisioning the customer experience while reducing overall investment costs

Spurred by a desire to bring their quality offerings to a broader audience, Chipotle hired El Dorado to completely re-imagine the design of a Chipotle environment.

Five simple rules were given: reduce overall investment costs, same menu, same name, kitchen on full display, and same interactive customer service model. Two layout types were developed, side-load and front-load, to reflect the nature of interaction between customers and the kitchen. The goal was to design four prototypes modeling the full range of possible roll-out conditions for this concept, including new construction and renovation for both types. Working with one of the largest kitchen equipment manufacturers in North America, the we were responsible for rethinking the kitchen and the dining room design. Full-scale prototypes allowed for testing of new conditions throughout the store design. El Dorado fabricated all custom furniture components for the new stores.

2015

Architect

Kansas, Missouri, Texas

1,500-1,700 SF

Client

Chipotle

Eldo Team

David Dowell

Chris Burk

Ted Arendes

Daniel Renner

Collaborators

Contractor: Horizon Contracting

Structural Engineer: Bob D. Campbell

MEP: Lankford+Fendler and Associates

Awards

2016 AIA Kansas City Design Excellence Awards - Citation

2018 AIA Central States Region Design Awards - Merit Award

2018 Interior Design - Best of Year Award, Outdoor Honoree

Photography

Mike Sinclair