A rendering of Mitchell’s as envisioned at the Van Aken District. “Sleek…
and very likable”
Meanwhile, the Van Aken District provided Mitchell’s with another appealing
opportunity: to take the company’s sustainable building practices to the next level.
“We’re excited this is going to be our first LEED certified building,” says Mitchell.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally
recognized green building certification system.
The building was designed by Dimit Architects, the Cleveland-area firm that
collaborated with Mitchell’s on the renovation of the historic Rialto Theater on
West 25th Street in Ohio City, a project that also prioritized green practices. That
location opened in 2014 and now serves as the Mitchell’s flagship ice cream shop,
production facility, and headquarters. Dimit has also designed shops for Mitchell’s in
Beachwood, Solon, Avon, and the Uptown District.
“In every aspect of the Van Aken building’s design, we’ve kept sustainability in
mind,” says Mitchell.
That even includes most of the furniture. “It’s made from recycled materials –
wood or steel – and most of it is made in Cleveland,” says Mitchell.
When it opens later this summer, the Mitchell’s shop – which Plain Dealer
architecture critic Steve Litt described from renderings as “sleek, glassy and very
likable-looking” – is sure to be an eye-catching centerpiece for the District.
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