And the Traveling Trophy Design Award Goes to... KFC/Taco Bell?

The Village of Glen Ellyn Architectural Review Commission recognized a fast food restaurant for outstanding building design at last Monday's Village Board meeting.

In September the commission awarded the Kentucky Fried Chicken/ Taco Bell franchise at 370 Roosevelt Rd with "The Travelling Trophy Design" award for the newly constructed restaurant completed in 2009.

Jim Burdett, chairman of the village Architectural Review Commission, said he really liked the new design of the fast food restaurant.

"They did a really nice job and used quality materials when they built it. It's got some nice brick work and stone trim and they avoided fake stucco and plastics," Burdett said.

Burdett said the redesign avoided a lot of gimmicky signage and promotional architecture that was prominent in fast food restaurant décor in the 1970s and 1980s.

"They avoided all the gimmicky things like fake stucco or revolving buckets of chicken on the roof," Burdett said.

Burdett said he also liked the "subdued color palate" the architects chose for the façade.

"They stayed away from the purple trim that a lot of Taco Bell's have on their buildings," he said. "It's just a high quality design."

Burdett said the avoidance of architectural embellishments or bright color-schemes that are synonymous with traditional fast-food designs means the building blends with the architecture of the other buildings along Roosevelt Road.

"They did such a good job that if something were to happen to that franchise and it had to close, I don't think it would be too hard to get another tenant in there quickly," Burdett said.

Burdett said it's important to the village that businesses maintain a pleasing architectural appearance. He said that keeps the village looking maintained, but it's also advantageous for the business owners because it makes the business more appealing to customers. But, he said if a building has to be repurposed, then it's necessary to maintain strict guidelines on appearance.

Calls to the KFC/ Taco Bell franchise seeking comments about the award were not returned.

United Methodist Church, 424 Forest Ave., received an honorable mention for its architectural renovation.

Burdett said the design of the new building was consistent with village guidelines, which made it eligible for the award.

The Appearance Review Guidelines authorize the Architectural Review Commission to present an award for design and an award for landscaping each year. The Trophy Award has been distributed since the Village adopted the original Appearance Guide and Criteria in 1969. The landscape award was created in 2000. It was named for Vivian Ball, a Glen Ellyn resident who was active in village beautification efforts.

In 2008 The Crown Plaza Hotel, 1250 Roosevelt Road, won the Trophy Award.

Planning staff reviews the buildings to see if they are eligible for an award, then the Architectural Review Commission votes on the winner, Burdett said.

Staci Hulseberg, the director of planning and development for Glen Ellyn, said the winners of each award are presented a trophy. The businesses are allowed to display the trophy for one year, but then it will rotate into the possession of the next winner, Hulseberg said. The business name is inscribed on the trophy along with past winners, Hulseberg added.