What was the name of McDonald’s first globally standardized restaurant design, introduced in 1953?

McDonald’s first widely standardized restaurant design, introduced in 1953, was the Red and White design.

The Red and White design used red-and-white tile, a streamlined roadside appearance, and prominent golden arches. It was developed as McDonald’s expanded beyond the original San Bernardino operation and needed restaurants to look consistent and recognizable across locations.

Architect Stanley Clark Meston designed the influential 1953 building in Downey, California. Its arches were originally architectural features that projected above the roofline, helping motorists identify the restaurant from the road.

The Red and White buildings later became known as “Mansard Roof” restaurants when a later design used a sloping roofline. These names describe different stages of McDonald’s architectural branding and should not be treated as the same design.