CDA SMART PLAYBOOK - Quick Service Restaurant

QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK

WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE

Chipman Design Architecture has weathered over four decades of economic turbulence by consistently leading with our values. We believe people come first, standing as a partner by our clients’ side, and committing the talent and resources needed to innovate through any storm.

CDA has helped our clients find success in difficult times due to our ability to respond quickly, pivot team priorities, and adapt services to meet immediate client needs. Throughout the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, we doubled down on our client partnerships, building more fluid and non traditional relationships by offering new services like lease reviews and architectural test fits.

Crisis or not, we are nothing without our amazing team members, and we understand the demand to rethink human-centric design principles for our clients, as well as how to support our staff as we adapt to collaborating in a new working environment.

Admittedly, COVID-19 is uncharted territory, but as the leading architectural design firm for a post-COVID-19 world, we are facing it with courage, innovation and resilience.

COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ FIRM HISTORY

2

MENDOCINO FARMS HOUSTON, TX

WE HAVE YOUR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PLAN FOR COVID-19

D

uring a pandemic, many communities are seeing an increased need for safe access to quick meals. National chains for quick service restaurants need to create, provide, and implement clear guidelines to franchise owners on how to swiftly pivot business models (takeout/curbside vs dine in) and communicate social distance protocol. CDA studied the physical environment of one quick service restaurant and how they might be impacted by viewing the footprint from a before and after perspective.

General programming for this case study included a 3,500 square foot space that would have initially included 50 seats indoor, largely communal-style as well as 16 outdoor seats. Additionally an efficient, partially open kitchen layout based on the brands prototypical requirements could not exceed 900 square feet.

CDA is leading the way with foresight and imagination on how public spaces need to not only adapt now but also thrive in a modified future. To meet changing demands we have to be SMART:

SPATIAL AWARENESS MATERIALS AIR QUALITY ROADMAP TOUCHLESS COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ SMART INTRO

3

SPATIAL AWARENESS

T

apping flexible solutions such as modular furniture and portable dividers will easily transform spaces to accommodate varying social distancing measures. In response to widely accepted social distancing guidelines, making ample space for personal boundaries is key to maintaining the health and safety of employees and customers. The challenge is translating those design choices without losing a sense of connection.

The primary areas of concern for most businesses and offices are common spaces like reception waiting areas, dining areas, meeting rooms, and break rooms. All of these gathering rooms will require a little creative thinking to draw a new floor plan to accommodate social distancing. Seat counts will need to be reduced and should remain adaptable to increase or decrease depending on future social distancing rules. Design choices should also emphasize privacy, with solutions like portable dividers that offer screening between seating.

COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ SPATIAL AWARENESS

4

MATERIALS

M

aterial choice is a major consideration in redesigning for a post-COVID world. Updating materials to innovative products noted for their anti-microbial and sanitation performance will serve a safer environment.

Bleach-cleanable materials and textiles (typically used in health care settings) are becoming the norm for commercial settings and are readily available to ship on demand without long lead times. The use of non-porous materials for countertops is ideal for ease of sanitizing. Quartz, for example, is available in a wide variety of looks, from solid white to mimicking natural stone. Additionally, copper, an on-trend material in the design world right now, is also naturally antimicrobial. Manufacturers have quickly adapted their product lines to include cost-effective options for the utilization of copper such as peel-and-stick solutions, which allow for a quick application that can be completed in a matter of minutes.

COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ MATERIALS

5

AIR QUALITY

P

roper ventilation and air purification is an important step in taking precautions against the spread of disease transmitted through aerosol or droplets. Installing well-planned HVAC systems that bring more than just comfort to a space will contribute to healthy Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).

While the gold standard for cleaner air might include the integration of HEPA filtration, UV-C light air purification and more advanced control packages within the mechanical system, these solutions are costly and often cannot be retrofitted to existing applications.

However, notable improvements in air quality can be achieved in nearly all systems by installing better air filters (MERV-13 minimum), increasing fresh air ventilation, setting controls to operate fans for longer periods, or even operational strategies such as running HVAC systems during off hours to “flush� the space of airborne contaminants.

If the architecture of the space allows it, open operable doors and windows during cool hours of the day to increase ventilation, then adjust control settings to address the changes in humidity that come with outside air.

COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ AIR QUALITY

6

ROADMAP

F

or a brick-and-mortar location, it’s imperative to communicate that guests can safely move through the space. Showcasing proper signage etiquette is key, combined with intentional design cues throughout, will provide subliminal way-finding.

Many of the ways a business needs to adjust its space will go unseen by employees and guests, so it’s important to ensure messaging and signage convey these choices. A successful socially distanced guest experience will also include clear signage directing customers. Thoughtful messaging invokes confidence for all end-users, as it suggests that everyone’s safety matters and that necessary measures are being taken. A more long-term solution than floor marker stickers could be creating clear, yet seamless, flooring and ceiling transitions that more subtly tell people where to go without distracting from the overall design of the space. Additionally, an array of previously secondary services have surged into the forefront, such as BOPIS (Buy online, pick-up in store) or curbside pick-up. Pathways for these services should be holistically integrated into the overall design, instead of as an after-thought.

COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ ROADMAP

7

TOUCHLESS

A

lready a key tool in replicating a sense of human connection in personal and professional settings, technology is a key tool that will be used in bridging the gap in human connection from six feet away in a public setting. Integrating both advanced technology and dependable mechanisms will ensure a contactless experience from initial entry and beyond.

Contactless offerings are becoming the expectation and therefore must be integrated into the overall design to promote a seamless experience. Smartphone apps will continue to gain momentum, as most small businesses have moved operations online while closed, presenting an opportunity to foster community through a digital experience. Strategically installing viewing monitors at contact points can aid communication of key information between employees and guests.

COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ TOUCHLESS

8

CASE STUDY QSR BEFORE FRONT ENTRANCE IS THE ONLY MEANS OF FRESH AIR

STORAGE 588 SF

KITCHEN 916 SF

DINING 52 SEATS

KITCHEN SPACE-PLANNING IS TIGHT AND DOES NOT ALLOW FOR PROPER SPACING FOR STAFF.

COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ CASE STUDY: BEFORE

SELF-SERVICE BEVERAGE STATION IS A HIGH-TOUCH AREA AND POSES POTENTIAL FOR CROSS CONTAMINATION

INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SEATING DOES NOT MEET 6’-0” SPACING FOR PROPER SOCIAL DISTANCING. COMMUNAL TABLES ARE PARTICULARLY PROBLEMATIC AS THEY PROMOTE GATHERING ACROSS DIFFERENT GROUPS. 9

CASE STUDY QSR AFTER KITCHEN/STORAGE RECONFIGURATION

CONTACTLESS POS

RECONFIGURE BACK-OF-HOUSE (BOH) TO ALLOW FOR STAFF TO PROPERLY SOCIAL-DISTANCE $$$

AUTOMATED PAYMENT ALLOWS FOR SEAMLESS CHECK-OUT $

STORAGE

BEVERAGE + CONDIMENT STATION RELOCATE FOR STAFF-ACCESS ONLY TO BETTER CONTAIN THIS TYPICALLY HIGH-TRAFFIC AREA $

COUNTERTOPS

WALK-UP PICK-UP WINDOW

UPGRADE TO QUARTZ IN HIGHTOUCH LOCATIONS LIKE THE TRAY/WASTE RECEPTACLE ALLOWS FOR EASIER SANITATION $

ELIMINATES REQUIREMENT FOR CUSTOMERS TO GO INSIDE TO RETRIEVE ORDERS $$

KITCHEN

523 SF

1,022 SF

DINING 30 SEATS

COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ CASE STUDY: AFTER

SIGNAGE

SCREEN DIVIDERS

BRANDED MESSAGING AND FLOOR MARKERS CLEARLY COMMUNICATE NEW PROCESSES TO CUSTOMERS $

INCORPORATED THROUGHOUT INTERIOR $

RETRACTABLE GARAGE DOOR ALLOWS FOR FRESH AIR CIRCULATION WHEN WEATHER PERMITS $$

EXTERIOR SEATING SPACING OUT FURNITURE TO MAINTAIN DISTANCE $

10

MOOD BOARD

B

oth land and sea serve as design inspiration, both being primary sources of this quick-service restaurant’s signature ingredients. Farm fresh elements and nautical cues create a space that feel light and organic. Soft wood grains and crisp detailing set a neutral backdrop allowing the colorful fare to be front and center. With a color palette inspired by pebbled beaches and crashing waves, the customizable menu feels like a new discovery with each visit, like encountering sea glass along the shoreline.

COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ MOOD BOARD

11

CASE STUDY EXTERIOR RENDERING

COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ PROJECT “AFTER” RENDERING

12

CASE STUDY EXTERIOR RENDERING RETRACTABLE GARAGE DOOR TO ALLOW FRESH AIR CIRCULATION $$

CONTACTLESS POS

PICKUP WINDOW

AUTOMATED PAYMENT ALLOWS FOR SEAMLESS CHECK-OUT $

WALK-UP WINDOW ELIMINATES NEED FOR CUSTOMERS TO GO INSIDE TO PICK UP ORDERS $$

SIGNAGE EXTERIOR SEATING SPACING OUT FURNITURE TO MAINTAIN 6 FOOT DISTANCE BETWEEN TABLES $ COVID-19 SMART PLAYBOOK \ PROJECT “AFTER” RENDERING

ANTI-MICROBIAL HANDLES UPGRADING TO COPPER HANDLES IN HIGH-TOUCH LOCATIONS TO PROVIDE BETTER SANITATION $

BRANDED FLOOR MARKERS + OTHER WAYFINDING TO GUIDE CUSTOMERS SAFELY $

13

Chipman Design Architecture talks to the New York Times about shifting restaurant layouts post-COVID-19 CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

THE FUTURE OF PANDEMIC RESTAURANT DESIGN Zagat interviews Chipman Design Architecture about how eateries can weather COVID-19 CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

MODIFYING YOUR ENVIRONMENT: 7 WINS FOR RESTAURANTS DURING COVID-19 CDA CEO Lauren Chipman explains our approach to restaurant design (and re-design) post-COVID-19 CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

MORE INF

PANDEMIC THREATENS A THRIVING REAL ESTATE MODEL

14

Be well!

LAUREN CHIPMAN Chief Executive Officer lchipman@chipman-design.com 626-399-9494

ARIEL DELAO Principal, Restaurant Studio adelao@chipman-design.com 708-268-4369

WWW.CHIPMAN-DESIGN.COM

CHIPMANDESIGN