At WJCA, we have worked on architecture projects spanning a wide range of different clients and industries, from retail to automotive. One area of our work that we are especially proud of is the architecture that we have done for restaurants. Our past clients in this category include highly recognizable brands such as Burger King, Cicis Pizza, and Mooyah. We work with these clients to design new locations, to upgrade or expand existing kitchens or dining areas, and to provide exceptional customer dining experiences.
Key considerations for our restaurant architecture projects typically include:
- Getting the right head counts for seating: One of the aspects we always discuss when designing our restaurant layouts is how we can use the space most efficiently to maximize seating without impairing flow or aesthetic. This process includes taking outdoor seating into account, which is very important to most of our clients in this space.
- Ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and requirements: Working with special health department approvals and requirements is something that has to be at the forefront of our minds when designing restaurant builds, upgrades, or expansions. We are responsible for making sure that the design of the building takes into account any relevant compliance demands.
- Signage: Signage is an important component of the brands we work with, from outdoor branding signs to indoor signage that helps customers navigate the restaurant or choose their preferred menu items. We take care to incorporate these elements into our designs in tasteful, creative, and highly visible ways.
- Lighting: Lighting in any restaurant space is essential. It can set an atmosphere or mood, play into the environment that the brand is trying to establish, or even make the food look more appetizing. We pay close attention to balancing natural and artificial light in our spaces in a way that is aesthetically attractive and entirely functional from a visibility perspective.
- Meeting brand style: Especially when working with chain restaurants, WJCA needs to work within a pre-defined stylistic rubric for what a space should be. Customers of these establishments know what to expect when they walk through the door, in terms of layout, signage, color, and overall feel and atmosphere. We try to strike a balancing act, between being very aware of these well-established brand standards and also trying to put our own spin on the design. Our goal, with every job, is not just to meet client expectations, but to exceed them. By doing what we can to add to a brand’s stylistic status quo, we hopefully allow the specific restaurant locations we design to stand out from other chain locations entirely.
We love designing restaurant spaces and coming up with innovative ways to elevate the customer dining experience. Whether customers are just coming in to order a hamburger to go or visiting for a sit-down meal with the whole family, we want them to feel welcome, and at home in the spaces we design. To learn more about what we can do to take your restaurant design project to the next level, contact our architecture team today.