by By Lee Simon
These ideas – or others that they inspire – will help you increase the flexibility of your food service facility....
* I once saw a facility designed with mobile half-walls. It as an open room, sub-divided with a series of half-height partitions which, once “released” from their secured position, would pop up on casters and wheel off to a storage room. It was a very clever design.
* All Day Dining restaurants in many resorts have long been a problem. During the breakfast period, a buffet is desired. However, the buffet is out of place and often “abandoned” during the other day-parts. The all too common answer to this dilemma is to shove the buffet in a corner and close it off when not in use. This is a mediocre solution at best. We have developed a design concept for some of our clients that allows the space to convert from a buffet space in the morning to a brasserie style visible kitchen with a community dining table in the evenings.
* Consider using a variety of non-permanent “elements” to divide a space. These may include curtains, furniture, plants, flooring, ceiling details, or other comparable design components to help provide definition within a space.
* What about wall finishes or artwork that actually change from one day-part to the next? It is possible.
* I recently toured a hotel that incorporated semi-enclosed spaces in the corridors outside their meeting space which acted as a warm area for coffee breaks as well as impromptu meetings between colleagues. The space was oval in shape, but open on two sides to the adjacent corridors. Because of the design, this space was extremely versatile.
* I often see private dining rooms that are designed only for a single purpose and, as a result, spend a significant portion of the time empty and unused. An alternative solution would be to create a private dining space that could handle private functions, but seamlessly open up to the adjacent areas and serve as usable space at other times, when not in use for its primary function.
* If you are engaged in a new construction or renovation project, be sure to include utilities (i.e. electrical outlets, water connections, etc.) wherever possible. This will enable you to add temporary stations or permanent expansions throughout the facility.
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