The dining experience must shift to one that incorporates new health and safety precautions, which invariably requires changes to restaurant construction and design.
Many restaurants and eateries have adapted their operations and environment in order to welcome back patrons. Restaurant construction and design were once geared toward leisure, comfort, and convenience. Now, considerations for a new normal will influence restaurant construction and design moving forward in response to COVID-19. The dining experience must shift to one that incorporates new health and safety precautions, which invariably requires changes to the way restaurants are built. From that standpoint, here are some things we may see more of in the future.
Emphasis on Outdoor Seating
Whenever the weather is nice, dining al fresco is a popular option among restaurant and bar-goers. Creating outdoor seating has steadily been on the rise across all types of restaurant construction and design projects. Some venues have had to reopen with makeshift outdoor dining areas in order to serve their customers on-site. It’s fair to say that given restaurant owners’ diners’ concerns over close-quarters indoor dining, new restaurant construction and renovation projects will look to develop outdoor seating solutions.
Design For Distancing
For restaurant construction and design, the fixtures and layout’s function and traffic-flow all strove for efficiency; It focused on maximizing the number of diners they could accommodate. In this new normal, designers and restaurant builders must be more conscious of physical distancing. For many restaurants, this may include allocating more space to line up when placing orders or waiting to be seated, installing barriers between booths and tables, and even considering foot-traffic for those entering and exiting the establishment.
New Tech for Ordering and Pick-Up
Fast-casual restaurants have been trying to capitalize on the increased convenience trend in recent years by implementing new technology. Things like smartphone apps and online ordering have helped to reduce person-to-person contact. Thoughtfully set up pick-up stations let customers — or the drivers of those increasing app-based food delivery services — quickly and efficiently grab orders for carryout convenience. The truth is, many people are going to feel safer eating at home. Therefore, restaurants should be prepared to meet a higher volume of carryout orders. Meet these needs with pick-up stations, carryout counters, drive-throughs, and walk-up windows.
Work With Encore Construction
As a premier commercial general contractor, Encore Construction is proud to provide interior and exterior services throughout Maryland and beyond. We have an impeccable track record, an impressive portfolio, and an experienced team that is ready to tackle your next big project. Our results speak for themselves, and we’re proud of the work we continue to produce for our clients.
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