Top 10 Things To Know About Brewery Design - Post COVID-19
1HVAC – Fresh Air, Dilution and FiltrationThere are dozens if not hundreds of articles on the health and safety of indoor air supply with regard to COVID-19 but limited actual research. Until
more conclusive research is complete, one of the most effective measures in a taproom or brewery is dilution of the air. We expect more open
windows and don’t expect to see the trend of overhead doors going away anytime soon. Regular replacement of HVAC filters will continue to be an
important maintenance item. Moving forward, we expect to see sophisticated UV systems and Bipolar ionization that will further improve the air
quality and filtration.
2Customer Flow – To Go Pick UpBreweries often cater to fluctuating volumes of customers and are accustomed to separating bar seats and designating space for walk up bar orders.
Now with the growth of online ordering and increase of To Go pick up sales due to COVID-19, there is an increasing demand for dedicated customer
product staging areas designated for touchless pick up. Efficiently meeting these new space demands in the valuable taproom space will be challenge
for designers. We may see more separate entrances and exits to separate directional traffic. Breweries that currently have outdoor seating and an
exterior window service point are already using this to their advantage and limiting interior traffic while maximizing the use of their outdoor space.
We expect these features will become more common.
3Seating OptionsNeeds for seating flexibility and patron seating options will continue to grow due to COVID-19. We expect to see less large fixed communal tables and
more smaller table settings that can be rearranged and moved based on changing seating needs and taproom flow. While we don’t expect bar seating
to completely go away, breweries with varied options and spacing will be able to better cater to the comfort and safety preferences of their patrons.
Designers may want to consider alternate bar seat locations around the taproom that can easily convert from standing space to bar height space when
bar seats must be relocated. Designers should never forget about the views from these seats. While it is tempting to line a wall with seats, who really
wants to sit and stare at a wall? If your patrons are not partially paying for your atmosphere… then what are they paying for? It almost goes without
saying that the demand for exterior seating and serving options will increase. Farm breweries may be in best positioned to capitalize on this need.
4Loading Dock FlexibilityEven before COVID-19, breweries demand a fairly flexible loading dock arrangement. They need to serve a range of vehicle types from full size trucks
to utility vans to farm trucks hauling off their spent grain. Websites like biermi.com and COVID-19 have increased the practicality and legality of
self-distribution at a residential scale. This distribution model further emphasizes the need for this flexibility at the loading dock. Work with your
architect to help explore the functional and practical trade-offs between vehicle ramps, full size dock heights and dock lifts that need to be considered
for your brewery location.
5Table Service and Taproom OrderingWhile COVID-19 continues to evolve beer delivery and distribution outside of the brewery, delivery within the brewery is also changing. We
expect that breweries will be working to ensure more control over the beverage from the tap to the customer. In some cases, this may mean more
direct to customer counter type serve points but likely less self-serve opportunities. We may also see more digital ordering from smart phones and
modifications in packaging and glassware. The casual atmosphere of a brewery lends itself to these evolutions. Additional waitstaff may be needed to
prep, clean and turn over tables.
6Flexible / Multiple Serving PointsBreweries have been working to manage bottlenecks by providing multiple serving points. We expect this trend will continue to minimize lines and
maximize flexibility and control of the beverage. Mobile serving points can provide additional flexibility as traffic flow patterns are adjusted.
7SurfacesCOVID-19 is bringing a new emphasis on the need for cleanability. Modest budgets and a desire to create particular atmospheres have resulted in
more creative uses of reclaimed materials, wood, and other less wipeable surfaces. We expect more nonporous surfaces or coatings, antimicrobial
treatments and generally more wipeable surfaces being designed and installed.
8Tours and AccessWe expect to see more safety guidelines and precautions for brewery tours once they resume. Tour sequences in a brewery should be planned out
from day one. Work with your architect to determine which of your spaces is public and which is private to establish a plan for the demarcation of
those boundaries. Similar to other attractions like zoos and aquariums, a well designed brewery tour path can provide an unobstructed view of the
facility while keeping both the product and the patrons safe. Tour planning and access can happen after the fact, but when a plan is conceived from
the beginning the user experience can be so much better.
9Material Shortages and DelaysCOVID-19 is already having an impact on construction and building material supply chains. We expect that future disruptions may be more regional
or site specific and less national or international. This should provide breweries with more options than has been the case over the past few months.
Brewery designers should be cautious about proprietary selections of products and materials but equally attentive to any alternatives your General
Contractor may be recommending based on cost or availability. Your architect and engineering team can assist you with “equal to” substitutions and
protect your investment.
10Restroom DesignRestrooms will continue to evolve as they have been in recent years. Touchless fixtures will become even more common place. We expect to see more
single occupant restrooms or full height partitions within multi-stall restrooms. During design, traffic flows into and out of the restroom should be
considered and preference should be given to out swinging doors whenever possible. As touchless fixtures become more commonplace, consideration
should be given impacts the removal of paper towels may have on the wider population utilizing the restroom. Barriers to sanitation should be
reduced or removed all together.
Architecture And Engineering Design Services
why partner with the arium ae team
Having assisted dozens of breweries, distilleries and cideries, Arium AE is the regional design leader in the craft beverage market.
Arium AE offers a full service, integrated design approach that balances functional solutions and high aesthetics through outstanding services tailored to each of our client’s unique needs.
Arium AE’s unique studio size and business model allow the firm to provide exceptionally high levels of service to long term high value client partners. Our metrics for success are directly aligned with your project.
Not only does Arium have the capability to perform on your project, we have the experience necessary to navigate the dynamic regulatory environment on budget and within schedule.
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Arium Approach
Integrated Design Studio
- Efficient Design
- Early Discovery
- Increased Cost Control
- Schedule and Delivery
- Control of Project Workload
Experience and Staffing
- Project Based Consistency
-Repeat Client Focused
- 50% of Staff with 10+ years experience
-Landloard/Tenant/Builder
- Infrastructure for Growth
Technical Standards
- Drawing Standards
-File Management
- Code Expertise
- AHJ Knowledge
- Quality Control
- Shifting Workload
Competence
- 74% Commercial Interiors
-85% Existing Buildings
- 11+ years experience with Leidos Group
- Cleared Resources
- 98% Mid-Atlantic Region
- Routinely ranked in Top 10 Interior
Architecture Firms by BBJ.
Project ApproachProject Staffing
- Dedicated Personnel
- Highly Experienced Staff
- Principal Involvement
Establish Project Metrics
- Client Goals
- Schedule
- Budget
- Level of Design
Step by Step Client Centric Process
- Onboarding and Evaluation
- Field Verification/Programming
- Preliminary Design - Schematics
- Design Development - Close Outstanding
- Construction Documents
- Permit Expediting
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Arium Staffing Breakdown
Discipline Employees
Administrative 3
Architectural 15
Electrical Engineering 4
Mechanical Engineering 4
Interior Design 3
Drafter 2
Arium ArchitecturePhilosophy:
Design success through investment in the
understanding and establishment of unique
client specific project metrics.
Project Types
- Commercial Interior
- Restaurant
- Brewery / Distillery / Cidery
- Industrial
- Retail
Project Volume:
- Billing 150+ project per month
Reputation:
- Decisive Action and Responsiveness
- Efficient Design
- Engaged Staff at Higher Experience Levels
Recent Projects:
- Cushwa Brewing Company, 12,000 SF, Williamsport Maryland, AE Design Services, Taproom, Production, Kitchen
- Hysteria Brewing Company, Columbia MD, 10,000 SF, Full AE Design Services, Open Taproom and Production
- True Respite Brewing Company, Rockville MD, 9,000 SF, Full AE Design Services Taproom and Production
Arium MEP EngineeringPhilosophy:
Whole building integration and elegant yet
simple design solutions that are user friendly,
environmentally responsible and keep realistic
maintenance schedules in mind.
Project Types
- Commercial Interior
- Restaurant
- Brewery / Distillery / Cidery
- Industrial
- Retail
Reputation:
- Client focused design
- Responsive and efficient
- Problem solvers - “some of our best clients
come from solving other team’s problems”
Recent Projects:
- Cushwa Brewing Company, 12,000 SF, Williamsport Maryland, AE Design Services, Taproom, Production, Kitchen
- FourScore Beer Company, Gettysburg, PA, 4,300 SF, MEP Engineering Design Services, Brew Pub
- One Eight Distilling, Washington DC, MEP Engineering Design Services,H-Classification Expansion