The Greater Good Coffee Shop
Redlands, CA, 2010

The 1,650 square foot coffee shop is located on the lobby level of a downtown office building.  The coffee shop is operated by “Ability Counts”, an organization dedicated to creating jobs and providing vocational training for people with developmental disabilities.  The program called for a retail establishment with a limited menu of hot breakfast, lunch, and dinner items.  In addition to functioning as a coffee shop, the organization required the space to have a fully ADA accessible commercial kitchen for on-the-job training of the disabled clients they serve.  Budget constraints of the non-profit corporation were a limiting factor in the construction and design of the space.

The northern wall of the space is a continuous expanse of glass framed to provide a view of the mountains, landscaped exterior courtyard, and a natural connection to the outside. The warm, colorful 30-seat dining area exploits the natural daylight of these northern facing windows and functions as a meeting and working area for the occupants of the building. A fixed counter along the glass wall with electrical access was created to serve customers using laptop computers.  New outdoor seating with audio speakers allow office workers an inviting, but previously unavailable outdoor break area beneath the tree canopy. The local community is also served by a new food delivery service from the coffee shop and reclamation of the underutilized courtyard to host local entertainers and other neighborhood events.  

The design incorporates the need for a modest operating budget as well as the client’s request for sustainable construction materials.  Low voltage LED and fluorescent lighting were specified throughout the space and materials were chosen for their recycled content. Local materials were also utilized when possible to minimize the carbon footprint of the project. The architectural team helped procure used furniture from Ebay and local suppliers to offset project costs.