Good enough to eat: Our judges were transfixed by the prototype for Au Bon Pain's new suburban outposts. (Was that a stomach growling?) Architects Sasaki Associates created energy in the space by dividing self-serve functions into several stations, installing attention-getting graphics in the chain's signature yellow and creating displays of fresh food. Judges also praised the elements that elevate the atmosphere to that of a restaurant. In the white, blue and green dining area, for example, a variety of seating options, from private booths to a lounging area to more efficient hard seating recognize that some customers are on the run while others care to linger.
Project Name
Au Bon Pain
Location
Pembroke, Mass.
Square Footage
5,000
Architect
Sasaki Associates Inc.
Client
Au Bon Pain
Credits
Contractor
Craffey & Co.
Photographer
Robert Benson Photography