Founded in 2002, Blue Bottle Coffee has developed a network of cafés across the United States, Japan, and South Korea—minimalist oases for urbanites who need a caffeine fix. Initially, there were only a small number, with different plans and a range of aesthetics. In 2016, the company was ready to expand its U.S. operations and engaged Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (BCJ) to apply a more rigorous approach to the overall café design, with codified specifications and functional layouts and more predictable schedules and budgets.
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“Design has always been a key part of our brand identity, and partly what we attribute our success to,” says Lukas Bruggemann, Blue Bottle director of café development. Architects from BCJ’s San Francisco and Philadelphia offices have maintained this strategy by creating more than 20 cafés in six metropolitan areas across the country, keeping pace with the specialty brewer’s growth without sacrificing its standards.
The new cafés are cheerful, light-filled galleries with transparent storefronts that put the performance of coffee making on display in clutter-free spaces. The design emphasizes a common use of humble materials such as plywood and butcher block, combined with thoughtful configurations for brewing equipment, food presentation, and merchandise display. With barista input, the architects for each store also crafted a set of benchmarks early in the design process that standardized certain elements of every café, from bars that open to allow employees to easily interact with guests to dedicated spaces for supplies needed within arm’s reach, and intimate seating nooks.
Simultaneously, BCJ worked with Blue Bottle to design and tweak distinct locations that respond to the surrounding architectural constraints and customer demands. For example, a café in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, features room for strollers, in response to the number of parents in the neighborhood. The space also features a gently curving wall, with vertical wood slats, that choreographs traffic.
The new cafés have increased efficiency and customer loyalty, says Bruggemann. Indeed, by inviting guests to be a part of the coffee-making process, Blue Bottle has improved the experience of both its customers and staff—without sacrificing the quality of the beverages.
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CreditsBlue Bottle California Streetby Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Contact name and phone number should we have additional questions on credits: Jennifer Varner Sadinsky, 206-256-0862
Location: San Francisco, CA
Completion date: December 2017
Gross square footage: 600 sf
Architect: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, www.bcj.com
Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit: Greg Mottola FAIA, Christopher Orsega AIA, Alex Gregor RA, Ashley Hinton RA IIDA, James Kirkpatrick RA
Engineers: MEP: MHC Engineers, Inc
Consultants: Millwork: TJ Hale
General contractor: Eric F. Anderson, Inc.
Photographer: Adam Rouse
Blue Bottle Old Oaklandby Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Contact name and phone number should we have additional questions on credits: Jennifer Varner Sadinsky, 206-256-0862
Location: San Francisco, CA
Completion date: August 2017
Gross square footage: 2,200 sf
Architect: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, www.bcj.com
Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit: Greg Mottola FAIA, Christopher Orsega AIA, Alex Gregor RA, Ashley Hinton RA IIDA
Engineers: MEP: MHC Engineers, Inc
Consultants: Millwork: Arnold and Egan
General contractor: Bali Construction
Photographer: Adam Rouse
Blue Bottle South Parkby Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Contact name and phone number should we have additional questions on credits: Jennifer Varner Sadinsky, 206-256-0862
Location: San Francisco, CA
Completion date: Nov 2016
Gross square footage: 1,200 sf
Architect: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, www.bcj.com
Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit: Greg Mottola FAIA, Christopher Orsega AIA, Alex Gregor RA
Engineers: MEP: MHC Engineers, Inc
Consultants: Millwork: Arnold and Egan
General contractor: Alsterlind Construction Inc
Photographer: Matthew Millman
Blue Bottle The Exchangeby Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Contact name and phone number should we have additional questions on credits: Jennifer Varner Sadinsky, 206-256-0862
Location: Boston, MA
Completion date: May 2018
Gross square footage: 800 sf
Architect: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, www.bcj.com
Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit: Tom Kirk AIA, LEED AP, Ryan Simpson AIA, Sophia Lee AIA, Chris Renn AIA, Daniel Lee AIA, LEED AP
Engineers: MEP: WSP Structural: Silman
Consultants: Millwork: TJ Hale
General contractor: Starloc
Photographer: Daniel Lee
Blue Bottle Williamsburgby Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Contact name and phone number should we have additional questions on credits: Jennifer Varner Sadinsky, 206-256-0862
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Completion date: November 2017
Gross square footage: 2,025 sf
Architect: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, www.bcj.com
Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit: Tom Kirk AIA, LEED AP, Ryan Simpson AIA, Sophia Lee AIA
Engineers: MEP: WSP Structural: Silman
Consultants: Millwork: Okayama Works
General contractor: DCR
Blue Bottle World Trade Centerby Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Contact name and phone number should we have additional questions on credits: Jennifer Varner, 206-256-0862
Location: New York, New York
Completion date: September 2017 Gross square footage: 1,000 sf
Architect: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, www.bcj.com
Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit: Tom Kirk AIA, Ryan Simpson AIA, Christopher Renn AIA, Daniel Stanislaw RA, Nora Chase, Karolina Kaczmarczyk
Engineers: MEP: WSP Structural: Silman
Consultants: Millwork: digifabshop
General contractor: Schimenti
Photographer: Daniel Lee, Jeffrey Totaro |
SpecificationsBlue Bottle California Streetby Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Interior Finishes Acoustical ceilings: Armstrong Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: TJ Hale Paints and stains: Dunn Edwards Solid surfacing: Corian Wood Flooring, Wall, and Ceiling Planks: Ashawa Bay Engineered Maple Flooring Resilient flooring: Eco-grip resistant safety flooring: Allied Industries International, Inc Special interior finishes unique to this project: Custom Hickory Pastry Case by TJ Hale
Furnishings Tables: Custom Corian window counters by TJ Hale
Lighting Interior ambient lighting: Delray, Tech Lighting, HE Williams Tasklighting: Aion
Blue Bottle Old Oaklandby Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Hardware Custom Door pull and door stop manufactured by Arnold and Egan
Interior Finishes Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: Arnold and Egan Paints and stains: Dunn Edwards Wood Flooring: Black Doug Fir Flooring, Sustainable Lumber Company Resilient flooring: Eco-grip resistant safety flooring: Allied Industries International, Inc Special interior finishes unique to this project:
Furnishings Chairs: Custom birch-ply and laminate stools manufactured by Tomlinson Woodworks Tables: Custom birch-ply and laminate tables manufactured by Tomlinson Woodworks
Lighting Interior ambient lighting: Bruck Lighting, Nuvo lighting, Boca Flasher, GE Lighting, HE Williams Tasklighting: Aion
Blue Bottle South Parkby Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Interior Finishes Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: custom lattice structure, bar counter, seating by Arnold and Egan Paints and stains: Dunn Edwards Resilient flooring: Eco-grip resistant safety flooring: Allied Industries International, Inc Special interior finishes unique to this project:
Furnishings Chairs: Mattiazzi Solo Chair and Solo Stool Tables: Custom tables manufactured by Ohio Design
Lighting Interior ambient lighting: Lucifer, Bruck Lighting Tasklighting: Aion
Blue Bottle The Exchangeby Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Structural System Manufacturer of any structural components unique to this project: Custom Kiosk Frame by TJ Hale Interior Finishes Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: custom kiosk frame, infill, and millwork by TJ Hale Solid surfacing: Corian counter face: Dupont Floor and wall tile: Ambassador: Daltile Resilient flooring: Eco-grip resistant safety flooring: Allied Industries International, Inc Custom perforated aluminum paneling by TJ Hale Custom stainless steel countertop by TJ Hale
Lighting Interior ambient lighting: SLT4 LED pendant: Delray Lighting Tasklighting: AT 401 led strip: Axion
Blue Bottle Williamsburgby Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Doors Special doors: Custom Appleply door by Okayama
Interior Finishes Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: custom Appleply and Maple millwork: Okayama Works
Furnishings Chairs: Fiber side chair tube base: Muuto Tables: Ginger table: Arper Upholstery: Kvadrat Canvas: Maharam
Lighting Interior ambient lighting: SLT4 pendant: Delray Lighting Downlights: Smithfield S pendant: Flos
Blue Bottle World Trade Centerby Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Hardware Shelving Supports: Vitra
Interior Finishes Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: Custom Millwork in European beech: digifabshop Paneling: custom perforated acoustical paneling in whitewashed oak veneer: digifabshop Solid surfacing: Corian:Dupont Special surfacing: Cube acoustical wall paneling: Autex
Furnishings Fixed seating: custom, by digifabshop Chairs: CH20 Elbow Chair: Carl Hansen Tables: custom, by digifabshop Upholstery: Messenger, color “cloud”: Maharam Stools: CH56 Barstool: Carl Hansen
Lighting Interior ambient lighting: Dos pendant:Delray lighting Downlights: 3RE-FD-1 recessed LED:Lucifer Lighting Tasklighting: AT 401 linear led cove light:Aion
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