green dining

Reinventing Dining for a Pandemic-Prepared World by Robert Simmons

al Fresco Dining Pavilion Opens to the Sky via Retractable Fabric Roof

How do campuses and companies, both large and small, provide safe gathering for dining in a pandemic and prepare for the next one? In a conceptual design study for a major northeastern college, Simmons STUDIO proposed creating an adaptable al fresco dining pavilion. It is adaptable to be open to the sky, or on rainy or hot days, the translucent fabric roof can close to create a shady and weathertight area. Steam-heated bench seats, and radiant panels allow for sustainable comfort all year round, with fresh air in abundance.

Two covered open-air cooking venues will serve the area to provide food with an extremely low carbon footprint. The design eliminates the extremely wasteful exhaust hood ventilation that is required indoors, which involves heating outside air, and then immediately expelling it through an expensive exhaust system, which produces massive GHG emissions. Learn more...

Dining Pavilion Can Also Double as an Outdoor Sheltered Event Venue