26 ACUMEN • SPRING 2022 walls and about the safety aspects of the early-1800s structure with two add-ons. “The goal is to present the package to George and have him ready to go with a contractor,” says Torres. In November 2021, Bethlehem Historic Conservation Commission approved the changes to the exterior and it awaited approval from city council. Integrated Degree in Engineering Arts and Sciences (IDEAS) student Nicholas Chiu was mindful that the design ref lect the owner’s vision and invite the community, such as having signs in English and Spanish. Chiu’s interest in theatrical set design inf luenced his focus on what message the space conveys. “I was first intrigued with the real-world applications of the project,” he says. The team members were committed to ref lecting the history of the Queen Anne- style building. They dismissed, for example, a steel awning. “We had to take a step back to work within the style, not slap on something,” Fabozzi says. They considered the business model. Should patrons linger or should tables turn over quickly? “We need to understand the movement in space, the customer f low. We looked at what does it look like being an employee. What areas have the most sales, how to design for a more efficient f low,” says Fabozzi. Torres adds that the experience closely resembles what he saw during a design consultancy internship. “Working in class was okay but my favorite part was making an impact, talking to the people actually using the design,” he says. “It’s more impactful to the customers, business and the community as a whole.” The best design, explains Nikolov, “is borne out of the diversity of the team members, of their collaboration among themselves and with the owners and out of an intimate engagement with the site and the community around it. It’s a learning experience whichever way you look at it. It’s all about growth for everyone involved, while leaving a positive mark on our town.” ● “W orking in class was okay but my favorite part was making an impact, talking to the people actually using the design.”
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