Pizza Today - September 2017 - 33

By opening up the vertical space of
a restaurant with an exposed ceiling,
operators will present their customers
with a room that seems bigger and feels
cooler, according to Linden.
"Higher ceilings allow for more heat
to rise to the top of the room, keeping
the temperature down in the main dining area. This can save on the electrical
bill and also cuts back on ambient noise
from air conditioners," says Linden.
Although an exposed ceiling
adds drama and style to a restaurant, it can also present unique
challenges - especially in terms

of heating and cooling expenses and
maintenance - for operators who opt
for such a signature design element.
"Exposed ceilings lose many of the
perks that drop ceilings have, including using insulating materials that can
protect against heat loss and noise pollution," Linden says. "With an exposed
ceiling, you are forced to use whatever
the original framing of the building
has, and for older buildings this can be
outdated and lack the benefits of more
modern construction and materials."
Plus, cleaning an exposed ceiling
requires extra attention and depending on how high the ceiling reaches, a
ladder.
"These ceilings can also be harder to
maintain given all the exposed surfaces
where dust can collect," says Horn.
"And, when light fixtures are located
higher than usual, replacing light bulbs
require more effort."
Because an exposed ceiling literally
opens up a space, which gives guests
a lot of breathing room, it can also
feel a bit cavernous with sounds from
every inch of the restaurant colliding
with each other; and, even though an
exposed ceiling can be stunning, exposed wiring will give guests an uneasy
impression.
"If the project is in an existing
building, exposing a ceiling may be
challenging and costly should existing MEP, electrical, etc., need to be
relocated to create the desired effect,"
says Horn. "More attention needs to
be paid to the organization and routing
of MEP and electrical components.
Ducting, in particular for HVAC,

must be considered part of the design.
Noise control can be an issue and may
need to be addressed by incorporating
smaller, floating, ceiling 'clouds' to create some level of sound absorption."
Linden adds that even though
electrical and wiring do pose
challenges for operators, an

exposed ceiling is more transparent
for spotting issues with the electrical
system and may save your guests from
a messy environment if and when a
problem arises.
"Electrical or other wiring problems
are often much easier to address since
the ceiling itself doesn't need to be
removed in order to see what's going
on," Linden says. "The debris that often
comes from removing ceiling tiles, etc.,
also doesn't affect the dining area."
In addition to electrical, wiring,
and sound issues, operators should
be cognizant of wafting aromas if
their restaurant shares any walls with
neighbors.
"Restaurants located next to or
below other residential or business
spaces definitely have to consider this.
One issue that has come up is the smell
from the restaurant creeping into adjacent spaces," Linden says. "Even if the
food smells great, other tenants may
complain. Ceiling tiles and insulation
can mitigate some of this problem."
In addition to the labor and cost of
rerouting an HVAC system and installing proper lighting, operators have to
consider the cosmetic cost an exposed
ceiling incurs.

Creating a memorable, inviting and signature style for your
restaurant is always worth the
investment, and with every ele-

ment, whether it is funky seating, cool
lighting or an exposed ceiling, operators need to do extensive research on
whether an on trend or trendy factor is
worth the price and effort, has the staying power to become a classic look, and
most importantly, if it truly aligns with
their restaurant's vibe. n

DEANN OWENS is a freelance writer who
covers small business, finance and lifestyle
topics.
Pizza Today - September 2017

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