Project Description

Tenant buildouts for Cyberbrew commercial coffee shop chains located in Los Angeles, CA.

The owner of the Cyberbrew establishment contracted me in 2013 to produce multiple build-out establishments for the company in various locations throughout the state of California. I produced the drawings according to the adopted national building code at the time of construction as well as the locally enforced building codes.

The local California codes encompassed everything from the local health department to the utility divisions, providing a significant learning experience due to the disparities compared to the state of Indiana requirements. For instance, commercial establishments necessitate a grease trap or interceptor to prevent wasted grease from dishes or cooking items contaminating the public utilities. Different districts have varying requirements; some permit a small compact unit mounted below the 3-bin sink areas, while others mandate a trenched system located within a designated utility area away from all food items. Additionally, some districts require a large concrete or fiberglass reinforced pit, resembling a septic tank, to be situated in the sidewalk, typically in the property’s right of way. In Bloomington, Indiana, they have employed every type mentioned over the years and then reverted to allowing a previously banned interceptor in restaurants, which can prove frustrating from a design perspective.