Welcome to another edition of Meet the Team! Brian Zielinski is a Project Manager at Aria Group who just celebrated 15 years with our firm. He joined our team in 2006 as an Architectural Technician and has been practicing architecture for 17 years. Brian has managed a variety of projects in our office, including Perry’s […]
Read MoreWelcome to another edition of Meet the Team! Catie joined Aria Group in August 2018 and has been a force to reckon with as she dabbles in various project types and clients. From Protein Bar, to Palmer House, and now working on a new casino project – Catie really has stretched her wings in her […]
Read MoreWelcome to another addition of Meet the Team! Will Olds joined our team in August 2019, fresh off completing his master’s degree at Kansas State University. In Will’s time at Aria, he has worked on a wide variety of projects including True Food Kitchen, Cooper’s Hawk and most recently Shake Shack. Will has aided our […]
Read MoreInterior Courtyard Redevelopment Rendering While modern society looks towards the next shiny and new place to be, we often neglect to address our current spaces and how we use them. In an ever-expanding online world, shopping malls have taken a hit. With the effect of the pandemic this past year, the result has meant closures […]
Read MoreStan’s Donuts Receives 2020 RD+D Award – Best New Prototype Runner-Up The annual RD+D Magazine Awards honor the best in restaurant design across seven categories. We are thrilled to announce that Stan’s Donuts & Coffee has been recognized in the Best New Prototype Category – Runner-Up. Check out the RD+D March/April 2021 issue here! A […]
Read MoreNorth Star Mall Opening Day 1960 (Express News Archives) Take a drive down the business highway in most mid-size towns, and odds are that you will inevitably pass by one of the great relics of a bygone era in American culture. The indoor mall was once the epicenter of shopping convenience and consumer capitalism in […]
Read MoreIt is crazy to think it’s been over a year since the pandemic began and almost a year since our office started working remote. So much has happened. It has been the longest year, but also feels like it has flown by. As we dive into this new year and look forward to getting back to […]
Read MoreOur team is the soul of Aria Group and key to our success and growth as a company. Martika is a great example of one of our team members that has grown within Aria through her great work ethic and dedication to her projects and clients. Martika began at Aria in 2013 as a design librarian, […]
Read MoreA House in Austin – photos by Travis Vannoy Aria Group couldn’t be more proud to highlight two socially responsible projects as we start out hopeful for the new year. These projects showcase Aria Group’s continued commitment to helping in our communities through providing thoughtful design solutions pro bono. If 2020 taught us anything, it […]
Read MoreAs we look forward to a new year of posts, we thought we would revisit our greatest hits of 2020. As we checked our stats, we were not too surprised to find that our top five all have some relation to the story of 2020 – the pandemic. We sought to take a positive spin […]
Read MoreQuarantine Chocolate Chip Cookies – photo by Megan Walsh Calling all bakers! Whether you’re a seasoned baker, a new COVID baker, or even someone who hates baking – listen up. One of the very first images that comes to mind when thinking of the word “dessert” is a chocolate chip cookie. From the store-bought, to […]
Read MoreQuarantine Cookbook: Quinoa Burger – photo by Lauren Oldenburg. Recipe & photos by Half Baked Harvest Something that we have all tried to focus on throughout the pandemic is sprucing up our cooking skills and trying to be more experimental in the kitchen. It can be daunting to try new foods. Lots of people stick […]
Read MoreWe’d like to wrap up our Sustainability Series by providing a quick overview of the things we discussed, as well as leaving you with our promise to continue to research and post about ways to develop more sustainable practices as consumers and designers. We mentioned this throughout the series, but it’s important to recognize that […]
Read Moreun–cooked photography by Kevin Hartmann/ Sterling Bay Welcome to another installment in our Sustainability series! This one is wordy, but we promise it’s worth it! In this week’s post, we wanted to touch on ways to reduce waste in our own lives, as well as a look into some businesses who have taken post-consumer waste […]
Read MorePlant Chicago’s weekly farmer’s market participants In our post about Farm-to-Table restaurants, we asked you to put a pin in the term “circular economy”. At the heart of the businesses we honed in on rests the desire to further invest and participate in this concept. For this installment, we will focus on the start and […]
Read MoreTortazo by Rick Bayless It is apparent that we as designers, professionals, consumers, and humans are at the precipice of a global economic call to action. Choices we make can and will affect future generations in a lasting and critical way. It is our job to invest in educating ourselves on the ways we can […]
Read MoreWinter Dining Challenge – Group of Pods You know those early days of September when there is slight chill in the air? The days that make you want to run to Target to buy out their entire fall décor section? Yeah, we love those days. For us, as designers and patrons of the restaurants in […]
Read MoreLilly’s Panna Cotta – photo by Lilly Reyes-Brahar We love everything about restaurants — we love designing restaurants, sharing the dining experience with friends and family, and trying new food. We also love to cook and share the food with our team. As an office we frequently have social events through out the year that […]
Read MoreTopgolf Glendale – photography Michael Baxter As our society continues to practice social distancing, design experts are looking into the future by strategizing ways to administer safe and functional design practices – promoting safety in design. Highlighting several “anti-spread” design practices, we break down some materials, finishes, and furniture that promote health and safety by […]
Read MoreDuring a summer in Chicago, you will typically find restaurant patios filled with people out enjoying the warm weather. Early in the season, state restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic kept us indoors. Fortunately, as restrictions lifted, we have been able to venture out to visit our favorite patio spaces, while safely social distancing. This […]
Read MoreThe final post in our series of Pandemic design case studies, where we explore design concepts to meet the challenging business conditions posed by the pandemic. Our work was done in conjunction with NEWH – The Hospitality Industry Network — and published as part of their special issue magazine, “Beyond Covid-19”. Imagine a not […]
Read MoreSince November 2019, the world has had a swift and sudden shift to board up their doors and stay isolated from COVID-19. Amid the panic brought by the pandemic, the hospitality industry has been hit hard – especially restaurants. The passionate individuals providing these services are a cornerstone of our cultural and social interactions. It […]
Read MoreThis is the second in a series of case studies exploring design concepts to meet the challenging business conditions posed by the pandemic. Our work was done in conjunction with NEWH – The Hospitality Industry Network — and published as part of their special issue magazine, “Beyond Covid-19”. As we have struggled through months of […]
Read MoreThis is the first in a series of case studies exploring design concepts to meet the challenging business conditions posed by the pandemic. Our work was done in conjunction with NEWH – The Hospitality Industry Network — and published as part of their special issue magazine, “Beyond Covid-19”. This project, BBQ Thyme, is an adaptive […]
Read MoreSeems like only yesterday I was a wide-eyed intern right out of school, thinking I knew pretty much everything. I quickly learned school taught me just enough to land my first internship. I learned more in my first six months of on the job training at Aria Group than I did in the prior five […]
Read MoreDirty Root, Chicago, IL As you have seen in our past blog entries we have discussed what options are out there for restaurants as they look toward the “new normal”. As the hospitality world grapples with the changes necessary to reopen in a post-epidemic environment, how can restaurant design create spaces that feel more inviting, […]
Read MoreWe hope you are enjoying the Masks On Doors Open series, and that it is bringing you some useful information. If you’d like to revisit what you’ve read previously, or if you are just finding it for the first time, here’s a recap of all of the posts so far: Strategizing the New Normal Over […]
Read MoreOne question on the minds of all retailers and restaurateurs: How do we create an environment to allow for business to flow as usual, while making a safe space that customers feel comfortable in? With social distancing becoming the norm for the foreseeable future, restaurants are forced to change their philosophy from maximizing occupancy to […]
Read MoreDel Frisco’s San Diego As state governments lift shelter in place orders, there will be many new challenges facing restaurateurs when doors reopen. Our hope is to share potential adjustments within the restaurant to positively affect human interaction making the health of patrons and employees a top consideration. We believe that with intentional design restaurants […]
Read MoreDuring the coronavirus pandemic, many companies are requiring employees to work from home. For many, this unanticipated transition can be challenging to separate work and personal. Those who are not accustomed to regularly working remotely can have a hard time locating an organized work station in their home, which can cause distraction and ultimately disrupt […]
Read MoreCovid-19 is redefining ‘creativity’ as we strategize to meet standards of the new normal. As restaurants begin to come out of the downturn, not only will they need to reduce patron capacity, but most likely will be on a limited budget. Efficiency in operational costs will be at the forefront in the short term, while […]
Read MoreParking Lot Transformations As states continue to reboot their economies, and with warmer weather on the horizon, we have been thinking about what would make patrons feel comfortable heading back into the restaurant scene. Viral transmission rates are lower outdoors, and many restaurants have extra outdoor space that could be converted to more profitable use. […]
Read MorePono Ono Poke – Evanston, IL photography Emilia Czader Over our 30+ years in business, Aria Group has seen dining trends come and go, but we have never seen changes brought about so quickly as with the Covid-19 pandemic. It has got us thinking about how we, as designers, can help lead the charge to […]
Read MoreShake Shack – Cleveland, OH Photography – Emilia Czader Restaurants and bars serve a vital function in our everyday social interactions. With shelter-in-place orders, people are adapting and finding new and inventive ways to connect while socially isolating. Even with restraints on public gatherings, there are still many opportunities to support your favorite local eating […]
Read MoreOur home city of Chicago has a food and beverage scene that rivals any city in the world. With the current crisis and shelter in place restrictions, our friends and clients in the restaurant industry have pivoted and focused their energy on takeout and delivery business. We have been very impressed with the creative ideas […]
Read MoreSocial responsibility at Aria Group means community involvement. Volunteers from Aria Group have been busy working on many projects over the last few years to help meet some of the needs of our community. In addition to supporting the community, our involvement allowed for greater inter-office collaboration and for individuals to explore roles outside of […]
Read MoreNEWH Top ID Award The Chicago Chapter of NEWH, The Hospitality Industry Network, recently recognized Aria Group as a Top Interior Design Firm for the third year running. The NEWH Top ID award recognizes design firms who are active in their local NEWH chapter, make significant contributions to hospitality design and who practice design excellence. Megan […]
Read MoreCreating an Uplifting Space Limitless Coffee & Tea founder, Matt Matros, believes that drinking a “clean” beverage leaves one feeling healthy and motivated. Therefore, the company’s goal is to inspire people by fueling them with clean caffeine. To reach this goal, Limitless sought to develop their own coffee products unlike anything previously on the market. […]
Read MoreIt’s no secret that sound makes a huge impact on the dining experience, yet many restaurants don’t adequately address acoustic design. Typically, sound levels are only noticed when they aren’t appropriate for the setting. Aria Group’s designers keep acoustics top of mind. Acoustic design is especially important in energetic dining areas where many conversations happen […]
Read MoreThe design challenge: A Oaxacan-inspired speakeasy Rick and Lanie Bayless and the team at Frontera Restaurant Group asked us to reinvent the basement space below Frontera Grill. They envisioned a Oaxacan-inspired speakeasy with small plates, mezcal forward cocktails, and youthful vivacity. Aria was tasked with emulating the mezcal-making process in the built environment. Therefore we […]
Read More30 years ago Walt, Joe, Kathy and I started Aria Group in my home in Oak Park so we could “do our own thing”. We not only made a big first step in our own lives but were destined to affect 1,000’s of others in many ways. Over the years, we have had the pleasure […]
Read MoreAs the Topgolf brand evolves we would expect nothing less of the building than to do the same. Topgolf is a state-of-the-art golf, entertainment, and social gathering place that combines an exciting gaming experience with an upscale dining atmosphere. At its core, Topgolf exists to entertain every guest through energy and passion with a commitment […]
Read MoreLeon – the future of fast food – is coming from the UK to the States! Aria teamed up with longtime partners, Fran McDonald (a restauranteur known for importing British concepts) and Herman Stewart Construction to open Leon’s first location in Washington DC. At Leon, their mission is “to help make it easier for everyone […]
Read MoreAria Group is pleased to announce the promotion of Megan Walsh to Associate, from Project Designer. Megan started with Aria Group in 2002 when she was an Architectural Technician and an Architectural Designer. From 2005-2010 she lived in California where she gained further experience. Upon returning to the Chicago area in 2010, she started at […]
Read MoreAria Group is excited to announce the new evolution of our brand. Our business has seen tremendous growth since our founding. Our success in assembling an amazing staff inspired us to clarify what we do and how we do it. We teamed up with Design Scout and Total Dish to explore our identity and how […]
Read MoreRick Bayless and his team approached Aria Group in the summer of 2016 with a small ceiling remodel of Topolobampo, a fine dining restaurant operating in Chicago’s River North neighborhood since 1989. The original scope of the project morphed into an extensive refresh of the space. In May 2017, Topolobampo won the James Beard Award for […]
Read MoreIn the world of restaurant growth and profitability, well managed concepts are always looking for ways to be innovative with menu options, price points, design and technology. No matter how innovative the architectural design of the concept is, the recipe for success contains a lot of ingredients that must balance out. Multi-Unit concepts are no […]
Read MoreIn March, Walt, Megan, Christy, Amy & Joe attended the Design Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa. The speakers at the Indaba practice across a wide range of creative endeavors, such as fine arts, film, architecture, marketing, sculpture, music, craft arts, fashion and more. Robby Brozin of Nando’s spoke about Nando’s business model and about […]
Read MoreYMEN (Young Men’s Educational Network) was started in 1996 by Michael Trout as an educational and mentoring resource for boys and young men of the Lawndale neighborhood in Chicago. Some of the original kids who went through the program are now grown up and helping to run it. In recent years, YMEN also started a […]
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