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Best Limited-Service Restaurant Design
Winner: The Crack Shack, Pasadena, Calif.
- Owner: Michael Rosen
- General Contractor: Shawmut Design and Construction, Los Angeles
- Architect: PGAL, San Diego
For The Crack Shack’s Pasadena, Calif., location, original features of the building — including 93-year-old brick and exposed boat truss — were restored and highlighted to complement the chain’s whimsical, rustic farmhouse aesthetic. Finishes include reclaimed wood, corrugated metal, blackened steel and polished concrete flooring. The judges thought the “design is whimsical, fun and inviting, especially for limited service.” They also noted the “good use of textures and materiality.” The design didn’t overlook functionality either as the judges noted that the “layout really works.”
Images courtesy of Marie Buck and Stephen Whalen Photography
