About the Project
Cafe on George is a social venture that provides young people with disabilities and autism the opportunity to gain valuable employment skills in a supportive environment. Operating as a fully functional cafe open to the public, every dollar spent goes toward creating brighter futures for these young individuals, equipping them with the tools to live more independent lives. Prima Commercial Fitouts was tasked with turning an underutilised walkway and storage area into a vibrant and welcoming space, transforming it into a fully operational cafe that serves both students and the local community.
Key Features – Acoustic Solutions, Concrete-Look Viroc Sheeting, Warm Timber Elements, Stylish and Functional Skylights
Information
- Location: Caloundra, Sunshine Coast
- Style: Modern Hospitality
- Project Delivery / Service: Design, Construct & Full Hospitality Fitout
The Brief
STEPS, the national not-for-profit organisation behind Cafe on George, sought to create a fully functional training cafe on their George Street campus. The space needed to be easily accessible to students for barista and hospitality training, while also attracting the public for coffee and meals. The challenge was to transform a partially enclosed walkway and unused storage room into an inviting and practical space that would serve both educational and commercial purposes.
Working with a limited budget, Prima Commercial Fitouts needed to deliver maximum impact by designing a modern, attractive cafe that would seamlessly integrate with the existing campus and offer a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere for patrons.
STEPS, the national not-for-profit organisation behind Cafe on George, sought to create a fully functional training cafe on their George Street campus. The space needed to be easily accessible to students for barista and hospitality training, while also attracting the public for coffee and meals. The challenge was to transform a partially enclosed walkway and unused storage room into an inviting and practical space that would serve both educational and commercial purposes.
Working with a limited budget, Prima Commercial Fitouts needed to deliver maximum impact by designing a modern, attractive cafe that would seamlessly integrate with the existing campus and offer a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere for patrons.
The Result
Prima Commercial Fitouts transformed the rough, underutilised walkway and storage area into a bustling hub of activity. The space was carefully designed to be both functional and inviting, incorporating features such as Viroc sheeting, which gives the appearance of concrete and also acts as an effective sound barrier between the cafe and the adjacent offices. This choice balanced aesthetics with practicality, creating a modern look while maintaining privacy.
To address the uneven floors, Prima used a self-leveling compound, ensuring a smooth, cohesive surface throughout the cafe. The addition of skylights brightened the space, bringing in natural light to complement the cafe’s modern design. Inside, warm timber tones, acoustic baffles, and industrial lighting combined to create a cozy yet stylish environment. The seating and hospitality furniture were chosen not only for their durability but also for their ability to contribute to the cafe’s inviting feel, with polyprop chairs in soothing tones of black and grey.
Acoustic challenges due to the hard flooring and pitched roof were addressed with acoustic tiles and baffles, which effectively reduced sound reverberation, making the cafe a more pleasant space for both students and patrons. The café’s colour palette, dominated by greys and earthy tones, was carefully selected to provide a calming and welcoming atmosphere, enhanced by touches of green fabric that brought the outdoor environment indoors.
Today, Cafe on George is a favourite meeting place for locals and a thriving training ground for students at STEPS Pathways College. The cafe serves as both a community hub and a practical learning environment, offering students real-world experience in the hospitality industry while helping to raise funds for STEPS’ vital programs.
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