Summary

Information was first collected by watching the areas that become congested with people. Mostly, the congestion was near the entrance to the serving area of the cafeteria, and the entrance/exit to the rest of the school. Factual information was collected from cafeteria staff members, and what their idea of the perfect cafeteria was. Last, peers were interviewed about what they didn't like about the cafeteria.

Facts:

-425 people need to be seated at once, 4 times a day
-Total seating area: 17200' sq.
-Ceilings are 26' high
-1 large entrance, 2 small entrances
-4 cash registers

Problems:

-Simon Kenton High School is growing very fast. In the coming years, there will be overcrowding problems much more severe than there currently are.
-Students often bump into each other, causing messes.
-The cafeteria's walls are all brick, with no acoustic panels. Sometimes it is hard to hear the person next to you speak.
-There is no outdoor eating area.
-There are no creative spaces for students.
-There are no quiet places for students to study.
-There are no sustainability efforts or systems. Not even recycling.
-Polystyrene trays are used. Polystyrene is made from petroleum, takes several hundred years to biodegrade, and contains carcinogens such as Styrene and Benzene.