Your journal entry should summarize the spatial characteristics of a space. Remember that when you are exploring a space, you should ask questions about your five senses. What do you see? What do you hear? And so forth.
Your entry should also summarize the place’s characteristics. What is the purpose or role of this place? How does the place work towards achieving that purpose?
Finally, you should make a judgment about how the place and space construct users. Recall the reading from this section. How do the elements of both the place and the space define the ideal or “normal” user?
Starbucks in Town Center is not only the study space for UNF college-goers, the coffee-date meetup spot, and the cure for local nine-to-fivers, but it is my workspace. Every day I see and connect with people in various careers; nurses, blue-collar workers, students, athletes, businessmen/women. Even families, couples, friend groups, and pet owners with their furry companions along for a puppacino. I hear the chatter shared between businesspeople, faint but distinguishable statistics heard from afront the cafe, and laughter among friends with their frappuccinos in hand just outside the drive through window. I often overhear signs of a date going well as shared hobbies and interests echo away from their table, meanwhile the giggles of children and their unicorn cake pops illuminate the lobby, while parents sip their much-needed americano.
My place of work offers a third place for customers to enjoy a beverage or quick bite while sitting in a cozy and welcoming environment, often while carefully curated playlists set the tone depending on the season, holiday, or particular awareness observed that month. The wall above the seating area borders a massive black and white jungle-themed canvas, adorned with banana leaves, coffee bean plants, and images of wildlife. To the left of the individual tables meant for two, there is an enormous rectangular dining-style table with tons of chairs surrounding it, designed for meetings or study groups, large groups of friends or families to sit at, and an open space for wheelchair accessibility. Adjacent to the table, you'll find the condiment bar where sugars, napkins, straws, and customer info such as business cards and job postings sit atop countertop and tidy disposal bins. In the corner nook by the glass doors there is a space for four sleek but cozy chairs shared by two metal cube coffee tables. Just outside the cafe there is another outdoor seating area with umbrellas. Of course, there are two bathrooms in the hallway towards the back of the store, equipt with usual hand dryers and paper towels, as well as seat covers, and a large trash can for disposal. The glass doors, unfortunately, do not provide a button for people with disabilities to press and open the doors. However, all members of my starbucks team open doors to all who need it, or even as a nice “welcome in” gesture. Because of our familiarity with our customers' needs, we expect and recognize when our regulars will need it, due to a large hard-to-carry pick-up order for the office, wheelchair-required disability. A typical customer goes through the doors, down to the registers to place their order, and waits in the lobby for it to be handed out by their name, however if someone is deaf or hard-of-hearing, their beverage is always marked with a sticker. As a shift leader at starbucks, I find ways to welcome each and every customer and anticipate their needs.
Starbucks welcomes everyone, regardless of physical ability, race, religion, sex and gender identity, or political views. Coffee is enjoyed among all people, and Starbucks honors that with its welcoming space. The physical place is somewhat limited during high-volume peak hours, with customers coming and going, sometimes crowding the cafe. During Covid, the place has been extremely limited by its no-seating policies designed to keep customers and employees safe, however usually freeing up space for physically disabled customers.
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