20 November, 2013

Best Bathroom in America

by Ally Evander, Allied Member ASID

This story has been all over the news: The Varsity Theater in Minneapolis has been named "Best Bathroom in America." The distinction was determined by an online vote facilitated by Cintas, a leading supplier of commercial bathroom products. This space won the award based on popular opinion. So let's look at this bathroom from a design perspective....

photo credit: Varsity Theater

Here are a few things that make the bathroom unique:
-It blurs the lines between a men's and women's bathroom by having separate stalls, but combining everything else: the sink and lounging areas are co-ed. It's a very social bathroom!
-It blurs the lines between where the bathroom ends and where the bar starts- you can be served a drink in the bathroom lounge. The same goes for the music stage- you can hear the music in the bathroom.
-Expect the unexpected. The faucets for hand washing are actually shower heads. And they are activated by a foot pedal.
-It's not square. There are a lot of flowing lines in the brick work and ceiling trays.
I have not been in the space, so I can't speak to its functionality, but it does appear to be a crowd pleaser simply because it is unlike most bathrooms and offers a unique experience for the everyday experience of using a public restroom.
 

[caption id="attachment_13904" align="aligncenter" width="334"] photo credit: Varsity Theater[/caption]
 

[caption id="attachment_13906" align="aligncenter" width="334"] photo credit: Varsity Theater[/caption]
 

[caption id="attachment_13908" align="aligncenter" width="334"] Photo Credit: Varsity Theater[/caption]
 

[caption id="attachment_13909" align="aligncenter" width="334"] Photo Credit: Varsity Theater[/caption]
 

[caption id="attachment_13910" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Photo Credit: Varsity Theater[/caption]
 
For more info, visit bestrestroom.com or varsitytheater.com