Mark Pi’s Koko Lite-Hearted Food

How do you create an upbeat eating experience in a children’s hospital, and do it in 850 square feet of space? Those were the fundamental challenges facing Faith Bartrug Design (Plano, Texas) in creating Mark Pi’s Koko Lite-Hearted Food in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

That hospital locale meant “we had a captive audience, but not necessarily an eager one,” says Faith Bartrug, the designer and visual merchandiser on the project. “As a result, we wanted the Koko brand to be encouraging, lively, and most of all, an oasis.”

To engender that feel, Bartrug created a bright space that incorporates extra-large, glossy subway tiles in a variety of patterns on its main back wall, counter fronts with stainless-steel and Kirei board accents, and a warm color palette (mainly orange, light green and yellow).

Project Participants:

Client
Mark Pi’s Koko Lite-Hearted Food, Columbus, Ohio – Ko-Rely Pi, Konan Pi, co-owners

Design
Faith Bartrug, Plano, Texas – Faith Bartrug, designer, visual merchandiser; Christopher Michaels, graphic designer

Architect
3DO, Columbus, Ohio

General Contractor
Harry Kwan, Columbus, Ohio

Decorative Painter
Lissa Haffner, Columbus, Ohio

Lighting
Western Extralite, Kansas City, Mo.

Signage/Graphics
Signcom Inc., Columbus, Ohio
What’s Your Sign, Columbus, Ohio

Wallcoverings
Greenovate Inc., Columbus, Ohio
Nemo Tile, New York
3-form, Salt Lake City