Kentucky Fried Chicken

The Colonel is back. And this time he’s bringing an international, contemporary flair to KFC’s original store recipe. Designed by FRCH Design Worldwide (Cincinnati), Kentucky Fried Chicken received first place in the 2006 ISP/VM+SD International Store Design Competition in the Specialty Food Court or Counter-Service Restaurant category.

The use of bold graphics, deep red colors and streamlined design made this fast food joint’s extreme makeover a big hit with the judges.

The interior is broken up into a variety of dining experiences. Conventional seating arrangements of wooden benches and standard tables have been replaced with perimeter red leather seating, picnic tables for family-sized groups and trendy metal chairs for smaller dining parties. Clean lines provide an international feel, while touches of stars and stripes near the improved buffet add elements of Americana.

Bucket-themed lights and metal bucket condiment holders emphasize KFC’s famous fried chicken holder. On the exterior facade, the Colonel greets his loyal followers from inside an illuminated bucket sign.

A solid, floor-to-ceiling glass entrance adds an urban element and attracts street traffic.

Client: Kentucky Fried Chicken, Louisville, Ky.; Terry Davenport, senior vp, concept design and multibranding; Anne Fuller, global concept design director; Sean Hagan, design architect; Scott Keadle, program manager; Michael Osborne, program manager, emerging concepts

Design/Architect: FRCH Design Worldwide, Cincinnati; Paul Lechleiter, principal; Steve McGowan, vp, creative director; Shane Kavanagh, senior vp, specialty retail architecture; Tobias Harris W., graphic design director; Jeff Waggoner, environmental graphic design director; Lori Kolthoff, resource design director; Jeff Siegel, operations manager; Denise Sharma, project coordinator; Frank Mulich, team leader; Doug Bunker, graphic designer; Greg Smith, graphic designer; Katie Stepleton, interior designer; Marty McCauley, designer; Aaron Ruef, senior environmental graphic designer; Rob Rink, director, specialty architecture

General Contractor: Derek Engineering, Louisville, Ky.

Outside Design Consultants: KLH Engineers, Fort Thomas, Ky.; Graham Obermeyer & Associates, Cincinnati (structural engineers); Lighting Management, New York (lighting)

Furniture/Millwork: Plymold, Kenyon, Maine

Signage/Graphics: Everbrite, Greenfield, Wis.

Harlan Graphics, Cincinnati

Laminate Countertops: Wilsonart Intl., Fairfield, Ohio

Formica, Cincinnati

Photography: FRCH Design Worldwide, Cincinnati