Starbucks has a new accessible store design. Take a look inside

“Design for people with disabilities is just good design for everyone,” said Sarah Trilling, president of Starbucks North America.

She added that designing the accessible café took about two years and that the company sought input from Starbucks baristas.

Union Market Café has power doors so customers can make less effort to get into the café. Once inside, they can place their orders to baristas using a new point-of-sale system that features an adjustable angle stand, voice assistance, screen zoom, and photos of menu items.

“Imagine someone who doesn't speak English as a first language, and you're trying to make sure you get… [the order] Right and provide great service. “You'll have the opportunity through some visual cues to make those assertions,” Trilling said.

The counters are also low, making them accessible for wheelchair users, for example.

Behind the counter, Starbucks' new Clover Vertica drip coffee brewing system features an accessible design, with a large dial and prominent buttons.

“You can actually feel the settings by touch or using the light to indicate when the brewing cycles are complete and other things,” Trilling said.

Digital status boards show customers when their drinks are ready for pickup, as well as baristas calling out their names.

Starbucks also changed the store's lighting to reduce glare, shadows and backlighting that can make seeing more difficult. Insulation has also been improved, so stores are no longer noisy.

Starbucks designed the store's layout to be unobstructed and to have open sight lines.

All future company-owned locations will follow a similar framework. Starbucks plans to open more than 600 new stores this year, increasing its U.S. presence by 4%, including franchised locations.

Building accessible stores would not be materially more expensive than using existing designs, according to Trilling.

“I think it will help us in terms of communication with customers. It will help us in terms of employee engagement,” she said.