2024-12-22T03:23:04-05:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150240128/new-restaurant-designs-are-betting-big-on-drive-thrus-to-cope-with-pandemic Alexander Walter 2020-12-04T13:54:00-05:00 >2024-10-25T04:07:38-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/69/69040ce9c41747cdcd46976cb9230e3b.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><em><p>The pandemic accelerated a need for digital menu boards, artificial intelligence, expanding drive-thrus into dual lanes and adding drive-thru only units where available. Many other fast food restaurants like Wendy's, Taco Bell, Del Taco, Burger King, KFC and McDonald's have also shown interest in developing many of these concepts.</p></em><br /><br /><p>With indoor dining areas closed in many, if not most, restaurants since the beginning of the pandemic, the nation's fast food and fast casual franchises are rethinking fundamental design concepts of their operations that will likely become part of the American vernacular for decades to come, such as AI-powered pickup-only stations with double or triple drive-thru lanes.<br></p> <figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/3e/3ee436cf383eac7dc76297d34a7fd662.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;enlarge=true&amp;w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/3e/3ee436cf383eac7dc76297d34a7fd662.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;enlarge=true&amp;w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Related on Archinect: <a href="https://archinect.com/news/article/150219578/burger-king-unveils-new-restaurant-designs-to-address-implications-of-covid-19" target="_blank">Burger King unveils new restaurant designs to address implications of COVID-19</a></figcaption></figure>