When your restaurant is named after your child, calling it a “labor of love” takes on a whole new meaning. Chef David and April Emmons had high expectations when they approached us about designing an edgy new building to take the place of their 20 year-old classic New Jersey diner. The husband & wife owners of Harley Dawn Diner placed an emphasis on green restaurant construction. April, an engineer by training, understood that a design-build approach would allow for an efficient production timeline while providing the flexibility she desired.
The couple worked with our architectural team to design a façade that features stacked stone and glass with almond stucco & espresso trim. The wood paneled entryway and corrugated steel accents combine with the building’s neon signage give it a distinctly modern feel. Situated on a relatively undeveloped stretch of the Black Horse Pike in the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey, the new building’s huge windows allow the room to feel one with its surroundings while enabling passersby to really sense the personality of the interior.
Harley Dawn is not only committed to using locally-sourced produce whenever possible, but local-sourced energy as well. The building’s white roof reflects unwanted heat while solar panels satisfy the restaurant’s energy demands. Geothermal heating and cooling systems work to maintain a comfortable temperature year-round. These systems combine to ensure that Harley Dawn is 100% energy independent.
