{"id":22278,"date":"2026-07-31T12:55:57","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T17:55:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/speedqueencommercial.com\/en-us\/?p=22278"},"modified":"2026-07-31T12:55:57","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T17:55:57","slug":"five-laundromat-design-lessons-from-alliance-laundrys-design-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/speedqueencommercial.com\/en-us\/news\/five-laundromat-design-lessons-from-alliance-laundrys-design-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Laundromat Design Lessons from Alliance Laundry’s Design Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

Picture an empty storefront: bare concrete, a few exposed pipes, maybe a faded sign from whatever business used to be there. Before a single machine rolls through the door, someone must answer dozens of small but critical questions, like where the drains run, how wide the aisles need to be and whether the electrical panel can handle multiple machines running at once.<\/p>\n

That’s laundromat design: the planning process that turns an empty space, anywhere from 1,200 square feet to 11,000 square feet, into a profitable laundromat. Nail the laundromat floor plan early, and construction moves faster and the store can run smoothly from day one. Skip it, and owners risk having to redesign after the doors are already open.<\/p>\n

In this episode of the Laundry Nerd Podcast<\/em>, we sit down with Kyle Pethke, Manager of Laundry Design at Alliance Laundry Systems, whose expertise and services help so many stores open without a hitch.<\/p>\n

Kyle shares lessons every owner can use:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. What laundry design covers, from demographics to construction-ready drawings<\/li>\n
  2. Why early utility information saves time, money and headaches<\/li>\n
  3. How design changes based on the size and layout of the store<\/li>\n
  4. Insights into the most common design mistake owners make<\/li>\n
  5. How layout choices affect security, service access and customer comfort<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What Does Laundromat Design Include?<\/h2>\n

    For both its direct and independent distribution networks, Alliance Laundry Systems offers commercial laundromat design as a structured planning process that covers everything from concept to construction. That includes demographic reports to help evaluate a location, technical drawings and photorealistic renderings to visualize the finished store and guidance on materials and utility requirements. Alliance offers the same design support for laundry facilities outside the vend space, where the goal shifts from generating revenue to reducing operating costs.<\/p>\n

    The process typically starts when an investor connects with a distributor, who brings the project to Alliance\u2019s design team. If several real estate options are on the table, Alliance produces a demographic report on each one, covering population and renter data, to help narrow down the right location. Once a site is chosen, the team maps out equipment, space and budget together, since a layout only works if it fits both the store\u2019s profitability goals and the investor\u2019s budget.<\/p>\n

    A utility schedule comes out of this early planning, too, flagging whether a location’s power, water and drainage can support the proposed equipment mix, or whether upgrades are needed. Alliance’s team typically turns around a project in two to three business days. That’s a lot faster than it once took, because deals in today\u2019s competitive markets often can’t wait.<\/p>\n

    \n

    \u201cThe ability to say we’re going to draw this from nothing and create the ideal laundromat for this space is always fun.\u201d<\/em>
    \n– Kyle Pethke, Manager of Laundry Design, Alliance Laundry Systems<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    Designing for Every Kind of Space<\/h2>\n

    In modern laundromat design, no two projects look the same, but Kyle\u2019s team designs all of them. Some spaces are what he calls \u201cbowling alley\u201d layouts: 15 to 20 feet wide and well over 100 feet deep, where fitting washers, dryers, folding, seating and an attendant station into a narrow footprint takes a completely different approach than a wide-open, 60-by-60-foot space.<\/p>\n

    Angled walls create their own complications, since machines and aisles ideally run parallel to windows and to each other, and one angled wall can throw off an entire layout. Former retail spaces, car washes and other repurposed buildings often turn into some of the trickiest laundromat renovation projects. Hidden columns, irregular corners and dead space are all challenges to be designed around.<\/p>\n

    On the larger end, Alliance has helped create stores up to 11,000 square feet, including combination locations that pair a full laundromat with a large-scale wash-dry-fold layout, and pickup and delivery operation, effectively two businesses under one roof.<\/p>\n

    The Most Common Laundromat Design Mistakes<\/h2>\n

    The number one mistake Kyle sees is overcrowding the floor plan. Owners often want to fit as much equipment into a space as possible, but a washer and dryer door can each swing open close to 30 inches. Cram machines too tightly and the aisles that looked fine on paper become impassable once doors are open, which can impact customer comfort and repeat visits.<\/p>\n

    The second most-overlooked factor is service access. Space behind machines for trough drains, PVC lines, lint filters and technician access doesn\u2019t generate revenue on its own, but skipping it turns routine maintenance into a much bigger problem when equipment needs attention.<\/p>\n

    How Laundromat Layout Can Shape Security<\/h2>\n

    Store layout and machine placement also affects how safe and inviting a store feels. In unattended stores, Alliance often designs aisles to run perpendicular to storefront windows so passersby can see straight down them, creating a stronger sense of visibility and security. In attended stores, machines may instead run parallel to the windows to showcase equipment from the street, since an attendant can already see down the aisles. Either way, the design must account for camera blind spots and whether large machines block sightlines to other parts of the store.<\/p>\n

    Key Takeaways for Speed Queen\u00ae Laundromat Owners<\/h2>\n