The Hysen Group was retained by Maine Medical Center to identify, explore and document options for the enhancement of the cafeteria serving, dining and sanitation facilities. The facilities were originally constructed in 1966 and renovated in 1983, making updates to the program a necessity. The number of staff members and visitors dining in the cafeteria steadily increased in the early to mid-1990s, most notably with the volume during the lunch period increasing over 30% between 1994 and 1997.