Name: John A. Richards
Organization: Galley Design and Sales
Location: Tacoma, WA
Section: Pacific Northwest
Associate Member since 2014
John Richards believes that the galley as a system should be designed no differently than systems in other parts of the vessel – using latest technology, science, ergonomics and culinary practices to achieve a modern system. He hopes to change the galley made from “placeholders” and bring galley engineering forward with the single aim of feeding and satisfying mariners better, safer, with less labor, energy and hassle.
Richards has made it his personal mission to help bring the design, fabrication and operation of ship’s galleys into the 21st Century. This comes from his deep caring for crews, fleets and the profession, bringing to each galley design, his formative background in architecture, foodservice design and ergonomics:
Richards is a 2004 graduate of a 5 year professional program (Masters Equivalent) in Architecture from the University of Arizona. He lead and worked with teams of 5 to 14 engineers, architects and designers. He also taught 3rd and 4th year design and Environmental Control Systems at the University level.
Having designed galleys and commercial kitchens with hundreds of projects under his belt, Richards has also constructed food facilities and consulted or provided design / build services on new builds, retrofits and system replacements.
John A Richards' keen understanding of ergonomics from his background in stainless steel: work stations, conveyors, food processing equipment, cabinets, dressers, sculleries, serveries and many other assemblies and elements.
In addition to these three skill sets, he has firsthand knowledge of foodservice operations, food-safe practices, health and sanitation issues from his work and study of National Sanitation foundation standards, study of Vessel Sanitation Programs and application of classification society requirements to on board food and beverage operations as well as his family currently owning and operating three restaurants.
About a decade ago he moved to the “Great Pacific Northwest” where he has been busy reinvigorating his family’s ties to shipbuilding. He consults with naval architects, designs for fleets and does projects with shipyards around the US and Latin America. His recent projects have been built in the Northwest, Texas, Florida, China and South America.
This has resulted in his developing galley design and engineering experience with many classed vessels including ferries, fishing vessels, longliners, factory trawlers, workboats, OSV’s, PSV’s, offshore rigs, dormitories, military, sea going tugs as well as other commercial and private passenger vessels.
Richards works with hulls of steel, aluminum and fiberglass, but in each case, his vocation is to create flows and functions in a galley system that helps attract and maintain professional crews as well as enhancing vessel mission effectiveness.
He has worked on hundreds if not thousands of food facilities and has a knack for making them easy to build, easy to install, durable and easy to maintain, and in the end, they are labor saving and easy to operate, generating and serving the right quantity and variety of safe foods to be the one true “amenity at sea” for the crew, the vessel, the fleet and the industry.
Currently with for Galley Design and Sales out of Bellevue WA, Richards works with projects that ply all the oceans of the world. He has taught design and recently presented an Innovation Session at the SNAME WMTC in Providence, published papers on water conservation, HVAC condensation systems and local maritime history.
John A Richards was President and Co-Founder of Tacoma Community Boatbuilders, a non-profit engaged in giving youths tied up in the courts, hands-on experience in a fully outfitted shop, building wooden boats. The youth are recommended to TCBB by their parole officers and receive one-to-one mentoring and training by volunteer craftsmen of all ages, who are coordinated by 2 mental health professionals, a professional wooden boatbuilding instructor and all coordinated by an Executive Director.