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AUGUST 2016 | 59 PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OPENROAD AUTO GROUP LTD. provides a visual framework that highlights the brand's identity but also carries through the clean lines seen on all three buildings. "The building envelope utilizes a combination of corrugated cladding, punched windows, curtainwall glazing and a unique aluminum composite metal cladding system with integrated LED strip lighting and illuminated Volkswagen signage that gives the distinctive VW brand look," says Yee. Head on inside, and like the Audi store, the Volkswagen dealership is bright and spacious – even the 18 mechanics service bays adhere to OpenRoad's standards of making every area comfortable for customers and staff. "As you walk in through the double doors you are welcomed by two vehicles, even before you get to the reception desk," explains Ben Lovie, general manager of OpenRoad VW. "The sales desks are at the far end of the showroom so the entrance isn't front loaded. The inside has been designed to have three very distinct office zones; there are closed door offices for financing, open desk areas for sales and an area with ipads on coffee counters. The customer lounge is exceptional. There is also the customer indoor service reception area. This allows our customers to pick up or drop off their vehicle inside and out of the elements." Perhaps most striking is the VW welcome wall. "Unlike other VW stores, I came up with the idea of turning it into a digital welcome wall with 21, 55-inch screens that stream a variety of content. We were even playing live footage of the UEFA Euro 2016, which our customers loved and enhanced the overall customer first experience," says Lovie. Head on upstairs and you find a boardroom and corporate offices, and on the rooftop is storage for about 60 spaces and a car elevator at the back. When it came to the electrical and mechanical details, both showrooms feature top of the range systems provided by Bycar Engineering Ltd. (mechanical) and Nemetz (S/A) and Associates Ltd. (electrical). LED lighting helps add a sophisticated look and feel, and brings the showrooms to life in the evening. The detail building by contrast is a single-storey, cast-in-place concrete structure designed for a future addition and expansion for car storage. It contains two full car wash bays and nine detail bays. "The exterior finish is painted concrete with some curtainwall glazing and a ramp up to the roof. The building contains the main electrical unit substation for the project and all primary incoming utilities are fed to Audi, VW and the site services from this building," says Yee. Both the hardscaping and softscaping, designed by PFS Studio, seamlessly connect the buildings and offer areas for public relaxation. Future plans include a large sculpture between the two dealerships, created by a renowned artist Gerry Judah with strong ties to the automotive world. Ventana's Yee says he is proud to have worked with OpenRoad's director of project development Moe Saboune, the architects and consulting engineers as well as OpenRoad's equipment vendors throughout the design, development and construction process. "We want to thank Christian Chia and the team for the rewarding experience and opportunity for building a world- class dealerships," Yee says. A LOCATION 3701 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby, B.C. OWNER/DEVELOPER OpenRoad Auto Group Ltd. ARCHITECT Christopher Bozyk Architects Ltd. GENERAL CONTRACTOR Ventana Construction Corporation STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT John Bryson & Partners Structural Engineers MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Bycar Engineering Ltd. ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Nemetz (S/A) & Associates Ltd. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT PFS Studio TOTAL SIZE OpenRoad Audi Boundary dealership: 113,000 square feet OpenRoad VW dealership: 45,000 square feet Detail Centre: 8,000 square feet TOTAL COST Undisclosed OpenRoad Audi Boundary and OpenRoad VW PROUD TO BE THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS ON THE OPENROAD AUDI AND THE OPENROAD VOLKSWAGEN PROJECTS Proud to be part of the OpenRoad Audi Boundary and OpenRoad VW project! 778-419-1011 | www.washtechwest.com Professionals in Carwash equipment, detail and vacuum systems. Specializing in dealership equipment and installations Wash Tech West.indd 1 16-07-14 11:44

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