Spector Group, a New York-based architecture and design firm has been named executive architect for the renovation of a 260,000-sq-ft full-service Volkswagen dealership.
Once home to Potamkin General Motors, the existing building located at 798 11th Avenue in Manhattan is being transformed to fit the national image of Volkswagen Group of America�s dealerships with the help of Volkswagen�s design/brand architect, Detroit-based Cityscape Architects, Inc. as well as Audi�s design/brand architect, New York-based CR Studio, Architects, PC. The new facility will occupy six floors of space, along with the building�s roof and a portion of its cellar and will house new and certified pre-owned cars from both Volkswagen and its luxury sister-brand Audi.
Spector Group is also working in conjunction with Construction Manager J.T. Magen & Company of New York and CB Richard Ellis of Los Angeles to blend the existing and new exterior fa�ade with the interior design. Flexibility is a key component of the design scheme, so that additional showroom or parking space can be easily converted as needed. The space will also use the latest in eco-friendly technology and utilize green materials to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards.
The renovation of the dealership is currently underway and is slated for completion in mid to late 2012.