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COLE
CHRYSLER DODGE
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
Photography:
Erick Geil,
Air Vol Block, Inc.
With a history of three generations in the automobile business in San Luis Obispo, California, the Cole Family desired to expand their business and improve the sales and service experience for its customers and employees through the creation of a new high quality dealership that would stand out from its local competitors. Located on five acres along a major arterial at the southern edge of the city, the new Cole Chrysler Dodge features a day lighted atrium with a café, along with a 24 bay service facility, one of the largest on the Central California Coast.
Split face and precision face concrete block in two colors were chosen to create an enhanced appearance and durable finish for both the public sales and technical service areas of the building. The architect, Steve Kay of Design Build Management, who specializes in the design of automotive facilities, used the concrete block to integrate the interior and exterior of the building. Exposed concrete block, with exterior storefronts, tile and landscaping are used inside the building to join the interior customer areas to the landscaped and tiled exterior vehicle display plaza.
The building interior colors, finishes and furnishings complement the warm colors chosen for the concrete masonry. Wood furniture with fabric upholstery, interior plants and a water fountain create a hospitality environment more comparable to a hotel than the typical car dealership.
An unusual feature of the building is the two arched entry forms, which are curved in both plan and section. The architect made a computer model of the arch using scaled block components and the mason skillfully placed the blocks and concrete precast keystone to form a true compression concrete block arch without the use of a steel lintel.
ARCHITECT:
Design
Build Management
18303 Fitzpatrick Lane
Occidental, California 95465
Stephen
Kay
Architect of Record
Design Architect
STRUCTURAL
ENGINEER:
KMN Structural Engineering, Inc.
GENERAL
CONTRACTOR:
Rarig Construction
MASONRY
CONTRACTOR:
Nathaniel Masonry
BLOCK
PRODUCER:
Air Vol Block, Inc.
OWNER:
Jeffrey Cole
