NEW YORK, May 31, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spector Group (), one of New York's premier architecture and design firms, today announced that it has been named executive architect for the Volkswagen Group of America's new, full-service dealership in Manhattan, at 798 11th Avenue. The 260,000-square-foot facility will house new and certified pre-owned cars from Volkswagen, as well as its luxury, sister-brand Audi. The renovation of the existing building — once home to Potamkin General Motors — is now underway and is slated for completion in mid to late 2012.
"It is an exciting opportunity for Spector to work with Volkswagen Group of America in creating an aesthetically pleasing, state-of-the-art dealership for these two brands," says Spector Group Principal Scott Spector, AIA. "Our skilled design and project management team and proven successful track-record contributed to this project award." Spector's expertise in automotive showroom design is further underscored with its design of other high-end dealerships along 11th Avenue, which have previously been featured in The New York Times.
Working alongside Volkswagen's design/brand architect Cityscape Architects, Inc. and Audi's design/brand architect CR Studio, Architects, PC, Spector is seamlessly transforming the client's new facility to fit with the national image of its dealerships. The collective design team will interpret conceptual base designs and work to realize them. Once the metamorphosis is complete, Volkswagen will occupy six floors of space, along with the building's roof and a portion of its cellar.
Spector will blend the existing and new exterior façade with the interior design as part of its work for the Volkswagen Group. Flexibility will be a key component of the design scheme, so that additional showroom or parking space can be easily converted from its existing use, as needed. The space will also boast the latest in eco-friendly technology, utilizing green materials in every finish — from floor to ceiling — and meeting or exceeding standard United States energy codes.
Spector is working in cooperation with Construction Manager J.T. Magen & Company, CB Richard Ellis and both design/brand architects on the project.
About Spector Group
The award-winning, international architecture and interior design firm was founded 45 years ago by Michael Harris Spector, FAIA, one of the industry's most respected figures. Scott E. Spector and Marc B. Spector, AIA, NCARB, his sons, today lead the company, which has offices in New York City, Woodbury, New York, Abu Dhabi, UAE, and Mumbai, India. Ranked number 9 in 2010 by Crain's New York Business, the firm has affiliate locations in New Jersey, Miami, Florida, London, England, and Jeddah, KSA. The firm has been featured in The New York Times, The New York Post, WSJ.com, Dow Jones and a host of trade journals, including New York Construction, Real Estate Weekly and School Planning & Management Magazine. To date, the firm has received over 100 awards from the American Institute of Architects and has completed over 1,500 projects in 12 states and five foreign countries.
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