A car dealership whose owners are calling it the largest Nissan outlet in the country recently opened in Texas where, as is well known, everything is said to be bigger.
In this case, it may well be true. Central Automotive Group’s Central Houston Nissan recently opened on a 16-acre parcel along the 610 loop and celebrated its grand opening June 12. The dealership building spans 162,500 SF.
Built by Harvey Construction, the dealership was designed by Kirksey Architects, and has some customer-focused features that are likely to be interesting to car buyers. Those features include two coffee bars, a refreshment area, three lounges, an entertainment center, and a children’s play area.
Other unique amenities of the dealership include a climate-controlled service drive, said to be singular among Houston auto dealerships; a collision center staffed with professionals certified in aluminum repair; and lifetime loaner vehicles.
“This facility will allow us to provide our customers an unprecedented level of service and a buying experience that is second to none,” said Fernando J. Somoza, platform president and managing partner of Central Automotive Group. “We look forward to the reaction of both our existing and new Nissan customers. The facility itself is stunning, and we’re incredibly proud of the work that has gone into this project.”
The dealership is sort of its own micro-economy, in that it employs so many directly and indirectly. With more than 200 employees, Central Houston Nissan is the main hub for Central Automotive Group, which includes three other Nissan dealerships and other locations as well.
The Houston-based Central Automotive Group is a family owned firm that services and sells Cadillacs and Nissans in Texas. It has 10 locations representing 14 franchises in Houston, San Juan and Austin, Texas. The company has been in business for more than 40 years.
Related Stories
| Oct 7, 2013
10 award-winning metal building projects
The FDNY Fireboat Firehouse in New York and the Cirrus Logic Building in Austin, Texas, are among nine projects named winners of the 2013 Chairman’s Award by the Metal Construction Association for outstanding design and construction.
| Oct 7, 2013
Reimagining the metal shipping container
With origins tracing back to the mid-1950s, the modern metal shipping container continues to serve as a secure, practical vessel for transporting valuable materials. However, these reusable steel boxes have recently garnered considerable attention from architects and constructors as attractive building materials.
| Oct 4, 2013
Mack Urban, AECOM acquire six acres for development in LA's South Park district
Mack Urban and AECOM Capital, the investment fund of AECOM Technology Corporation (NYSE: ACM), have acquired six acres of land in downtown Los Angeles’ South Park district located in the central business district (CBD).
| Sep 24, 2013
8 grand green roofs (and walls)
A dramatic interior green wall at Drexel University and a massive, 4.4-acre vegetated roof at the Kauffman Performing Arts Center in Kansas City are among the projects honored in the 2013 Green Roof and Wall Awards of Excellence.
| Sep 23, 2013
Six-acre Essex Crossing development set to transform vacant New York property
A six-acre parcel on the Lower East Side of New York City, vacant since tenements were torn down in 1967, will be the site of the new Essex Crossing mixed-use development. The product of a compromise between Mayor Michael Bloomberg and various interested community groups, the complex will include ~1,000 apartments.
| Sep 19, 2013
What we can learn from the world’s greenest buildings
Renowned green building author, Jerry Yudelson, offers five valuable lessons for designers, contractors, and building owners, based on a study of 55 high-performance projects from around the world.
| Sep 19, 2013
6 emerging energy-management glazing technologies
Phase-change materials, electrochromic glass, and building-integrated PVs are among the breakthrough glazing technologies that are taking energy performance to a new level.
| Sep 19, 2013
Roof renovation tips: Making the choice between overlayment and tear-off
When embarking upon a roofing renovation project, one of the first decisions for the Building Team is whether to tear off and replace the existing roof or to overlay the new roof right on top of the old one. Roofing experts offer guidance on making this assessment.
| Sep 17, 2013
World's first 'invisible' tower planned in South Korea
The 1,476-foot-tall structure will showcase Korean cloaking technology that utilizes an LED façade fitted with optical cameras that will display the landscape directly behind the building, thus making it invisible.
| Sep 16, 2013
Study analyzes effectiveness of reflective ceilings
Engineers at Brinjac quantify the illuminance and energy consumption levels achieved by increasing the ceiling’s light reflectance.
