Best Original Store Design (a new-build) Best Interior Design (a new-build)
Temple, TX
Strasburger Enterprises, headquartered in Temple, Texas, has been involved in the design, construction, remodeling and furnishing of literally thousands of convenience stores all over the world. Ironically, most of those stores have been owned and operated by other companies that have used Strasburger's consulting services. This year, however, marked a turning point for the Central Texas company: For the first time ever, they designed a modular building for their Quix brand and partnered with GroundFORCE, another Texas-based company, to build it off site and deliver it to its new home in Temple.
The newest Quix branded convenience store opened on April 22, 2008. The store was built in a controlled environment factory that maximized speed to market and store opening.
The 2000 square foot store consists of four individual components, each built in GroundFORCE’s 250,000 square foot state-of-the-art production facility located in Navasota, Texas.
It all started with pre cast, engineered, tensioned concrete slab (6,000 psi strength) as the base foundation for each component. Walls were erected at the plant, followed by plumbing that includes full size restrooms, most electrical circuitry, HVAC ducts and partial roof components.
Each of the four sections of the building was then delivered to the site using a patented transport system.
Construction Elements
In an effort to be as energy efficient as possible, the roof of the building was topped with a white TPO membrane; this material reflects 78% of the sun's rays to reduce air-conditioning costs. With the typical Central Texas summer day's temperatures hitting triple digits, the cost savings derived from the reduction in energy consumption can be very significant, indeed.
Limitations on building height and exterior protrusions had to be overcome in the design phase, as transportation of the building's four major components from factory to site had to be taken into consideration.
One of Strasburger's objectives was to keep on-site construction work to a minimum; the modular building would be primarily completed in the shop.
An architectural branding façade, prefabricated metal awnings, and exterior lighting elements and signs were designed for easy installation after the building modules were installed on the property.
Décor and Ambience
Welcoming and inviting materials and colors were specified in order to target today’s consumers, who have ever-growing expectations of their shopping experiences. Attention was given to the selection of building materials that would provide longevity and minimal maintenance while being cost effective.
On the exterior, restaurant style awnings were designed and gooseneck lighting installed. The storefront features full pane floor-to-ceiling plate glass that provides unmatched visibility into the store from the street and fuel islands. Store employees love the view the store’s interior to the islands and parking lot.
Interior colors feature warm tones and stained oak trim. High grade vinyl wood plank floors, wood laminates, pendant light fixtures, an open ceiling and Corian™ counter tops come together to create a comfortable, yet dynamic shopping environment.
All restroom fixtures are touch-less, and the energy efficiency objective was met with tank-less instant water heaters.
The interior layout was strategically designed to maximize sales and allow for future growth. Each piece of equipment, every gondola and each display fixture is positioned according to primary, secondary, and impulse purchases based on extensive studies conducted by Strasburger related to in-store customer traffic flow.
The store is divided into separate themed sections for ease of shopping. The fresh food-to-go, fountain and coffee are highlighted in one; a huge beer cave anchors the walk-in cooler; and the sales floor and sales counter area invite impulse purchases at every turn.
The fountain dispenser was adapted to dispense pebble chewable ice and was strategically located so that ice can be refilled from the storage area. A one- way mirror was placed behind the food and coffee bar, allowing employees to see, from the storage area, customers entering the store.
Challenges
The biggest challenge was to create a strategic design that would accommodate a layout that would maximize sales in a building that featured four separate sections that could be transported over highways and city streets.
The new location was bought when the state took an existing location, under eminent domain for highway construction. In effect, this new 2,000 square foot building was replacing a store just a few blocks away that had featured a footprint twice as large as the new building.
Efficient use of every square foot was paramount. When all was said and done, every fixture and every foot of gondola fit into the new structure, with no sense of claustrophobia.
Getting More with Less
The goal of the new location was no small stretch. Strasburger set out to grow sales of an existing 4,000 square foot c-store on a corner lot that was being taken by the state for road expansion with a 2,000 square foot building on a smaller off-corner piece of land.
Design efficiency, curb appeal, and shopping experience has allowed that growth to occur in the early months of the new site's operation. The smaller design provides all the bells and whistles of most large convenience stores while allowing for lower startup, utility and labor costs.
