Commercial Construction


Carter Saab’s new Ballard showroom,
built by SGA Corp., features Scandinavian design elements.


SGA Corp.

Carter Saab dealership

Owner: Carter Motors
Architect: Gordon Fleener


This $2.4 million project involved demolishing an existing body repair shop and constructing a new Carter Saab dealership with a distinctive vertical showroom on a small 20,000-square-foot city lot adjacent to the Ballard Historical District.

Although the propertyís location in an industrial district precluded any zoning issues, the siteís proximity to the historical district and the fact that it had once served as a fire station housing horses and horse-drawn fire wagons raised concerns about damage to adjacent property and disruption during construction. SGA met with the neighbors to address their apprehensions, and kept communication open throughout the construction process.

Although an environmental report indicated that two underground storage tanks might extend into neighboring property, SGA found only a single 2,000-gallon tank that bordered the adjacent property. To prevent any damage to the neighborís retaining wall, SGA scheduled tank removal after demolition of the body shop. The contractor then completed all excavation, footing and retaining work from the Carter dealership site.

The initial 7,500-square-foot showroom design provided space to house five to six vehicles, a parts and service area and main reception on the first floor with offices, conference facilities and a lounge area on the second. Thirty-five percent through completion, the owner wanted to expand the original design to include a 2,000-square-foot vertical showroom to house 40 vehicles, stacked four high and 10 across with a glass front wall that showcases the cars night and day with custom lighting for nighttime viewing.

The vertical showroom may be the first of its kind in the Seattle area. The dealershipís wood and metal accents, including vertical grain fir on the underside of the canopies, reflect simple, clean lines indicative of Scandinavian influences.

SGA earned a perfect safety rating for this 25,600-hour project. It also completed it within budget and on time.

The project team included ABC members Bush, Cotton & Scott; Tueffers, Guckian & Gamon; Architectural Millwork Installation; and Northshore Paving.



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