Nalley Lexus Galleria

Auto Dealerships
First Place
Praxis3 P.C., Atlanta; R. Sway Associates, Roswell, Ga.; and Ken Walker, New York

In keeping with the notion of surprising and pampering its customers, Lexus wanted a dramatic, luxurious, full-service environment for its Smyrna, Ga., dealership. The Nalley Lexus Galleria doesn't disappoint. A carefully designed traffic pattern takes Lexus owners, and potential buyers, through a three-step process designed to help them learn about, buy and maintain the Lexus of their dreams.

At the entrance, a pale granite porcelain floor, concierge desk of black marble and custom-finished cherry maple, circular track lighting and hanging art glass fixtures set the high-end tone. Inside the 92,000-square-foot showroom theater, 38-foot-high glass walls rimmed in steel and topped with concrete add to the dramatic feel. To extend the brand experience, designers installed two 15-by-52-foot billboards and an 11-by-17-foot video screen that shows the product on the road.

In the showroom, Lexus models are displayed in charcoal gray, glass-tile circles surrounded by black river-stone borders. In the retail arena, a featured car and custom duotone lifestyle graphics complement the Lexus merchandise. And no luxury car-shopping experience would be complete without coffee. So Café Lexus offers customers a complimentary beverage break, so they can relax and decide on the right shade of chartreuse over a cappuccino.

Client: Nalley Automotive Group, Atlanta
Asbury Automotive, New York

Design: Praxis3 P.C., Atlanta
Craig James, principal
R. Sway Associates, Roswell, Ga.
Russell Sway, president
Ken Walker, New York

General Contractor: Choate Construction Co., Atlanta

Architect: Praxis3 P.C., Atlanta

Mechanical Engineer: MEHA, Norcross, Ga.

Civil Engineer: Matrix Development Group, Marietta, Ga.

Structural Engineer: Estes Shields Engineering, Atlanta

Lighting Consultant: Deco Lighting Design, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Furniture Consultant: Office Images, Roswell, Ga.

Coffee Services Consultant: Starbucks Inc. Food Services, Seattle

Architectural Signage: MC Signs, Tampa, Fla.

Graphics Production: Meteor, Atlanta

Projection Systems: Barco Projection Systems, Kuurne, Belgium

Precast Concrete: Metromont Prestress Co., Greenville, S.C.

Structural Steel: Brown Steel, Newman, Ga.

Glass: Arch Aluminum & Glass Co., Tamarc, Fla.
Viracon, Owatonna, Minn.
Sumiglass, Fenton Harbor, Mich.

Skylights: Wasco Products Inc., Sanford, Maine

Aluminum Composite Metal Panels: Reynolds Architectural Products, Richmond, Va.

Fireplace: Lennox Hearth Products, Orange, Calif.

Doors: Clopay Building Products Co., Cincinnati
Algoma Hardwoods, Inc., Algoma, Wis.

Furniture: Loewenstein, Pompano Beach, Fla.
Paoli, Paoli, Ind.
Haworth, Holland, Mich.
Martin/Brattrud Inc., Gardena, Calif.
David Edwards, Baltimore
Keilhauser Industries Ltd., Scarborough, Ont.
Bernhardt Furniture Co., Lenoir, N.C.

Fabrics: Valley Forge Fabrics Inc., Pompano Beach, Fla.
Sina Pearson Textiles NYC, New York

Fixtures: Ballistic Studios, Lawrenceville, Ga.
OPTO Intl. Inc., Chicago
Reeve Store Equipment Co., Pico Rivera, Calif.
, Archdale, N.C.

Wallcoverings: Designtex, New York
MDC Wallcoverings, Elk Grove Village, Ill.
Genesys Wallcovering, Atlanta
J. Josephson, New York
Wolf Gordon, New York
JM Lynne, New York

Ceilings/Wallbases: Armstrong World Industries Inc., Lancaster, Pa.

Floor/Wall Tile: Crossville Porcelain, Crossville, Tenn.
Dal-Tile, Dallas

Carpet: Masland Carpets, Mobile, Ala.

Surfaces: Stone Source, New York
Nevamar Co., Odenton, Md.
Dupont, Wilmington, Del.

Lighting: LSI North America, Cincinnati
Spalding, Cincinnati
Hydrel, Sylmar, Calif.
RBF Commercial, Dallas
Prescolite Inc., Spartanburg, S.C.
Translite Sonoma, Sonoma, Calif.
Hubbell Inc., Christiansburg, Va.
Lightolier, Fall River, Mass.
Winona Lighting, Winona, Minn.
Columbia Lighting, Bristol, Pa.
Primus Lighting, El Monte, Calif.

Espresso Equipment: Starbucks Coffee Inc., Food Services Div., Seattle

Photography : Reis Birdwhistell, Atlanta