A new car showroom and workshop facility at Kilo 5 of Makkah Road in Jeddah was built by Zahid Tractor and Heavy Machinery Company as the flagship facility for all its automotive brands, including Volvo, Daewoo and Hummer.

The facility, which has a footprint area of 8,808.8 sq m, is located on a site covering a 37,750 sq m area. The total built-up area of 10,635.5 sq m includes a 1,633 sq m showroom facility facing the Makkah Road in Jeddah. There is an exterior exhibition area adjacent to the interior showroom, which is for the display of either used cars, Hummers or Truck brands.

Sales offices are arranged along the back curtainwall of the showroom, as are a business lounge for customers and a children's playroom. Management offices are on the second floor above the sales offices.

Directly behind the sales complex is the parts and service department covering 4,000 sq m and including a fully-equipped 30 bay automotive workshop area. A large 839-slot parking area is on the western side of the building.

"When designing the complex, the objective was to optimise use of space and the site and help streamline the different operations being carried out within the complex, keeping each department accessible to the other while retaining the integrity of each individual working space.

"The showroom was designed as a glass showcase with a wide frontage along Makkah Road, one of Jeddah's main thoroughfares. A curved concrete roof over the showroom is supported by six round stainless steel columns. The stainless steel was intended to reflect the products within the showroom and the columns are designed to give a grand, elegant and ceremonial appearance to the showroom.

"A precast curtain-wall at the back of the showroom (built by Al Rashid Abetong) has given the entire interior design a linear orientation, which allows the space to effectively accommodate the three brands on display within. It also provides space for the sales offices of each brand, as well as a children's playroom, with video games and recreation equipment and an executive lounge, while maintaining a distinction between each area. The second floor management offices behind the showroom are open-plan, with closed senior management offices arranged around the perimeters of the space," explains the spokesman.

One year of planning preceded the launch of the project, during which time government and municipal permissions were secured, tendering carried out and consultations with principals (Volvo, Daewoo and Renault) undertaken, he says.

The construction contract was signed on January 7, 1999. Foundation works (concrete foundation) began in March 1999 and were completed a month later. Superstructure works (precast concrete) were started in April 1999 and completed in September 1999. Finishing work was begun in September and was completed in February 2000.

Electromechanical works were carried out by Al Murouj for Contracting. The facility is equipped with a full air-conditioning package, closed circuit television (CCTV), Fire alarm control, halon fire-fighting systems in certain areas and an advanced lightning protection system, a stand-by power generating system with automatic switching are all provided. The facility has a complete LAN system and fibre-optic connection to neighbouring facilities.

The flooring of the showroom comprises Bomanite tiles, while the corridor flooring is of ceramic tiles and the offices have carpet tiles. The frameless tempered glass windows of the showroom were designed and installed by Alumaco. The external wall is fuse-faced precast concrete while the internal walls are plastered.

The office furniture is from Riyadh House. The customer lounge and senior management offices are equipped with the Kimball System provided by Al Rumeih. The service department and workshop area is equipped with car lifts, all state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, a body shop with paint booths and preparation areas and chassis alignment jigs

The consultant on the project was Al Harasani and Associates while the architect was Eng Hossam Al-Abdulkarim. The contractor was International Building Systems Company (IBS).

The facility was formally opened on February 26 this year.