Completing the Coombes Johnston BMW showroom has been a highlight of the year so far and a big point of pride for Watts and Hughes project manager Luke Tyrrell whose team were tasked to construct the marquee’s new brand showroom.
Coombes Johnston BMW
Expectations for the Hewlett’s Road project were high. The showroom was required to meet the standards of a prestige client, one where showroom design and layout aligned with BMW’s global expectations for its new “Retail.Now” showroom look.
The showroom recently re-opened after its rebuild and has set a new standard for automotive customer experience, one soon to be repeated in all the brand’s showrooms around New Zealand.
“Initially we were going to just be engaged in the construction aspect of the project, but as this progressed we became more involved with the client in having some design influence upon the showroom’s outcome as well,” says Luke.
The Coombes Johnston project was BMW’s second complete showroom reworking under the new global look in New Zealand. The aim was to deliver showroom visitors a warm, welcoming experience, one that encourages them to stay longer, whether to consider a potential purchase or to wait while their BMW is being serviced.
Lighting, materials and textures all play a vital part in helping lift those visits to a sensory experience, rather than simply being just another showroom box.
“One of the key features of the showroom design is the bespoke tiled ceiling. We had done quite a bit of due diligence on the material which has not been seen here in New Zealand before.
“Because we had, we were able to quite quickly work out how to incorporate the special lighting technology BMW required as part of the brief, working the tiles smoothly around them.”
Coombes Johnston BMW
Similarly, they had also worked hard to seamlessly integrate the air conditioning systems throughout the showroom via the suspended ceiling.
“Every job has its particular challenges. In this case we just thought outside the box on how best to approach those challenges, and the client certainly appreciated that,” says Luke.
Throughout the project the Watts and Hughes team’s ability to keep friendly, open communications with the client ensured a “no surprises” flow to the job, with challenges and options always well signaled.
Coombes Johnston manager Kevin Pead says the end result is a showroom that takes a completely new approach to how they retail their vehicles and the environment they present them into customers and potential customers.
Attention to detail was a key part of the premium project. That included Luke’s team taking care in areas like the showroom floor that required cut concrete channels for electrical cabling being worked in to appear as part of the original design look.
Their work also included assembling the especially imported Jensen furniture that adds to the space’s warm, exclusive atmosphere.
Thinking more broadly than simply the showroom-office space in the project, Luke’s team also worked to enhance the workshop-technician area to include a two-tone repaint of the facility.
“We realised with the tech staff often having greasy hands, a darker shade along the lower half of the walls made more sense, to avoid the grease showing up. We also installed three pre-cast concrete panels to delineate the grooming bay and define a better space, with full drainage and water supply.”
The complete project has caught the attention of BMW NZ with strong interest in Watts and Hughs engaging in other showroom projects around New Zealand.
Thanks to Watts and Hughes’ national presence, it is well positioned to take advantage of the continuing showroom upgrade programme.
Luke confirms the construction industry as a whole has had a tough couple of years. But for Watts and Hughes it has been an exceptionally busy period, with major government and private projects being completed.
“As a company we have been around since the eighties and established here in Tauranga since 2004, now employing 160 staff.
“We have worked hard to build a trusted, respected reputation in a tough industry. That gives people peace of mind when they are looking to embark on what are very significant projects.”
Watts & Hughes are proud to currently have two tower cranes operating simultaneously in downtown Tauranga. One is on Hamilton Street Panorama Towers Development project, the other on the Northern Quarter office and hospitality precinct.
“It’s a really busy time for construction in Tauranga at present, and we are particularly proud to be front and center of it, both for the downtown urban projects and commercial projects like Coombes and Johnston,” says Luke.
Coombes Johnston BMW Showroom, Hewlett’s Road, Tauranga.
