Pub. 2 2019-2020 Issue 3

17 L i fe in t h e Fa st Lane E veryone can see the trends in the automotive industry by watching a car commercial. Gone are the days where buyers are excited about power windows and locks. Today, new buyers are motivated to buy a car with Bluetooth sound systems and lane assist technology. But what are some of the trends in Utah’s automotive dealership design? 1. Maximize Customer Touch Points One big design trend is to use space around the dealership to make the customer experience as pleasant and comfortable as possible. With “customer touch points,” service technicians and salesmen have multiple settings in which they interface with clients. These types of showrooms are focused on keeping the customer happy. The showrooms are designed to create a positive experience for the customer so they keep coming back. From the comfortable sofa where they can watch their favorite movie while snacking on popcorn to the well-lit and well-appointed showroom, these spaces are designed specifically to feel warm and inviting. Customer touch points build customer loyalty: making the dealership so appealing that it’s the obvious choice for a service appointment and for the next car purchase. Four Trends in Utah’s Auto Dealership Architecture continued on page 18 Gerrit Timmerman , Principal, Curtis Miner Architecture