During the first design meeting, the client stated they did not want this to look like just another convenience store. It needed to stand out from the others. A modern design incorporating building materials that are not typically used in this building type were employed to give this convenience store the edge the client was looking for.
Porcelain tile panels and aluminum panels were used in combination for sections of the exterior along with an EIFS wall system. The cream color porcelain tile and the teak brown aluminum panels are complimented by the bold red of the aluminum canopy, sun-shading devices and the large wall extension that provides the backdrop for the building signage.
As you walk inside, you realize again that this is not a typical convenience store. Brightly colored decorative ceiling sails are prominently placed in the center of the sales area in a floating ceiling system that ties in with the brightly colored and curving ceiling fur-downs over the coolers and check-out counter. Decorative glass tiles and LED back-lit signage also give the interior a modern look not seen in other convenience stores. The public restrooms are not forgotten in the design either and the bright colors continue with the wall tile at the lavatories.
The building was designed to meet the requirements of the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code in a Climate 2 Zone. Spray foam insulation and a separate continuous insulation system achieved the required R-values for the exterior walls and a continuous insulation system above the metal deck satisfied the roof insulation requirements.
The new Fast Lane convenience is located at an extremely busy intersection along an Interstate 10 feeder road in Beaumont, Texas. The building area of the site is constrained on a triangular piece of land that required the 4,035 sf building to be negotiated in place to maximize curb appeal to the feeder road and Laurel Ave which is an artery from a densely populated area that connects to the interstate and runs adjacent to the property. The building actually has two facades because both the feeder road and Laurel Ave demand a visual welcome to motorists. The final touch that sets this convenience store apart is the landscaping that borders the perimeter and then continues and interacts with the building along the facade.
