Subaru® Fort Walton Beach Car Dealership

Project Profile:

Not all car dealerships are equal, especially when you let nature have a say.

This is why Step 1 Automotive Group of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, tapped OWN, Inc. for Civil Engineering, Conceptual Design, and Permitting when building a new dealership.

After purchasing the modest 3-acre lot, the client faced several challenges posed by a site of this size. First, the proposed 15,500-square-foot structure would need to meet the compulsory requirements of day-to-day business including sales, service, and deliveries, yet still provide enough surface area to handle stormwater detention. OWN provided conceptual designs that helped move the pieces around while maintaining the ease-of-function required of a thriving dealership.

In addition, an impressive grove of live oaks served as a natural buffer along the boundary with an adjacent residential subdivision. The client wanted to preserve as many trees as possible. To accommodate this, OWN’s designs would need to not only maintain good flow around the grounds, but also enhance the customer experience. Customers were also top of mind when it came to the use of retaining walls around the stormwater detention pond to create an attractive feature rather than a mundane holding pit.

The end result?

A mature, landscaped environment that feels more inviting than the typical customer experience found at a big car lot.

From groundbreaking to Grand Opening, OWN went beyond by working diligently with the county to complete pre-inspections, inspections, and field certifications to help the client stay on course. In addition, the firm coordinated stormwater and driveway permits with Okaloosa County and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).