CIRCLE K
3610 Davis Dr, Morrisville, NC 27560
CIRCLE K
3610 Davis Dr, Morrisville, NC 27560
MODERNIZING THE C-STORE CARWASH
As one of the largest convenience store operators in the country, Circle K is finding new opportunities to expand its footprint in the car wash industry. Following its acquisition of True Blue Car Wash in 2022, Circle K brought established car wash brands Clean Freak and Rainstorm into its portfolio, creating new opportunities to connect its fuel and convenience business with a growing express car wash market.
Part of this strategy involves rethinking the traditional car wash found at many convenience store locations. For years, rollover washes provided a convenient way for customers to clean their vehicles while fueling up. But as express tunnel operators have expanded across the country, customer expectations have changed. Unlimited wash memberships, higher-quality wash packages, free vacuums, and faster service have become increasingly common offerings in competitive markets.
HOVER'S SCOPE
CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN
SCEMATIC BUILDING DESIGN
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
MEP DESIGN & ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
LANDSCAPE DESIGN
By converting traditional rollover bays into mini express tunnels, Circle K can compete more directly with these established express wash operators while making better use of its existing real estate. Rather than washing one vehicle at a time, a conveyor-based tunnel allows vehicles to move continuously through the wash, significantly increasing hourly throughput and reducing customer wait times. The result is an opportunity to serve more customers, capture recurring membership revenue, and offer a more competitive car wash experience without requiring the footprint of a traditional full-length express tunnel.
REIMAGINING AN EXISTING CARWASH
Converting a traditional rollover bay into a mini express tunnel requires more than extending the building. The existing site, vehicle circulation, building layout, and equipment infrastructure all need to work together to support a fundamentally different washing operation.
Hover provided comprehensive design and development support throughout the conversion, beginning with site planning and planning and entitlement services, including civil engineering and landscape design. Our team then carried the project through construction documentation and building permitting, coordinating the improvements needed to transform the existing facility.
UPDATING THE CARWASH TRENCH
BEFORE
Original rollover bay with simple center drain not fit for tunnel equipment.
EXCAVATION
Old carwash bay excavated. New base layer added and grading updated.
FORM WORK
Concrete forms create the new trench. The new trench is recessed to accomodate belt conveyor.
NEW CONVEYOR
New conveyor installed creating a flush fit with existing grading at entrance and exit.
AFTER
Tunnel equipment is installed transforming a rollover to a mini express tunnel.
A key part of the redesign involved reversing the direction of vehicle travel through the tunnel. This created additional stacking capacity and improved vehicle circulation leading into the wash. The existing bay was extended to accommodate a 60-foot conveyor tunnel, while the building footprint was modified to incorporate a small office and an expanded equipment room.
Inside the wash, Hover redesigned the trench to accommodate an on-grade conveyor system, allowing the new equipment configuration to function within the adapted building. Outside, the improvements extended beyond the tunnel itself to include new vacuum stations, updated site lighting, and refreshed landscaping.
The result is a more capable car wash facility built around the demands of an express wash operation, demonstrating how thoughtful site planning and building design can help operators get more out of their existing locations.
LIKE WHAT YOU SEE?
Do you have an idea for a project that you’d like to make a reality? Hover Architecture has been taking projects like Circle K Morrisville from concept to completions for over a decade. Your carwash could be next, whether it’s your first location or your 100th! Fill out the form to get started today.
