City officials approve $5.2M contract for new St. Petersburg Pier in Florida

The City of St. Petersburg in Florida made one step forward toward the construction of the new St. Petersburg Pier, following the conclusion of the second run of the St. Petersburg Pier Design Competition that Rogers Partners + ASD + Ken Smith won back in April.  The team's winning proposal, "The Pier Park", won out of three top finalist teams that included the St. Pete Design Group and Alfonso Architects.

After the first winning proposal ran into fierce opposition, the City of St. Petersburg organized a second RFQ, wherein proposals were required to preserve the Pier's iconic inverted pyramid.

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The $5.2 million contract will go toward the finalization of design details, and it will fund the demolition of the current Pier, and approach and initial contracting services. The City issued a press statement indicating that the design phase is scheduled to take five months and will also include feedback from local residents. Additionally, the community will have opportunities to learn more about the proposal during the design refinement process.

"The Pier Park" builds upon the Pier's history that dates back to the 1800s. The pier has gone through several reincarnations, going from the original Railroad pier of 1889, the Electric pier, the Municipal pier, the Million-Dollar pier, up to the most recent iteration – now simply called "The Pier".

The redesign will reconnect the pier to its city through the city's transportation and recreation systems, in addition to incorporating new transit options like the Looper Trolley and possibly a high-speed ferry. Instead of a singular program, multiple smaller and more flexible programs throughout the new structure will accommodate the interests of both locals and tourists.

Robert M. Rogers, founder of Rogers Partners, said in a statement regarding the redesign: 'To accomplish the vision for a new and revitalized pier, we are creating a place that embraces the dual role of the pier as both an icon for the city and an integral part of the St. Petersburg Waterfront – a place for tourists and everyday visitors alike, one that honors the pier’s robust, eclectic history while transforming it into a 21st-century public place.'

You can read the full winning proposal here (PDF).