‘Iconic,' ‘uniquely St. Pete:' What five local architects think of the new Pier .
The architects lauded the new landmark for what they said was a timeless yet functional design.

By Emily L. Mahoney
Tampa Bay Times
Published: Jul 20, 2020

Years in the making, the new St. Pete Pier opened with fanfare and excitement on July 6. Local leaders declared it a victory for the city and curious Tampa Bay residents have ventured to the glistening new attraction despite the pandemic-induced crowd control measures.

But what do architects have to say about the new design that replaced the inverted pyramid? The Tampa Bay Times requested critiques from five local architects and experts. The following architects were not involved in the construction of the pier, nor did their firms bid on the project, except in the instance noted. Their reviews are in their own words, with minor edits for length or clarity:

Robert MacLeod, professor and director of the University of South Florida’s School of Architecture & Community Design:

“I think it’s a very ambitious scheme. It’s an urban experience even though it’s a pier it accommodates a large number of people doing a diverse range of activities so the programming is very ambitious.

“A common first impression is that it’s an object building that sits in the water but it’s much more than that. It’s obviously a significant building for St. Pete but also it’s a significant building in terms of that kind of public infrastructure, so I think it’s an important building for the state of Florida and even for the Southeast.

“We don’t build projects like this every day but it also allows us to rethink how we make cities and public space on the water. The fact you have the ability to look at both cities and to look at water it’s kind of an unusual experience for people.

“The great thing about St. Pete are all the parks along the water. This kind of contributes to that public realm in very straightforward way. I like that it enlivens it.

“Even though it was born out of a certain controversy with the first one and then competition for this one the city is going to look back at this in short order and realize it was worth it. It’s a generational building. You don’t build buildings like this often, it’s maybe a 75- to 100-year building I hope, and that’s what makes it special.

“Sometimes cities build things like this and they’re not world class and I think this is striving to be a world caliber building. The building feels like it emerges out of the intersection of the place and the environment and to me it speaks to where we are today and how we build today.

“I’m not big fan of buildings that are overly nostalgic. It’s not nostalgic. It’s really forward-looking. I have a feeling it will wear well over time because it’s iconic but its not ... fashionable in a bad way that’s going to date it.

“The building has to grow into the city and city has to grow into the building. My sense is that a lot of the things they did, they got right.”

Dawn Gunter, principal and co-managing director of the Tampa office for Gensler:

“Picnic blankets, dogs resting, families with strollers, skateboarders, rollerbladers, wheelchairs, fishing and squeals of joy at the splash pad create an inspiring sense of possibility for the art and architecture at the St. Pete Pier. Great urban design is also on display. The St. Pete Pier has been re-imagined to be multiple ‘spaces in between’ where everyone can find their favorite destination. The Bending Arc, for example, is a tensile structure that creates a stunning destination, with it’s suspended net-inspired sculpture floating over a grassy lawn by day and exploding with shifting color at night. In place of the historic pier, The Point pays homage to the familiar inverted-triangle form of the previous structure while embracing the larger purpose of the new pier.

“The Pier provides spaces and moments that are both universal and personal. The old live oaks were carefully preserved and now provide beautiful shade, paying respect to the longstanding history of the Pier as a community boardwalk. The art and architecture will be both loved and critiqued, and will be successful in sparking conversations around form, function and timelessness.

“The City of St Petersburg leaders and teams that have championed, designed and constructed the Pier can take much pride in this project and the opportunities it promises for St. Petersburg residence and visitors alike.

Kim Headland, principal and vice president of Wilder Architecture in Tampa and past president of the American Institute of Architects’ Florida chapter:

“As a Tampa resident, I am a regular visitor to St. Petersburg. Each trip brings an increased appreciation for the ongoing development of the City’s waterfront — the new pier is no exception. As a local architect, I am more impressed by the magnitude of the fresh, new vision that has been realized with the design of this new, instant icon. It is an expertly planned addition to the city that creates a wide range of well-choreographed experiences for everyone to enjoy… again and again.

“The new pier also does the same for its visitors. The approach to their new pierhead provides visitors a choice of pedestrian experiences from the open-air market to the great sloped lawn and the splashpad. The path invites visitors to explore this urban park with surprises along the way taking you to the coastal thicket of natural vegetation or by Janet Echelman’s sculpture, Bending Arc, to visit the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, throw a line out in hopes of hooking a fish or just find a place to rest and take in the 360 degree view all that St. Petersburg has to offer.

A long time in the making, St. Petersburg has a new icon and BDG Architects is proud to be a part of this project, which a nice addition to the already beautiful waterfront.”