The new St. Pete Pier design concept is being honored by AIA New York in its annual design awards. The design and its parent firm, Rogers Partners, received a Merit Award in Urban Design from the group, also known as the Center for Architecture.
“The New St. Pete Pier will provide year-round activity along the entire length of the new pier and seamlessly integrate with downtown St. Pete’s ongoing renaissance,” Rogers Partners posted on Facebook.
The firm is working locally with ASD Architects in Tampa and a New York-based landscape architect, Ken Smith.
Accirding to its website, AIA New York’s annual design awards recognize outstanding architectural design by its chapter members. Winners can also be New York City-based architects working anywhere in the world as well as those from other places who have work in New York City.
“The purpose of the awards program is to honor the architects, clients, and consultants who work together to achieve design excellenc,” the group’s website explains.
Ironically, the honor award for design went to W-Architecture. That’s the firm behind the Destination St. Pete Pier concept that would have re-imagined the now razed inverted pyramid. The firm is recognized for its work on Plaza 33 in New York City.
That firm was chosen by the city to undertake the Pier approach project aimed at working with the new Pier to provide a seamless transition between the Pier and downtown.
The design set to replace the inverted pyramid was known as Pier Park, but after naming rights came into question by another Florida “Pier Park” the name was dropped.
