Elm City Pier – Urban Design Cooperative

An elevated, pedestrian-friendly footbridge offering public art, green space, lounging areas, pop-up stores, and local food vendors that safely connects existing Waterville communities while also attracting new visitors.

Proposed Elm City Pier Site

Access Points:
Boutique Hotel
Green Space Between Main Street and Bridge Street
Mixed-Use Residential / Commercial Project
South End Location
Will Traverse the 4-Way Spring Street Intersection

Map of Waterville, ME

Inspirations

Circular Pedestrian Bridge in Lujiazui, China

Winning Design for Providence River Pedestrian Bridge, Angle 2

Alternate view of winning design for Providence River Pedestrian Bridge

Winning Design for the Providence River Pedestrian Bridge

Winning Design for the Providence River Pedestrian Bridge in Rhode Island

Providence River Pedestrian Bridge Concept

Concept for the Providence River Pedestrian Bridge in Rhode Island

BP Pedestrian Bridge

BP Pedestrian Bridge in Chicago adjacent to Millennium Park

The High Line

Photograph of the High Line in New York City by Allison Meier

The High Line

Photograph of the High Line in New York City from Vimeo

Biddy Mason Park

Photograph of Biddy Mason Park in Los Angeles, an example of public art reviving forgotten history

Our Concept Sketches

: Bird's-Eye View of the Elm City Pier

: Concept sketch of the Elm City Pier and its features

: Entrance to the Elm City Pier accessible by stairs and elevators. Elevators would be handicap accessible

: Pop-up store area with seating across the pathway

: Part of "thinkspace" for children

: Part of "thinkspace" for children

Project Motivations

Safer Sidewalks

Connects the South End to Downtown Waterville

Creates Open, Green, Community Spaces

Public Art

Overall Beautification Efforts

Stimulate Local Business

Safer Sidewalks

The residents of the South End, during the community meeting at the South End Teen Center, expressed their frustration about the sidewalks in the neighborhood. Members of the community said that in addition to the conditions of the sidewalks preventing traveling from point A to point B, the sidewalks are a safety risk for everybody. By creating a pedestrian-friendly bridge that connects the South End to Downtown Waterville, not only is there a safer route being created, but, on a larger scale, an open space for anyone to enjoy.

Connects the South End to Downtown Waterville

Since being densely settled in the mid-19th century, the South End’s physical layout has remained mostly unchanged and unadapted to the times. These conditions exacerbate the feeling of separation of the South End to the rest of Waterville, a problem that plagues many modern cities.

Creates Open, Green, Community Spaces

A physical, versatile green space is an invaluable tool for a bustling urban space. Community members have frequently expressed desire for recreational spaces, such as parks, and the Pier fulfills that need in a dynamic, fluid fashion.

Public Art

According to 2017 Waterville Cultural Blueprint spearheaded by Waterville Creates!, “90% of survey respondents think that public art is important to the future of Waterville as an arts and cultural destination.” The desire for public art and the belief that arts and culture will have a positive impact on Waterville is a concern the Pier hopes to assist in with the creation of space dedicated to housing public art. By providing a location for artists to exhibit their work, the Pier both promotes Waterville’s local art and culture while also beautifying the area.

Overall Beautification Efforts

As expressed by former Colby student Stephen Plocher and echoed by artist Theaster Gates, the beautification of spaces makes an impact on the being of a community. In addition, as mentioned during the community meeting, community members will make more of an effort to “maintain a neighborhood if it looks good.” Although seemingly superficial, the cosmetic component of a neighborhood is vital for the mindset of the community.

Stimulate Local Business

With the potential for food vendors and pop-up stores on the Pier, existing Waterville businesses, such as Juliette’s Bakery in the North End, will have the ability to expand into a space they were otherwise excluded from as well as take advantage of more permanent opportunities.

Project Timeline

January 2018: Begin Finding Project Partners and Securing Funding

Reach out to potential partners and schedule meetings to pitch the Pier and discuss a possible partnership. See what they are willing to commit, whether it be money, professional networks, resources, or knowledge, and determine the extent of their role in the overall realization of the project. Connecting with the municipal government and Colby administration is imperative during this time, especially to secure the rights to the land for the Pier. In addition, it is crucial to intercept both parties before Colby’s development of the designated area. A series of meetings with the final group will be necessary to get everyone on the same page and establish their respective responsibilities. Recognizing that this will have to be somewhat of a democratic process, the time allotted to completing these tasks is 5 months.
May 2018: Design the Structure

Coordinating with the hired landscape architect, architects, urban designer, and consulting engineer, in order to communicate the vision of the Pier. The vision is dependent on the project site, resources available, and the budget. Researching existing models and devising new ideas will infer the overall bridge structure and pedestrian walking space. By the end of the allotted 4 months, there will be a visual conceptualization of the Pier.
September 2018: Fit Partner Projects/Programs into the Elm City Pier

After creating the design, the next step is to collaboratively adapt the desires of the Pier partners and combine them with the existing vision of the Project Managers. By initiating this process after designing the structure, the Project Managers will maintain a level of control and autonomy while still allowing some sort of democratic process. This 2 month process with result in the vision for the bridge and its ecosystem being set.
December 2018: Community Outreach
March 2019: Prep Project Site

Before construction, the land of the project site needs to be cleared for construction. This may require steps such as the land being cleared, leveled, and inspected. The materials and resources necessary for construction will also need to be secured and prepared by this date, which may include processes such as sandblasting steel elements, waterproofing concrete, etc.
July 2019: Begin Construction

The construction of the approximately 20,000 square foot structure will begin and be completed over the next two years. This estimate is based on the BP Pedestrian Bridge in Chicago, which is 18,700 square feet and comparable to the Pier in size. The BP Pedestrian Bridge was completed in two years. After construction is complete, the cosmetic additions will begin, which include preparing the walkway for art, greenery, lounging, pop-up stores, and food vendors.
March 2021: Install Attractions

The landscapers will begin to plant the greenery and artists will be selected for the inaugural presentations with the help of Waterville Creates!. A board of partner representatives will field proposals for local businesses and food vendors. Once selected and allocated a space on the Pier, the local businesses and food vendors will prepare their respective spaces for opening. Artists will be expected to complete their respective projects and install them in the designated spaces chosen for their individual projects through collaboration with the board of partners.
September 2021: The Pier Opens to the Public

Potential Community Partners and Organizations

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