Request for Proposals
For the Baywalk-Riverwalk’s
Unifying Element & Brand Development
RFP No. 16-17-02
Miami Downtown Development Authority
200 South Biscayne Blvd. Suite 2929 Miami, Florida 33131
2017-07-28
Miami River’s River Roam strategy utilizes prefabricated concrete modules which help explore Baywalk and the Miami river’s potential to engage visitors, business, sustainability and culture. The modules are linear in nature to accommodate to site conditions where there is little space. They can also be grouped together to form various conditions of shade, illumination, views and activity. Modularity assists in reducing cost and avoiding site excavation, being held in place by surface fastening and counterweight. Prefabricated “sub-modules” assist in the structural counterweight and in creating activities. These may be dining tables, audience seating, children’s playgrounds, outdoor fitness devices, planters, art murals, etc. In lieu of precast concrete, the modules or the submodules could take advantage of 3D printing technologies, which now have reached building scale, are economical, require less energy to fabricate, require less construction labor consuming utilize recycled materials and reduce construction time.
The iconic, yet untapped Pepper fountain is a landmark that can refresh the pedestrian experience with mist and the soothing sounds of water. It can help to symbolically establish the beginning of historic Flagler Street and as a water element it can educate visitors about the Everglades as an essential resource of potable water in Florida, by utilizing floating Lily Pads and other native vegetation reminiscent of the everglades in a way similar to the recent landscape design achieved at the western entrance of Miami Beach’s highly popular Lincoln Road Mall.
The absence of light contributes to the sense of lack of safety and comfort at this important link between destinations of the River Roam. The underpass remains unexplored, as it is blocked to pedestrians by a railroad bridge leading to the Port of Miami. The proposed floating dock provides continuous pedestrian connection and attracts small businesses such as food boats and water taxis. The proposed polished metal sheets fastened to the underside of the existing vehicular and train bridges reflects sunlight bouncing off the water, dispersing as shimmer that creates a surreal and calm marine atmosphere. At night, LED lights on the bridge underside and on the water surface create an inviting atmosphere.
The renewal of this intersection is vital to connect the River Roam experience with the iconic American Airlines arena, the existing Museum park and PAMM museum. At the same time, this strategy calls for revitalization of the AA Arena’s water edge. Connecting this underpass to the River Roam coming from the Bayside mall just to the south requires a minimal but important uplift of the charter and rental boat pier that is parallel to the railroad bridge, as shown in this proposal.
Currently, the boat harbor is a highly valuable public space, as it is the only portion of the arterial Biscayne Boulevard that is approached by the water, creating a natural breezeway and visual contact with the water, and two public space nodes. Continuation of the River Roam to its northernmost threshold calls for visually communicating visitors that the path does not end at the harbor. Inviting pedestrians to walk around the harbor is a challenge, mostly at the north boundary of the AA Arena. Revitalization of the AA Arena’s east and north water edges via the River Roam proposal takes advantage of the harbor as a site that showcases exclusive yachts yearround and is, at the east side, a popular place for tourists, pet owners and fitness fans.
River Roam explores Baywalk and the Miami river’s potential to engage visitors, business, sustainability and culture. Its main tool, the prefabricated module, creates responses to individual site challenges and conditions, creating connections , light and activity.
WATER PLANT
PARK BAYWALK
AMERICAN AIRLINES ARENA
BOAT HARBOR
MUSEUM
[a] [b]
SIGNAGE AND WAYFINDING
CITY WALK
MUSEUM PARK BISCAYNE PARK
A challenge in Miami River’s revitalization is informing pedestrians away from view of the river that there is an unexplored destination in the city. To assist in creating identity for this elongated urban space, blue floor striping guides visitors along the edge of the water and into the main features.
The plans in this document show locations for each signage type.
UNDERBRIDGE
PASSAGE
BISCAYNE BOULEVARD
BISCAYNE BOULEVARD
SOUTHBOUND
CAFE
NE 6TH STREET PORT BOULEVARD
NORTHBOUND
BAYSIDE MARKETPLACE
BAYSIDE
MARKETPLACE
AMERICAN AIRLINES ARENA
SEAFOOD MARKET
SEAFOOD MARKET
Port Boulevard Underpass is the area between the Bayside Marketplace and the famous American Airlines Arena, currently blocked by a railroad and vehicular bridge leading to the Port of Miami. The waterfront attracts fishermen who enjoy the site, and is the site of boat charters and rentals, which this projects seeks to engage. Currently, the area under the bridge is derelict, however. The proposed design extends over the water as a system of floating decks to connect the Bayside with the Arena. Using polished metal sheets under the existing bridge’s surface, sunlight reflected from the water disperses as shimmer, creating a surreal marine atmosphere. LED light creates a uniform, inviting and safe ambient at night . Mural art, a proven tool of urban revitalization, is given a place to buffer the existing FDOT facility.
This connection is vital in making River Roam continuous from the busy Bayside marketplace to its final destination at the PAMM arts museum and park.
The Pepper Fountain receives its name after Mildred and Claude Pepper. It was designed by famed American-Japanese designer Isamu Noguchi. At the moment, its unrealized potential lays dormant due to high operation costs. The proposed idea celebrates a landmark which could serve as endpoint of historic Flagler Street. Instead of keeping pedestrians away from the base, this proposal invites them to explore the fountain by ascending the strolling floating ramps and descending underneath them to enjoy shade and refreshing mist from the water fountain. Whether as fountain or as tranquil pond, the Pepper Fountain can become a relief from heat and rain for any pedestrian “roaming the river”.
Section through Fountain Pavilion
Photo of existing fountain
Pedestrian view at the Pepper Fountain Pavilion
Strolling ramps
Shaded seating around the fountain
Pond with native species
Donors ballards Gallery
SHADED AREAS FOR SEATING ARE NEEDED
OUTDOROS PUBLIC SPACES ARE CURRENTLY UNUSED BY LOCALS
Prefabricated “sub-module” inprecastconcrete/ 3D-printed
Moduleinprefabricated concrete/3D-printedfor off-site fabrication and onsiteflexibility
Spanforstructural counterweight eliminates need for site excavation, requiresminimal fastening
Wood trusses for reducedweightand allowingvegetation
“sub-module” (seating /audiencetype)
POSSIBLE MODULE CONFIGURATIONS
Miami River’s River Roam public space strategy employs prefabricated concrete modules which help explore Biscayne Bay and the Miami river’s potential to engage visitors, business, sustainability and culture in Downtown Miami. The modules are linear in nature to accommodate to site conditions where there is little space. They can also be grouped together to form various conditions of shade, illumination, views and activity. Modularity assists in reducing cost and avoiding site excavation, being held in place by surface fastening and counterweight.
Prefabricated “sub-modules” assist in structural counterweight and in creating activities. These may be dining tables, audience seating, children’s playgrounds, outdoor fitness devices, planters, art murals, etc. In lieu of precast concrete, the modules and/or the sub-modules could take advantage of 3D printing technologies, which now have reached building scale, are economical, require less energy to fabricate, require less construction labor consuming utilize recycled materials and reduce construction time.