The Hall Street Pier sits at the intersection of Downtown Nelson and the shore of Kootenay Lake. The previous pier was underused, dilapidated, and polluting the water. The vision for the new pier, designed by MBAC with SOA as Architect of Record, is about connecting the city to the lake in a four-season amenity that attracts locals and tourists to this historically prominent site.
The project is defined by four elements:
1) A wood canopy that is a beacon visible from downtown and the lake. The canopy provides sheltered, programmable space and is the gateway to the pier.
2) A public swim area skirted by floating docks which provide mooring locations for paddlers and sailboats. During Nelson’s hot summers, families converge here for a dip in the lake, kids fish from the docks, slack-liners test their balance.
3) A pier deck, significantly wider than its predecessor, supports day and night community programming and events. Viewpoints and benches on the deck inspire the everyday use of the pier… people watching, strolling, informal gatherings and chance meetings.
4) A climate controlled, glass pavilion to display the Ladybird speedboat. This beloved artifact from the Nelson Museum Archives & Gallery broke world speed records on Kootenay Lake in 1933. The Ladybird’s permanent display at the Hall Street Pier weaves into the project Nelson’s proud history of craft, engineering, and water sport.
Awards: 2023 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence
Client: The City of Nelson
Team: SOA (Architect of Record), MBAC (Design / Urban Design), Fast & Epp (Structural), Effistruc (Structural), Prism Engineering (Mechanical & Electrical), Mass (Environmental), Unitech (Project Management), North Mountain (Construction), Flat Rock (Construction).
Photos and Video: Tamarack Media Co.