McLaren Engineering debuts ‘Pier-Pod’ design for Hudson River recreation pier

Weehawken, N.J. –– The Township of Weehawken, N.J., has a new waterfront attraction — the $3.1 million Weehawken Recreational Pier, designed by McLaren Engineering Group in collaboration with RSC Architects.

This pier project, which has been in the works for 15 years, stretches nearly 500 feet into the Hudson River, directly opposite the Empire State Building. The unique pier features a “pod” design with a series of platforms and interconnected walkways, providing a variety of destination points for visitors.

“McLaren developed the groundbreaking new ‘pier pod’ design concept, and we believe it’s a bold, revolutionary new way to construct piers compared to traditional box-like configurations,” said Shea Thorvaldsen, P.E., Director, Infrastructure and Marine at McLaren Engineering Group. “Because there is no heavy structure, a pier designed this way is much cheaper to build and offers the ability to expand easily.”

“Visitors also benefit from numerous walkways and seating options, as well as stronger lighting – providing an enjoyable, safe way to view the Manhattan skyline,” adds Thorvaldsen.

The pier boasts five pods connected by 10-foot-wide walkways, each designed for a specific use. A kayak pod offers launch space for kayakers, and a raised hexagonal pod creates an ideal area for viewing the city and the surrounding waterfront. Additional pods are designed for fishing and educational visits. The pods range in size from 700 to 2,500 square feet.

“The Weehawken Recreation Pier is one of the first piers fully open to the public north of Hoboken. People love going out 400 feet in the river to take in stunning views of the George Washington and Verrazano bridges,” says Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner. “McLaren was great to work with and we were happy that the project came in with no additional costs and it’s designed to withstand the weather of the area.”

The new Weehawken Recreation Pier replaces a structure that had been destroyed in 1993 and is located northeast of the intersection of Washington Terrace and Harbor Boulevard. It borders a two-acre waterfront park.

McLaren Engineering Group, in collaboration with RSC Architects, provided marine structural design, surveying, environmental permitting and aesthetic design for the concrete waterfront pier. The new Weehawken Recreation Pier has undergone rigorous testing to ensure its stability and longevity.

McLaren is developing two other similar waterfront designs for Transmitter Park and Java Street in Brooklyn.