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Working Waterfront | Camden Harbor
Working Waterfront | Camden Harbor
Camden, ME, United States
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Working Waterfront | Camden Harbor
Camden, ME, United States
Firm
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2022
SIZE
25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft
BUDGET
$5M - 10M
Camden has a rich boat-building history dating back to the 1700s - the Working Waterfront drew
inspiration from the organized chaos of the old wharf designs. In the past, the harbor front would be
dotted with trade shops of all shapes and sizes - buildings seemingly laid out without intention but where
everything served a purpose. The new facility plays off this idea with independent volumes and irregular
rooflines connected to one another. It is the intersection of modern and traditional design with
cantilevered corner glass juxtaposed against traditional, local building elements like cedar shakes.
Classic maritime heritage contrasted with modern design can be found in the vaulted foyer of the marina
offices. A 1930s Tech Dinghy originally commissioned by the owner’s great-grandfather sits above the
reception desk welcoming every visitor to the waterfront.
There was a staggering amount of program required to fit into a relatively compact space confined by
harbor setbacks, FEMA flood plains, and local zoning ordinances. 33,000 square feet of state-of-the-art
structure replaced a hodge-podge of rambling, energy-inefficient buildings that didn’t survive the fire. The
company’s rigging, mechanics, electronics, and carpentry workshops are housed in a brand-new
warehouse. Customer-friendly offices, lounge spaces for boaters, boat services, overnight
accommodations, retail shops, a distillery, and a restaurant make up the public-facing portion of the new
working waterfront. The project also adds 8,300sq.ft. of publicly accessible boardwalk along the
waterfront.
The project had to be completed in a time and cost-efficient manner - without the waterfront operational
there was no way to make the property financially viable. An efficient steel and concrete structure was
designed and fabricated off-site which cut back on time to get to a core and shell. The project was
completed in just 16 months and cost $303/sq.ft. in a volatile building climate and challenging site.
The Working Waterfront’s is three-tenths of a mile from downtown Camden which encourages folks from
all backgrounds to engage in the new space: boat owners, residents, craftsmen, and tourists can all
engage with this historical and modern working waterfront. Posted signs lead pedestrians from downtown,
a courtesy electric vehicle transports passengers free of charge and perhaps the best way to visit is on
the ferry across the marina provided free of charge by the Working Waterfront.
The project engages the local and regional community through programs run in association with the
Maine Marine Trades Association for training and certifications, which helps promote careers and job
opportunities. Every Summer the Working Waterfront partners with the Camden Yacht Club in producing
the annual regatta, the Camden Classics Cup – a wonderful celebration of craft, community, and
competition.
Designing a large-scale project near the shoreline required a serious discussion on what resources and
means-and-methods were needed to ensure the project will last given the risk of rising tides and extreme
weather. The project sits on pilings to bedrock and is raised above the 100-year flood plain to mitigate
long-term risk. The steel was engineered to the highest standard to ensure it can support future solar
integration. The building is equipped with a superior thermal envelope, state-of-the-art HVAC, and LED
lighting. The goal was to ensure the structure will last several lifetimes so it won’t have to be torn down
and replaced with more resources - but more importantly to be able to tell this treasured maritime story for
generations to come.
inspiration from the organized chaos of the old wharf designs. In the past, the harbor front would be
dotted with trade shops of all shapes and sizes - buildings seemingly laid out without intention but where
everything served a purpose. The new facility plays off this idea with independent volumes and irregular
rooflines connected to one another. It is the intersection of modern and traditional design with
cantilevered corner glass juxtaposed against traditional, local building elements like cedar shakes.
Classic maritime heritage contrasted with modern design can be found in the vaulted foyer of the marina
offices. A 1930s Tech Dinghy originally commissioned by the owner’s great-grandfather sits above the
reception desk welcoming every visitor to the waterfront.
There was a staggering amount of program required to fit into a relatively compact space confined by
harbor setbacks, FEMA flood plains, and local zoning ordinances. 33,000 square feet of state-of-the-art
structure replaced a hodge-podge of rambling, energy-inefficient buildings that didn’t survive the fire. The
company’s rigging, mechanics, electronics, and carpentry workshops are housed in a brand-new
warehouse. Customer-friendly offices, lounge spaces for boaters, boat services, overnight
accommodations, retail shops, a distillery, and a restaurant make up the public-facing portion of the new
working waterfront. The project also adds 8,300sq.ft. of publicly accessible boardwalk along the
waterfront.
The project had to be completed in a time and cost-efficient manner - without the waterfront operational
there was no way to make the property financially viable. An efficient steel and concrete structure was
designed and fabricated off-site which cut back on time to get to a core and shell. The project was
completed in just 16 months and cost $303/sq.ft. in a volatile building climate and challenging site.
The Working Waterfront’s is three-tenths of a mile from downtown Camden which encourages folks from
all backgrounds to engage in the new space: boat owners, residents, craftsmen, and tourists can all
engage with this historical and modern working waterfront. Posted signs lead pedestrians from downtown,
a courtesy electric vehicle transports passengers free of charge and perhaps the best way to visit is on
the ferry across the marina provided free of charge by the Working Waterfront.
The project engages the local and regional community through programs run in association with the
Maine Marine Trades Association for training and certifications, which helps promote careers and job
opportunities. Every Summer the Working Waterfront partners with the Camden Yacht Club in producing
the annual regatta, the Camden Classics Cup – a wonderful celebration of craft, community, and
competition.
Designing a large-scale project near the shoreline required a serious discussion on what resources and
means-and-methods were needed to ensure the project will last given the risk of rising tides and extreme
weather. The project sits on pilings to bedrock and is raised above the 100-year flood plain to mitigate
long-term risk. The steel was engineered to the highest standard to ensure it can support future solar
integration. The building is equipped with a superior thermal envelope, state-of-the-art HVAC, and LED
lighting. The goal was to ensure the structure will last several lifetimes so it won’t have to be torn down
and replaced with more resources - but more importantly to be able to tell this treasured maritime story for
generations to come.
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