Tampa, Fla.–based developer Strategic Property Partners (SPP) has begun construction on Water Street Tampa, a $3 billion development just off Tampa’s Old Water Street, that will include over 9 million square feet of residential, commercial, hospitality, educational, and entertainment space.
SPP is a joint venture between Bill Gates’ investment fund Cascade Investment LLP and local businessman Jeff Vinik, owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team. Their 53-acre, mixed-use development is centrally located on the Garrison Channel, near Amalie Arena (home to the Lightning), the Tampa Convention Center, Tampa Bay History Center, and Florida Aquarium, among other downtown attractions. Pedestrian-oriented, the development will add parks and public areas leading to the Tampa Riverwalk and waterfront.
SPP commissioned architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) to design two sister residential towers of 21 and 26 stories, respectively, for the property. KPF’s first Tampa project, the towers will offer 3,500 rental and for-sale condominium residences and will be connected by a large commercial space and car park. Exterior terraces lining the towers will offer residents natural lighting as well as views of the city and Hillsborough Bay. Perforated metal screens at the podium level will both shield the open-air parking and angle light toward the façade.
"Creating a building that makes a person feel better by interacting with it was inspiring to explore,” says Trent Tesch, KPF design principal. “Wellness, and how the building is going to be built, is our focus—we integrate authentic materials and texture that are both super refined and rough, which will make this project look distinct and unique.” According to SPP, Water Street Tampa will be the first community certified "WELL," a health and wellness standard currently being developed by the International WELL Building Institute. The development is also pursuing LEED certification for individual buildings.
Two hundred million dollars worth of infrastructure, including roads, public utilities, and central cooling, is currently being built at Water Street Tampa. KPF’s towers will be started in 2018, as part of the first of three phases of vertical construction, and are slated to be complete by the end of 2020, according to the developers. The entire Water Street Tampa development—comprising, in addition to the 3,500 residences, 2 million square feet of office space; 1 million square feet of street-level retail, cultural, educational, and entertainment space; and two hotels with over 650 rooms—is expected to be finished by 2027. The developers expect 23,000 residents, professionals, or visitors at Water Street Tampa daily.
