Public Invited to Celebrate Grand Opening of Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier
Broadway Pier will be transformed into an old-fashioned amusement park this Saturday as the Port celebrates the grand opening of the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier. The Port Pavilion is a 52,000 square foot facility that will serve as an auxiliary cruise ship terminal and a public events venue.
A Ferris wheel, giant octopus ride and other carnival rides will be on the pier and open to the public at no charge beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 18, 2010.
The festivities continue throughout the day and will include musical entertainment by a variety of performers, food, including chocolate-covered bananas, ship tours, a traditional Native American blessing of the Port Pavilion by the Viejas Band of the Kumeyaay Indians, open house tours, a travel show, maritime exhibits and activities for children, including a shark tank courtesy of the Chula Vista Nature Center. On top of all of that, rado-host "AJ in the Morning" from Star 94.1 will be there from 10 a.m. to noon.
People attending the event are being encouraged to take public transportation. In addition, the Port is providing a free shuttle that will run from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The shuttle will leave from the Seaport Village Old Town Trolley stop across from the Harbor House Restaurant. There also will be pickups at the Old Town Trolley stops at 500 Kettner Boulevard and Horton Plaza in front of Ambercrombie & Fitch on Broadway Circle. The shuttle runs every 20 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Port of San Diego's Pavilion on Broadway Pier Opens from Port of San Diego on Vimeo.
Following the fun, the public is invited to the official dedication of the Port Pavilion at 4 p.m.
City of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, Port Board Chair Robert "Dukie" Valderrama, Port Commissioner Michael Bixler and other officials will help officially christen the new building.
At the dedication ceremony, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) will present the Port with a rebate check for energy savings. The ceremony will conclude with the official lighting of the public art element of the building, a light installation by New York-based artist Leni Schwendinger.
Schwendinger's artwork, titled "Tidal Radiance" is installed on the Pavilion's exterior. Bathed in hues representing the colors of San Diego Bay, the artwork blends into the architecture of the building by day and is activated by glints of the sun. At night, the artwork illuminates, transforming the façade of the pavilion.
When lit, "Tidal Radiance" will be visible to pedestrians strolling along the Embarcadero and motorists traveling on North Harbor Drive.
The Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier was designed by international architectural firm Bermello Ajamil and Partners, Inc. The firm worked on the design of "The World," a collection of man-made islands shaped into the continents of the world, located off the coast of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Built by Jaynes Corporation, a construction firm with offices in San Diego and throughout the southwest, the facility includes several sustainable elements that will help it qualify for LEED-silver certification. A 30KW photovoltaic system owned by the Port of San Diego will generate up to 14 percent of the building's energy needs. Another 30 KW photovoltaic system, owned by SDG&E, will provide additional photovoltaic panels. Energy from this system will be pumped back into San Diego's overall electrical grid.
Natural ventilation provided by large louvers and fans will keep the building cool during the warm months and white rooftop paint will reflect light and heat away from the building. Additional sustainable features are low-flow water fixtures, energy-efficient light fixtures and shore power equipment, which will allow cruise vessels to plug into the electrical grid, eliminating the need to idle diesel engines.
On Sunday, December 19, Broadway Pier will open at 1 p.m. and the public will have a chance to enjoy the Ferris wheel and other amusement rides until 5 p.m.
The Port will provide special grandstand seating to the public to watch the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights. The Parade of Lights starts at 5:30 p.m. and will conclude around 9 p.m. Although the pier will be open on December 19, the Port Pavilion will be closed.
Unified Port of San Diego