Niagara Pier

Niagara Pier is made up of fifty-five primary residence condominium units on a 1,000 ft. long pier in Presque Isle Bay, Erie, PA. The limited land demanded a multi-story unit, but the market, primarily affluent empty nesters, suggested the necessity to minimize stairs. The split-level arrangement places the living room, dining room, kitchen, den and entry, one-half level above the garage. One-half level up from that are two guest bedrooms and a bath. The master bedroom suite and private deck are on the top floor. Private patios, adjacent to the unit’s long decks, provide an opportunity for gardening.

The decks cantilever to the edge of the pier, creating the illusion of being on an ocean liner. Providing attached double car garages with double aprons solved guest parking on limited land space. Units are spaced tightly on the west side of the pier with walled patios in between to provide a “snow fence” effect for strong winter winds. Gaps with cul-de-sacs are left on the east side of the pier to provide views down the bay towards the city’s center.

Perry’s Landing Yacht Club

The yacht club building is the focal facility of a private marina-yacht club with over 200 slips. The building was designed primarily for summer use and contains a bar, restaurant, and lounge space on the upper level with access directly onto an open swimming pool deck. The lower level contains locker rooms and

kitchen facilities. Second floor decks cantilever out over the public access walkway which surrounds the perimeter of the pier.

A private observation deck provides a strong symbol and focal point for the entire Perry’s Landing development and has become a community as well as a navigational landmark.

Bicentennial Tower

Weber Murphy Fox was hired by the Western Pennsylvania Port Authority to design a “gift” to the City of Erie for its Bicentennial celebration in 1995. The goal was to provide a design that would recognize the importance of this site as both a “gateway” to the city from the water and a strong terminus to the center of the city. The observation tower is located at the Dobbins Landing Public Dock at the terminus of the City’s center State Street and provides panoramic views of the City and Lake Erie over Presque Isle Bay and State Park. 

The Bicentennial Tower has become the City’s iconic landmark and was the catalyst for the waterfront revitalization that has taken place over the past several decades and continues today. A prominent feature of Erie’s tourism, the tower received the “Certification of Excellence” from Trip Advisor and is the centerpiece for the Tall Ships Festival, as well as the various events and activities that take place at Dobbins Landing.