This isn’t the first public park Skanska has worked on in the region.
A long-standing presence within the local Tampa Bay community and several successfully delivered projects paved the way for Skanska to be the contractor of choice for Imagine Clearwater.
Shaping our future starts with a growing local thumbprint
We have an undeniable thumbprint in the Tampa Bay area through our local office, and the meaningful active and completed projects we have done.
If you visit Tampa, you’re bound to encounter our work in some way.
Some of our current jobs include the Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa Convention Center and the University of South Florida Research Park.
These projects are quickly becoming cornerstones of construction excellence with community, innovation and sustainability at the center.
From recreation to education to healthcare infrastructure, our portfolio has been wide-ranging, providing invaluable moments for us to Commit to Customer.
Nearby Skanska developments prove key to unlocking Clearwater opportunity
Two of our award-winning projects—Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park (Julian B. Lane) and St. Pete Pier and pier approach (St. Pete Pier)—have become landmark destinations in the area.
Welcoming locals and tourists in recent years, they were instrumental in strengthening our Clearwater proposal and helped us stand apart from our peers.
A series of awards in the realm of design, landscaping and urban development excellence reinforced each project’s standout quality.
In 2020, our St. Pete Pier project received an Excellence in the Waterfront award and was recognized as one of USA Today’s Best New Attractions.
The pier’s standout visual architecture was also recognized, receiving the AIA H. Dean Rowe FAIA Award for Design Excellence.
Our Julian B. Lane project received an AIA Design Excellence Award and an ASLA – NY Design Award.
The St. Pete Pier and pier approach park also received a Best in Landscape/Urban Development Award from ENR Southeast and a ULI Urban Open Space Award.
These awards have been a moment of celebration for me and my colleagues here as well as a point of promise.
Past standout projects allow us to win future opportunities. Imagine Clearwater is a testament to that truth.
In proximity to Skanska’s previous work, decision makers have room to imagine
The Imagine Clearwater committee received a firsthand look at these comparable developments before making their selection.
We organized tours of Julian B. Lane and the St. Pete Pier for the Clearwater City Staff so they could envision a Skanska-built Imagine Clearwater park.
These tours provided them space to imagine their plans coming to life, and a chance to start building key relationships.
Committee members commented how this experience solidified that Skanska understood their vision for the community.
An unwavering commitment to customer during preconstruction enhances contract scope
Preconstruction began in December 2019, and we worked diligently to honor the City Council and public’s vision for the park.
Ongoing conversations involved looking at engineering options, design enhancements and “a-la-carte” style pricing, all necessary for a large-scale development.
Transparent and exploratory conversations during preconstruction are critical.
It allowed the city and council to see how we’re staying on budget while delivering the highest quality work.
Those responsive preconstruction conversations paved the way for a 13 percent growth in Imagine Clearwater’s contract value.
It ended at the final $70 million Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP), which included $4.5 million in program enhancements.
What’s on the horizon for Clearwater through this 24-acre urban waterfront park? Fun and relaxation.
This redevelopment will serve as a bridge between the waterfront and the Downtown Clearwater community.
Imagine Clearwater will feature recreational spaces, a gateway plaza, bay walk promenade, picnic shelters and an ocean-themed play area.
The revitalization of the existing Coachman Park will include a new covered amphitheater and a year-round lineup of live performances.
Looking ahead to the future
Dynamic spaces continue to be built in Tampa Bay and partnering with our clients and the community remains a focus.
Most recently, we began a Construction Management Building Blocks (CMBB) mentor-protégé program in partnership with University of South Florida (USF).
Driven by a desire to aid small businesses, our CMBB program will provide subcontractors with training, development and partnership opportunities to help participating companies find success in competitive bidding processes.
The future is looking sunny for the cities of Clearwater, Tampa and St. Petersburg as we dive into 2022.