The North Carolina Aquarium Pier at Nags Head (Jennette’s Pier) is a public facility designed and built for the aquatic education and enjoyment of the people of North Carolina and visitors. The project is one-of-a-kind and included the construction of a 1,000-foot concrete and wood pier with a 3-story, 17,000 SF pier house. The pier house contains an office complex, classroom, multiple large fish exhibit tanks, and a full-size restaurant kitchen to service banquet attendance of over 300 guests.
The construction process required critical planning and challenges, including in-water construction, pile driving, and endangered wildlife tracking. Clancy & Theys and its trade partners devised a system of two temporary trestles to serve as a roadway for two 250-ton cranes, one 350-ton crane, and the other equipment needed to transport material, drive piles, and set three 90-foot wind turbines and 70-foot-wide roof trusses. This innovative approach overcame harsh conditions and delivered the project successfully.
This project’s success resulted from intense project management, value analysis, and close coordination with all parties, from the owner and designer to the many trade partners, suppliers, and workers. Overall, Jennette’s Pier will withstand the environment and the longevity of time and serve as a pillar of sustainability and an inspiration to builders in the future.
Jennette’s Pier is the first North Carolina-owned project to obtain LEED Platinum certification through the U.S. Green Building Council. The design and construction highlight energy saving, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, stewardship of resources, and sensitivity to their impacts.
The project also won the Pinnacle Award for “Best Building Project” from The Carolinas AGC.
Other successful Clancy & Theys NC Aquarium projects include the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.
