The future Ocean Beach Pier in San Diego is being reimagined as a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable public space that honors the legacy of the original 1960s structure while adapting to the community’s changing needs. This 2,000-foot-long concrete pier will keep its iconic identity as a popular fishing spot while expanding to include a variety of accessible, multi-use spaces for gathering, dining, learning, and connecting with nature. Inspired by the flowing lines of the surf and the original pier’s long, narrow shape with splayed arms, the new design incorporates curving pathways and nature-inspired geometry based on the Golden Ratio, creating a structure that feels both timeless and organic. Its silhouette maintains a visual connection to the historic pier, while updated forms support a broader, more inclusive experience.
Community involvement has played a central role in shaping and defining the new pier. Over 20 months, five public workshops with 1,200 in-person participants, 80 pop-up events reaching 4,500 residents, and nearly 5,000 survey responses helped guide the design process. A dedicated community task force and extensive stakeholder interviews ensured that the final concept reflected local values, culture, and preferences. The final design incorporates the most popular features from several versions that were decided on and voted on during community workshops and online surveys.
New amenities include an expanded pier building with a new café, restaurant, gift shop, and gender-neutral restrooms, along with expanded fishing zones and shaded spaces for gathering and dining. Unique features like the Surfers Lounge Overlook, Café bleacher forecourt, Infinity Plaza, and a 3,000-square-foot rooftop deck provide flexible, accessible areas for recreation, reflection, and socializing, all while staying separate from more dedicated fishing zones. The highlight, the “Horizon Walk,” an elevated, ADA-accessible path that rises above the main pier, offers panoramic 360-degree views and separates pedestrians from fishing areas, enhancing comfort and usability for all visitors. These spaces include interpretive signage, custom seating, lighting, and public art to create welcoming, inspiring environments.
The pier’s structure is built for durability and resilience, designed to withstand increasing storm activity and sea-level rise over the next 100 years. With a 75-year service life, it uses durable marine-grade materials, and the building incorporates sustainable features such as passive solar design, natural ventilation, and LEED Gold certification, emphasizing environmental responsibility. A unique ecological and educational feature is the inclusion of large planters filled with nutrient-devoid soil and native species, designed to mimic the growing conditions of nearby coastal islands. These planters enhance the interpretive experience by demonstrating the resilience of local plants and promoting environmental awareness among visitors.
Ultimately, the redesigned Ocean Beach Pier serves as a progressive model of equitable public infrastructure. It combines resilience with beauty, functionality with inspiration, and community identity with universal access. More than just a structure, it stands as a civic landmark—welcoming, educational, and inclusive—created to serve the Ocean Beach community and visitors for generations to come.
Ocean Beach Pier
Location: Ocean Beach, California. United States of America
Client: City of San Diego
Design Team:
Landscape Architect | Co-Designer: Civitas, Inc.
Architect | Co-Designer: RNT Architects
Prime Consultant + Lead Engineer: Moffat Nichol
Electrical Engineer: BSE Engineering
Public Engagement: Cook Schmid
Bathymetry: eTrac
Geotechnical Engineer: GeoEngineers
Survey: GSi
Historical Architect: Heritage Architecture and Planning
Civil Engineer: Kettler Leweck Engineering
Hazardous Materials: Ninyo & Moore
Renderer: Seven G
Image Credit: Ocean Beach Pier Design Team
