Design team proposes compact ground‑floor, dry floodproofing and a two‑story harbor‑master facility

The design team said code, existing easements and FEMA flood zones strongly constrain where a new harbor‑master facility can sit. Liam Davis, project lead at BA Studio, told the meeting that the team’s preferred strategy is to keep the building in the AE flood zone and use dry floodproofing for ground‑floor public restrooms while elevating critical harbor‑operations spaces above the wet zone.

Davis said the ground floor is essentially constrained by code to about 1,500 square feet (the existing building is just under 1,400), and that the team proposes dedicating that level to public restrooms and a compact ticket office. “One of the loud and clear things we’ve been hearing is that public ground is a real critical driver to this project,” Davis said, describing a priority to preserve Harbor Walk connections, accessibility and long‑term resiliency. The team also outlined three massing approaches — a two‑story option, a two‑story plus roof deck, and a rotated volume creating a larger third‑floor public room — and said each would be studied further with community feedback.

Designers also emphasized accessibility improvements (elevator, family restroom) and long‑term durability: materials and detailing will be selected for New England coastal exposure. The team cautioned the new facility will not be sized to serve maximum holiday peaks (for example, 4th of July cruise‑ship surges) but will aim to materially improve day‑to‑day service.