Chesapeake Plaza
Formerly Pier 1 Place
100 Pier 1 Place - 2004
On December 11, 2002, Pier 1 Imports unveiled plans for a 20-story, $90 million headquarters facility to be built along the banks of the Trinity River in Fort Worth. Duda Paine Architects, LLP, of Durham, N.C., is the design architect. Pier 1 Imports and Duda Paine’s striking design was created after months of research, taking into consideration optimum use of the riverfront site, which is on the western edge of downtown Fort Worth. The 440,000-square-foot building initially houses almost 900 Pier 1 Home Office associates and is expected to satisfy Pier 1’s space requirements through 2015. The average floor plate size is 23,500 square feet.
The building is constructed of glass and gray granite; the base, top and shoulders of the building is be internally illuminated with a soft light, complementing the Fort Worth skyline. The design considers the importance and location of employee amenities, such as open green space with an employee dining area that overlooks terraced gardens leading to the river. Other amenities include an employee fitness center, conference and training facilities, and free, covered parking. The location affords access to the proposed footbridge to Trinity Park and planned light-rail transportation, which will connect downtown to the Cultural District. Pier 1 Place rises 325 above the ground and is Fort Worth's 7th tallest building. Pier 1's employees moved into the building during August 2004 and the lighting ceremony was held on September 15, 2004. The official ribbon cutting and grand opening party did not occur until November 19, 2004. Pier 1 fell into hard times and in the summer of 2007, the lights were turned off to save costs. Pier 1 Imports sold the building to Chesapeake Energy Corp. in March 2008, and they announced that Chesapeake would occupy about half of the skyscraper. On Monday, June 9, 2008 the building was re-lit and christened Chesapeake Plaza.
Other design consultants include: development manager, MBC/Dunn Consultants; architect of record, Kendall/Heaton Associates, Inc.; interior architects, Gensler; and landscape architects Talley Associates, Inc. The contractors for the project are Thos. S. Byrne and Manhattan Construction.
Renderings provided by Pier 1 Imports.
*Night Photograph and Trinity Park Black & White Photographs, courtesy of Avantist Photography - 817-266-4957.
Other Pier 1 Place Photographs:
Pier 1 Place Daytime Rendering
Pier 1 Place Dusk Rendering
View down Belknap St.
View from RadioShack
View from Southeast
Night with Reflection in River
Night Photograph*
Trinity Park Black & White 1*
Trinity Park Black & White 2*
Trinity Park Black & White 3*
