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‘Classic Modern’ the winning design for new West End Ferry Terminal- RDA

The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), today, Wednesday, December 28, 2022, announced the winning design for the new West End Ferry Terminal. Photo: RDA
The three designs presented to the community for a vote by poll were West Indies Design, Futuristic and Organic and Classic Modern. Photo: RDA
The three designs presented to the community for a vote by poll were West Indies Design, Futuristic and Organic and Classic Modern. Photo: RDA
WICKHAM’S CAY I, Tortola, VI- The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), today, Wednesday, December 28, 2022, announced the winning design for the new West End Ferry Terminal.

According to the RDA, the Classic Modern Design has been voted the winner by the Virgin Islands (VI) community.

The three designs presented for a vote by a poll, according to the RDA, were West Indies Design, Futuristic & Organic and Classic Modern.

Classic Modern or Futuristic & Organic?

The RDA noted that there was a tie in votes for Classic Modern and Futuristic and Organic, and other factors had to be taken into account to arrive at a winner.

“In keeping with our principles and values of ‘Open Communication’ the Virgin Islands community was engaged in a poll on the design for the new West End Ferry Terminal which focused on the aesthetics of the building. 

“Taking into consideration the efficacy of the three designs, the resiliency of the building and the availability of materials, the Classic Modern design emerged the winner following a tie with the Organic, Futuristic design. As a result of the poll and the Ministry of Communications and Works decision and subject to relevant budgetary allocations, the design consultants, Inros Lackner, SE will proceed with the further development of the selected design,” the RDA stated on its website.

The ferry terminal at West End was the busiest seaport in the Virgin Islands prior to the 2017 hurricanes: 40% of all arrivals into the Territory cleared in through West End.

The destruction of the terminal has therefore affected travel between Tortola, Jost van Dyke and the USVI. It has impacted both residents and visitors, whether arriving by ferry, water taxi, private yacht or charter yacht.

31 Responses to “‘Classic Modern’ the winning design for new West End Ferry Terminal- RDA”

  • Brilliant! (28/12/2022, 15:37) Like (12) Dislike (8) Reply
    I for one am happy to see that the "West Indies" design was not chosen. Let's get away from these colonial looking buildings please. Onto construction and hopefully (wishfully and optimistically) proper maintenance following launch. One can dream...
    • Rubber Duck (28/12/2022, 16:28) Like (16) Dislike (16) Reply
      Dreadful. it looks like something from Soviet era Romania. A carbuncle on the face of an old friend.
    • the rock (29/12/2022, 04:32) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      Looks really good now whats the cost??????
      • ocean (29/12/2022, 18:38) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
        The cost of the landfill and bulkhead may be more than the entire budget as the building is too large. Why is there a second floor over the whole building and how will the ferry passengers use it?
  • okay (28/12/2022, 15:39) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Enough stalling tactics. Let's move forward.
  • facts (28/12/2022, 15:42) Like (13) Dislike (5) Reply
    Like Fahie or not he brought thus project to the forefront with the RDA and we thank them. Let us get it done.
  • Looks good and strong... (28/12/2022, 15:53) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lets get moving. Long over due..
  • pete (28/12/2022, 15:54) Like (23) Dislike (4) Reply
    I have been holding my breath and the powers didn't disappoint. Or actually... they did. This chosen design could be in Miami, San Juan, Dubai or anywhere, not west end. It is called context- when a good design takes into account its surroundings and tries to fit in - being functional while not detracting from cultural references. There are so many good cultural details and "vocabulary" to help influence this design as BEING BVI. I highly doubt that the computer mock ups are accurate at how much space, cutting back into the mountain, parking, how many moorings and function of Sopers Hole were even taken into account. The new dock is a white elephant warehouse. there is nothing imaginative about it. Any good architect would consider proportion, massing, materials, rhythm in roof lines, even color in what makes a good design. Again sad- as the BVI wants to play with the "grown ups", it doesn't realize what they keep losing in these gentrified, generic, horrific buildings which ruin the landscape. So sad!! you lost an opportunity to be real and authentic.
    • @ pete (28/12/2022, 16:23) Like (9) Dislike (8) Reply
      What is "real and authentic"? Do you realize that for example, the West Indies design is merely a relic of our colonial past? It represents our colonizers view of how the Caribbean should look like; the design is one akin to a plantation great house. Is that really and authentically Caribbean or what we have been told is our look? Wake up from the brainwash!

      The futuristic design, is grotesque and will be expensive to build. The one chosen therefore is the best look that is clean, devoid of colonial appearance, and fit for purpose.
    • @ pete (30/12/2022, 12:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      If I could like Pete's comment a Million times!!
  • WEW (28/12/2022, 16:03) Like (15) Dislike (7) Reply
    Prefer the West Indies design
  • pete (28/12/2022, 16:05) Like (25) Dislike (7) Reply
    it looks like an airport terminal, not a welcome to the BVI territory and its culture.
  • cap (28/12/2022, 16:09) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    Yes this is all great in theory. BUT the government can’t even staff the terminal we have right now, what’s the point in building a new, bigger facility unless you can staff it? West End can only clear one boat at a time and it often takes HOURS to get in or out. Spend the money on staff to run the current facility.
  • WAG (28/12/2022, 16:11) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    By the time it’s built it’ll be described as Retro Neo classical
  • justin (28/12/2022, 16:49) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    let us see when the precess will start and looking forward the completion of this important project
  • when fowlcock geh teeth (28/12/2022, 16:57) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    After the government change next year, a new different idea/plan will emerge
  • Anniversary (28/12/2022, 17:08) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    I hate it as it’s ugly and not modernized
  • oh no! (28/12/2022, 21:24) Like (6) Dislike (7) Reply
    West indies design feels warmer, more suitable for tourists who left those buildings behind in the city to enjoy the Caribbean way. It is something I would love to come home to as well...just relaxing. The one that was chosen looks like a car showroom with no imagination. Just a hunk of blop drop bippidy slop. Who it really for anyway, strupes.
    .
  • Hoomemie (28/12/2022, 21:31) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Please please please .hear me for a moment. Take the design from. Road town ferry terminal to be built west end and that new design is better off in road town. If that new design built in west end that building would be full of mold to close to the water .and build to enclosed..need something more ventilated for west end with Sola panel running the entire building. Next upgrade Anegada airport have all the private jet lan over there and leaved beef island for the commercial plane and extend beef to accommodate larger planes. Stop that project west end please. Trust me on this one.
  • lodger (29/12/2022, 03:28) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    When and where were these designs put to the public? How many responded? What happened to the Germans?
  • Common sense aint common (29/12/2022, 04:42) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    If it was up to me i would jump on a ferry go to Red Hook, check out they terminal cost etc come bsck home and modify ours to suit our needs, remember they got a brand new parkiing lot, i can bet we can get all this for half the price of that terminal!
  • questions (29/12/2022, 07:55) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    1. How many voted? How were voters selected?
    2. Was construction budget factored into the decision?
  • Drew (29/12/2022, 09:11) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    It looks like a regional airport or bus station in a forgotten place like Akron, Ohio.
  • resident (29/12/2022, 09:20) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    It's completely out of keeping with the context of West End. They should have used the more traditional plans, and called it the King Charles III Ferry Terminal to celebrate the accession of our new Sovereign.
    • Qup (29/12/2022, 11:04) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      King Charles lll?????? If he is funding the entire project s..+ can plaster his name in the water even.
  • lol (29/12/2022, 10:41) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Can't please people at all. Start the construction ASAP!
  • HMMM (29/12/2022, 19:03) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    It look like a hospital from the 1990's, sterile and cold.
  • Officials (29/12/2022, 23:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I don’t care what it looks like. Just make the officials that run the place welcoming and happy to see you and quick with their job of letting boats come n and out. Right now, they all grumpy, make yo Wait hours for stupidness reasons.
  • YUCK!! (30/12/2022, 12:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It looks like a dated building used by people in espionage or maybe a very dated American Embassy, that is now slated for demolition.

    There is nothing classically modern about this design.

    Please stop this madness!!


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