Puerto Limón Planning

Puerto Limón PlanningPuerto Limon, Costa Rica

BBA was honored to participate in the architectural design of Puerto Limon’s cruise terminal and surrounding retail space. The area has multiple retail rooms for restaurants, stores, and hotels and a boardwalk to enjoy the tropical scenery. Puerto Limon’s design was thoroughly inspired by Costa Rica’s local culture and colors, making specific architectural choices for the other retail spaces and market areas facades to honor Costa Rica’s culture.

Project Details

Year: 2023
Location: Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
Status: Complete
Team: Gustavo Berenblum, Claudia Busch

Marina Planning

Marina PlanningMiami, USA

The existing marina was underutilized and included a dockmaster building, car parking, a waterfront area, a boat ramp, a seabird sanctuary area, marina piers, and moorings. The new facilities create many opportunities to enjoy the waterfront, adding programs compatible with park and marina usage. The project proposal includes improved conditions with native planting to enhance the local ecology, several new palms, and a lawn area for events to relax under canvas roofs. The existing sidewalk has been widened, new light fixtures have been added, and a new restaurant deck and trellis have been featured. The restaurant deck is terraced and covered with retractable shading devices to protect from the weather when necessary. A welcoming pathway leads visitors to the waterfront and marina area. New lighting and landscape create an inviting park that can be used safely day or night.

Project Details

Year: 2020
Location: Miami, USA
Status: Ongoing
Team: Gustavo Berenblum, Claudia Busch, Renate Paris, Elise Francis, Rafael Rama

Barcelona Cruise Terminal

Barcelona Cruise TerminalSpain

The project involved renovating and expanding an old terminal housed inside a warehouse and converting it into a state-of-the-art facility. It was designed to accommodate RCCL’s Voyager class ships and smaller vessels from other cruise lines. Completed in 2005, Cruise Terminal B was instrumental in cementing Port of Barcelona’s leadership role in the Mediterranean regarding annual passenger volume. The planning considered working around existing conditions at the pier, maximizing construction during the low season while allowing operations to continue during the high season. The existing one-story building, a metal warehouse of approximately 20,000 sf., needed air conditioning and minimum support facilities to accommodate the modern requirements of vessels, operators, and passengers. The program for the new cruise terminal took into account berthing for one home-port vessel and one port-of-call vessel simultaneously in embark and debark modes. It also includes parking for taxis, buses, and employees, a small café, 40 moveable check-in stations, a large waiting area, and a new passenger bridge designed taking into account the high and low tides and positions of doors in the vessels anticipated to use the facility. In addition, the terminal included INS and Customs areas and crew members’ changing rooms.

*Gustavo Berenblum did the project as Principal of another firm.

Project Details

Year: 2005
Location: Spain
Status: Complete
Client: Creuers del Port de Barcelona
Team: Gustavo Berenblum

Kai-Tak Planning Cruise Terminal

Kai-Tak Planning Cruise TerminalHong Kong

The Government of Hong Kong advertised a tender for Design-Build Services with a new mega cruise terminal as part of the master planning effort to convert the old Kai-Tak Airport into a public park, residential, and hotel district. Leighton Asia led the design-build multi-national team of architects, interior designers, and consultants throughout several competition stages. We were in charge of the team’s planning and cruise terminal design. The new cruise terminal had to accommodate several vessels berthing simultaneously in home-port or port-of-call scenarios. Since the cruise lines had yet to commit to using the facility, the building had to be planned with maximum flexibility for embarking and debarking of all vessel sizes.
In reality, the project entailed designing two cruise terminals joined in the middle by shared facilities such as Police, Medical, Customs, and INS.

*Gustavo Berenblum did the project as Principal of another firm.

Project Details

Year: 2009
Location: Hong Kong
Status: Complete
Client: Leighton Asia
Team: Gustavo Berenblum

BBAMiami - Kai-Tak Planning Cruise Terminal

Terminal B Port Miami

Terminal B Port MiamiMiami, USA

The single-berth terminal, designed for mega cruise ships like the Norwegian Bliss, can efficiently embark and disembark 5,000 passengers. It incorporates the latest advancements in the industry in an energy-efficient, streamlined, and seamless design. This includes all embarkation, disembarkation, security, cruise line, crew, transportation, and terminal operation spaces in a consistent program for one primary berth for home port use. The multi-story terminal takes advantage of the inherent difference between embarkation and disembarkation processes to segregate them by floor level. Each process and traffic are organized to optimize flow, minimize wait time, and eliminate bottleneck situations. Cruise Terminal B shall evoke a positive response from the passengers and other users alike.

Project Details

Year: 2017
Location: Miami, USA
Status: Complete
Client: Port Miami

Double Berth Cruise Terminal

Double Berth Cruise TerminalMiami, USA

This project was designed as a new single-berth Cruise Terminal for Mega-Ships. It will serve as both a home port and a year-round port of call and offer enhanced service for passengers and cruise lines. The terminal features an elevated passenger bridge, moveable gangways, and an intermodal area for tour buses, taxis, and private vehicles. It considered various berthing scenarios and reused existing warehouses, incorporating provisioning and crew service areas on the pier.

Project Details

Year: 2019
Location: Miami, USA
Status: Complete

Tenerife Cruise Terminal

Tenerife Cruise TerminalSanta Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

Tenerife Cruise Port is a cutting-edge single-berth terminal serving Mega-Ships as a homeport and port-of-call in the Canary Islands. This 85,000-sf award-winning architectural project elevates passenger experience with unmatched services previously unavailable in the region. The terminal’s innovative design features an elevated passenger bridge and flexible moveable gangways, seamlessly connecting travelers to vessels. Adjacent to the main building, an intermodal area accommodates tour buses, taxis, and private vehicles, allowing up to 26 buses to park simultaneously. The project thoughtfully incorporates the adaptive reuse of existing warehouses. It includes 50 check-in counters, efficient baggage lay-down facilities, state-of-the-art screening, and dedicated areas for provisioning and crew services on the pier side. The building is highly sustainable with the additions of lightweight CLT technology and achieving the highest European energy-saving ratings.

Project Details

Year: 2016
Location: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Status: Complete
Client: Autoridad Portuaria de Tenerife
Team: Claudia Busch, Gustavo Berenblum, Renate Paris, Mario Menendez
Awards: AIA Miami Award of Excellence 2017, Finalist International WAN Awards 2017, Best New Terminal 2017 by Cruise Insights
Image Credits: BBAmiami

A project characterized by its intelligent adaptive reuse that elevates the passenger experience.

Each singular building is cladded in iridescent metal panels, providing a gradual change of color. Inside, the CLT wood panels remain exposed, giving warmth and recalling the old-age wood shipbuilding technology.

Amador Cruise Port

Amador Cruise PortPanama

Amador Cruise Port is an innovative waterfront and cruise planning project incorporating two twin-berth cruise terminals within a public park adjacent to an ecological reserve. Situated by the picturesque Causeway of Amador in Panama, the project embraces sustainability and resiliency, incorporating ecological strategies to reduce the carbon footprint substantially. Energy and water conservation and maximizing natural light and ventilation contribute to creating a state-of-the-art terminal complex that is unparalleled in the region. Each terminal is organized on two floors, with approximately 130,000 of each. One of the project’s remarkable design features is its outdoor elevated atrium entrance, creating a platform that serves as a warm, welcoming area to all guests with direct views towards the city across the bay. The project also focuses on designing complementary public facilities that could bring life to the site while the terminal is inactive. Some of these include the public stairs to the east that act as a lookout point to the sea, the restaurant deck, the art pavilion park on the west, and the biking trail that connects all of the previous amenities throughout the project.

Project Details

Year: 2017
Location: Panama
Status: Unbuilt
Client: Constructora MECO
Size: 150,000 SF
Team: Gustavo Berenblum, Claudia Busch, Renate Paris, Rafael Rama, Carlos Wong, Alexis Daniel
Image Credits: BBAmiami

Why can't a cruise center be the greenest possible environment?

Ecological strategies were adopted to decrease the energy footprint and substantially increase its resiliency and use of natural resources

What if we integrate the cruise center within an ecological preserve?

Terminal F Port Miami

Terminal F Port MiamiMiami, USA

Berenblum Busch Architects provided architecture and engineering services as the prime design consultant to MCM, the design-builder. This fast-paced project was completed in December 2017. It entailed interior renovating the existing Terminal F and adding a new multi-story embarkation building. The facility can accommodate the latest 5,000 passenger ships as home port and port of call. The terminal was designed primarily for MSC Cruises’ newest vessel, the MSC Seaside. Through BBA’s design, the existing terminal now has a significantly expanded waiting area for seating up to 1,200 guests and an improved VIP area that accommodates MSC black card members with priority embarkation.

Project Details

Year: 2017
Location: Miami, USA
Status: Complete
Client: MCM
Team: Gustavo Berenblum, Claudia Busch

Sasebo Cruise Terminal

Sasebo Cruise TerminalNagasaki Prefecture, Japan

Sasebo Cruise Port, a terminal that serves as a gateway to Japan’s treasures, is thoughtfully designed to celebrate Sasebo’s rich culture, building traditions, and scenic landscapes. Spanning 50,000 sf, the terminal harmoniously blends with the surrounding mountains and quaint fishing villages. As a warm welcome center to Sasebo, this visionary port-of-call terminal ensures an enjoyable experience for passengers, visitors, and staff. Its clean and spacious interior layout optimizes passenger flow, featuring CIQ areas, offices, waiting zones, support facilities, and retail spaces. Efficient embarkation and disembarkation flows and convenient vehicular access enhance passenger comfort. The adjacent outdoor plaza hosts vibrant public events, creating a memorable arrival experience.

Project Details

Year: 2020
Location: Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
Status: Complete
Client: Carnival Cruise Lines
Size: 50,000 SF
Team: Claudia Busch, Gustavo Berenblum, Renate Paris, Rafael Rama, Soufaine Benbrahim
Image Credits: BBA

Sasebo Cruise Terminal is a new Gateway to Japan, welcoming thousands of guests each year that are eager to discover the treasures that await them.

Carnival Cruise Terminal

Carnival Cruise TerminalPort Miami, Florida

Cruise Terminal F is a visionary project, a state-of-the-art terminal with unrivaled passenger experience guiding travelers seamlessly from curbside to ship. Terminal F embodies the essence of a 21st-century home-port facility, poised to welcome Carnival’s magnificent and largest vessel, the Mardi Grass, and exemplifying Port Miami’s dedication to the future and guest satisfaction. Inspired by maritime architecture and Miami’s vibrant spirit, this Silver LEED-certified building spans 155,000 sq. ft. across three levels blending existing and new buildings into an integrated contemporary facility. It features covered drop-off/pick-up areas for 66 vehicles and 20 coaches, with over 80,000 sq. ft. serving passenger vehicles and buses. The waiting area accommodates 1,200 passengers, and the VIP lounge seats 500 guests. The latest advancement in embarkation and debarkation technologies have been incorporated to facilitate processing large quantities of passengers in a short amount of time while ensuring a memorable guest experience.

Project Details

Year: 2022
Location: Port Miami, Florida
Status: Complete
Client: Port Miami
Size: +155,000 SF
Team: Gustavo Berenblum, Claudia Busch. Renate Paris, Elise Francis, Andres Barros
Awards: SARA NYC Design Award of Excellence 2023, AIA Miami 2023 Honor Award of Excellence
Image Credits: Michael Stavaridis

This project is about creating an enhanced home-port traveler experience for the world's largest Cruise Line and its flagship vessel.

The challenge was to achieve an integrated passenger experience that operates seamlessly in a terminal that blends existing and new buildings

Collins Park Place

Collins Park PlaceMiami Beach, USA

Located in the Bass Museum neighborhood and behind the Library and Ballet buildings, the project unifies two sites separated by a street. In a joint venture with Zaha Hadid Architects, the $22.5 million building includes 17,000 square feet of retail areas, 480 parking structures, a public plaza for events, weekend food markets, or exterior movie projections. The existing street is closed to cars, and the new pedestrian corridor will link the Complex with the Bass Museum Park. The project is targeted for LEED SILVER certification.

Recognizing the impact of high volumes of visitors to the Miami Beach area and the ensuing difficulties for Miami Beach residents, the city commissioned several studies to improve infrastructure and resident mobility. One of the conclusions was to provide additional parking both strategically and creatively. A site for a parking garage was selected adjacent to Collins Park.

The Collins Park area includes a park and several cultural buildings, as well as significant pedestrian and urban links in Miami Beach. A parking structure here must deliver more than a purely functional parking garage; the architecture must participate in and enhance the surrounding context.

Project Details

Year: 2015
Location: Miami Beach, USA
Status: Complete
Client: Miami Dade County

Cruise Terminal and Destination

Puerto Limón PlanningPuerto Limon, Costa Rica

Project Details

Marina PlanningMiami, USA

Project Details

Barcelona Cruise TerminalSpain

Project Details

Kai-Tak Planning Cruise TerminalHong Kong

Project Details

Terminal B Port MiamiMiami, USA

Project Details

Double Berth Cruise TerminalMiami, USA

Project Details

Tenerife Cruise TerminalSanta Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

Project Details

A project characterized by its intelligent adaptive reuse that elevates the passenger experience.

Each singular building is cladded in iridescent metal panels, providing a gradual change of color. Inside, the CLT wood panels remain exposed, giving warmth and recalling the old-age wood shipbuilding technology.

Amador Cruise PortPanama

Project Details

Why can't a cruise center be the greenest possible environment?

What if we integrate the cruise center within an ecological preserve?

Terminal F Port MiamiMiami, USA

Project Details

Sasebo Cruise TerminalNagasaki Prefecture, Japan

Project Details

Sasebo Cruise Terminal is a new Gateway to Japan, welcoming thousands of guests each year that are eager to discover the treasures that await them.

Carnival Cruise TerminalPort Miami, Florida

Project Details

This project is about creating an enhanced home-port traveler experience for the world's largest Cruise Line and its flagship vessel.

The challenge was to achieve an integrated passenger experience that operates seamlessly in a terminal that blends existing and new buildings

Collins Park PlaceMiami Beach, USA

Project Details