A new lookout pier over the Detroit River is currently in the works - and St. Clair College students are getting involved in the process to bring the vision to life.
The project - commonly referred to as the "Queen's Dock Pier" - is located next to the HMCS Hunter in Sandwich Town on Windsor's west end. It features a cantilevered pier that will cast 40 feet over the water, as well as an accompanying parkette in the surrounding lands.
Stakeholders from the Port Authority, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, St. Clair College and local First Nations community at the announcement for the 'Queen's Dock Pier' on June 27, 2025. (Source: Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority)
It will cost an estimated $2.5 million, with the Windsor Port Authority providing about $950,000, a contribution from the Gordie Howe International Bridge Community Benefits program and services and materials donated by local businesses.
Port Authority CEO Steve Salmons said it's important to give residents a place to connect to the river.
"One of the realities that we are acutely aware of is as we continue to develop and build on port lands, we continuously cut off access to the waterfront for people," Salmons said. "We thought it was really important to not only have park front, but over top of the water."
The port authority consulted with the Caldwell First Nation on the project, and according to Salmons, the design is influenced by the Indigenous directional path of learning, where people enter from the left and exit to the right.
"Aesthetically, the suspension pier is sure to become an inspiring platform," said Caldwell First Nations Chief Nikki van Oischot. "Its clean lines, mesh railings, open sightlines, and accessible features will be both pleasing to the eye - and safe."
Students and faculty from St. Clair College's Landscape Horticulture program designed the space around the pier, where benches and signage will commemorate the cultural and historical significance of the area.
An artist's rendering of the new 'Queen's Dock Pier' in West Windsor. (St. Clair College)
Students and faculty from the Civil Engineering Technology program were also deeply involved in the design and implementation of the project.
"Our focus is to allow our students to learn skills which can be applied while seeing a project through all phases to better prepare them for the industry ahead," said Dr. William Tape, a professor in the program at St. Clair. "While doing so, we are working to instill in them pride in their work, community involvement and understanding the importance of consultation in all our works."
John Byng, the Chair of the School of Engineering Technologies, said not only will the project be a permanent landmark in the city, but also provides for irreplaceable experiential learning for students.
"The Queen's Dock project is another great example of 'Real World Experiences - taught by Industry Experts,'" said Byng. "This was a great opportunity for students, under the guidance of Prof. Tape, to participate in multiple phases of a project from design to consultation to implementation - bridging lessons from the classroom to the computer, and later to the field and into the community."
"This project also highlighted the importance of consulting with Indigenous Peoples, including First Nations, and being sensitive to their needs and concerns," Byng added.
The pier is set to be completed by September.
An artist's rendering of the new 'Queen's Dock Pier' in West Windsor. (St. Clair College)
An artist's rendering of the new 'Queen's Dock Pier' in West Windsor. (St. Clair College)
An artist's rendering of the new 'Queen's Dock Pier' in West Windsor. (St. Clair College)
