WATERFRONTS & MARINAS

AMI specializes in the design, permitting, and construction of piers and marine structures for public use, including fishing piers, transient docking, and multi-use waterfronts. Our services include structural assessments, repair plans, master planning, permitting, and construction documentation. We ensure these community amenities are both functional and resilient, balancing performance with user safety and environmental sensitivity.

Effective boat launches serve a diverse public—from trailered motorboats and sailboats to kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes. AMI designs durable, low-maintenance launch facilities tailored to site-specific conditions, watercraft needs, and user preferences. We also consider dock types, slope, entry access (including zero-entry), trailer parking, and stormwater management. Our team emphasizes ADA accessibility to ensure universal use and compliance with federal and local standards. We also assist with product selection and finishes that reduce slip hazards, enhance visibility, and improve durability.

Creating a vibrant, accessible, and memorable waterfront experience begins at the shoreline. AMI designs public and private amenities that enhance the user experience, improve functionality, and reflect the local character of the community. Our design services for shoreside public amenities include:

• Restroom and comfort station planning and design

• Picnic areas and pavilions

• Outdoor seating and gathering spaces

• Interpretive and wayfinding signage

• Trail alignments and multi-modal pathways

• Water bottle filling stations, bike racks, and EV-ready infrastructure

• ADA-compliant access routes, viewing platforms, and transitions from trails to piers or docks

• Lighting and safety features for nighttime use

Whether we’re working within a state park, a downtown riverwalk, or a small-town community marina, our team helps create spaces that invite exploration and provide comfort, safety, and connection to the water.

We help clients create vibrant, high-performing marina destinations that attract visitors and support long-term commercial viability. Our team supports every phase—from master planning and stakeholder engagement to detailed design and construction. AMI designs and rehabilitates facilities including marinas, wharves, docks, piers, mooring and berthing structures, and bridges, with a strong focus on functionality, longevity, and aesthetic value.

Recreational waterfront development often involves regulatory review of streams, wetlands, and open water bodies. AMI provides complete permitting services, including wetland delineation, Section 401/404 permitting, and mitigation strategies. Our team helps clients avoid delays and penalties by planning early and navigating changing regulatory environments with precision and care.

From revitalizing aging marinas to planning entirely new waterfront districts, AMI excels in urban environments. Our team leads complex redevelopment efforts with public input, integrating waterfront access, open space, and economic development into cohesive, community-supported plans. We work seamlessly on both Greenfield and Brownfield sites.

AMI brings coastal expertise to waterfront projects that require wave, current, or shoreline analysis. We provide modeling and engineering for structures exposed to wind, waves, and water level changes, particularly in the Great Lakes, river systems, and coastal environments. From protective structures to nature-based solutions, we design for long-term resilience.

We guide clients in selecting materials and finishes that reflect the regional identity, are durable in marine environments, and minimize maintenance needs. AMI incorporates sustainable design principles into every project, considering:

• Weather and water-resistant materials

• Low-impact lighting and electrical systems

• Native and low-maintenance landscaping

• Green infrastructure for stormwater management (e.g., bioswales, permeable pavement)

• Resilient design to accommodate flooding or seasonal water level changes.

AMI believes that public amenities should reinforce a community’s sense of place. We work with local stakeholders, artists, and planning teams to incorporate interpretive signage, cultural markers, and aesthetic elements that celebrate local heritage, ecology, and history

Our team provides seamless integration between land and water through the design of accessible, connected trail systems that transition naturally to piers, overlooks, boat launches, and recreational features. We provide:

• Trail alignment and grading

• ADA transition planning from trail to waterfront

• Surface and paving recommendations

• Structural design for bridges and boardwalks

• Erosion control and shoreline protection adjacent to trails