Florida Construction News staff writer
Construction is expected to start this month on a $30-million project that will add 150 paid public parking spots and space for rideshare drop-offs and pickups under the I-4 in downtown Orlando.
Work will be followed by construction of The Canopy project in early 2025, a 10-acre immersive urban landscape with green space, immersive art and pathways for walking and biking and space for large gatherings.
The Canopy will span four city blocks that run below the recently rebuilt interstate highway bridges, whose taller and wider structures left a 10-acre space. Construction is expected to take up to two years to complete.
The design was inspired by “Orlando’s beautiful canopy of trees to create a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable urban oasis that reflects the spirit of downtown, connects its diverse neighborhoods, and fosters a sense of belonging for all,” the city officials said in a statement.
AECOM’s design incorporated feedback from the community gathered through an online survey and public meetings in 2023. The project’s design focuses on connection, safety, community, greenery, mobility, and artistic immersion—six core principles identified from the community’s feedback.
