Pittsburghers young and old are familiar with Market Square Downtown. Whether once a regular shopper at G.C. Murphy’s five and dime store, a businessman who enjoys lunch at the Oyster House, a college student who studies outdoors using free Wi-Fi, or a child who has eagerly awaited the arrival of Santa on Light Up Night, almost everyone has heard of this historic square or visited it at least once, if not several times.
* Thank you to Mayor Ravenstahl and Allegheny County District Attorney, Stephen Zappala, for their continued vision and clean-up efforts of Market Square.
Project Timeline
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| Illustrative Daytime Sketch of Market Square | Illustrative Night Sketch of Market Square |
The single-level piazza design removes through-traffic and dramatically slows traffic around the perimeter of the Square, providing for more flexibility and usable space. The amount of seating will be increased with the addition of moveable tables and chairs. Twenty-seven parking spaces will be retained, along with loading zones and ingress and egress routes to support businesses. Outdoor dining is a key component of the design.
Click here to view other projects in and around Market Square.
2008: The three design concepts that were used to get more detailed public input, resulting in the final design.
Click here to download a PDF of all three Market Square design concepts unveiled to the public last spring.
2006-2007: The lengthy public process and report prepared by the international organization, Project for Public Spaces.
Prior to 2006: A great deal of research, thought and public process went into the Market Square area as part of the Fifth & Market District Strategic Action Plan.
Art Institute Student's Visions for Market Square
In December 2008, PDP staff members Sean Luther and Katie Zawrotniak were invited to see the final presentation of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh’s industrial design student’s project titled: “A Comparative Study of Market Square.” As part of their Environmental Design Class, taught by architect James O’Toole of the Downtown firm Burt Hill, students were required to create physical study models of their vision for the historic Market square. All entries had to consider sustainable green practices, way-finding needs, lighting and other dynamic issues with constructing a new urban plaza (or structure to replace it).
Final projects ranged from an indoor ski slope spanning
Click here to view a PDF of all the student's submissions. Thanks to all the Art Institute student’s who participated and shared their hard work and vision.
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