Market Square is set for a facelift. A vision that includes a 20-foot-tall semicircular trellis with a layered blue and green-colored glass canopy in the center of the square, new lighting, more trees, seating and fewer cars inside the square got the approval of the Pittsburgh Planning Commission Tuesday.
“We want to make sure that it continues to be this place that can gather folks for a daily coffee with your colleague or welcome the region down to celebrate the holidays or events like Juneteenth or Picklesburgh,” said Jeremy Waldrup, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the organization overseeing the development of this project. “This renovation makes sure that can happen.”
Market Square had 3.1 million visitors in 2024, according to Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. This is the latest version of a plan to breathe new life and attract more visitors to the historic public square in Downtown Pittsburgh. An earlier draft of the project banned traffic from inside the square, but was tossed out after pushback from merchants.
In this plan, traffic would be restricted to the north end of the square — the side with the Original Oyster House and would be shut off on the side near PPG Place. For special events, moveable and retractable bollards would shut off traffic entirely, giving the entire square over to pedestrians.
The makeover also includes removal of the parking lane and cobblestone streets surrounding the center of Market Square, neither of which are ADA-compliant. Instead, they’ll put in concrete and granite pavers for a smoother surface. The centerpiece trellis will contain a sound system for concerts and events or mood music during the day. Other new additions include a number of bronze markers commemorating local historical events such as the Whiskey Rebellion embedded in the pavement and an array of new lighting fixtures throughout the square and connecting streets.
This Market Square redesign is a part of the $600 million plan to transform Downtown Pittsburgh announced last fall. The project is estimated to cost around $14 to $16 million. And a mix of $30 million worth of funds from government, philanthropic and private sources have been set aside to pay for the renovation as well as a transformation of the medians along Liberty Avenue and assorted upgrades to Point State Park.
Construction will begin on April 1 on the northern end of the square. All businesses in Market Square and the surrounding streets will remain open during construction. The plan is to have light twinkling through the trellis by the time Pittsburgh hosts the NFL Draft in April 2026.
