Redesigned public space opens as a people-first destination with less vehicle traffic, expanded outdoor dining, improved accessibility, new central pavilion, upgraded infrastructure, and ability for year-round activity
PITTSBURGH (April 22, 2026) – The City of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, and community partners today marked the completion of the Market Square Modernization Project, a $15 million investment that reimagines one of Downtown’s most iconic public spaces.
“Market Square is back and ready to welcome millions of visitors each year as the most active public space in Downtown Pittsburgh,” said Jeremy Waldrup, President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. “From wider walkways to the new pavilion, every detail was designed to make this a more welcoming, flexible space for daily life and major events alike. We’re thankful to Mayor Corey O’Connor, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, and Governor Josh Shapiro, along with the many partners who helped make it happen.”
Delivered on schedule ahead of the NFL Draft and the spring and summer event season, the project positions Market Square to better serve the city in the months and years ahead.
“Market Square brings residents and visitors alike to the heart of Downtown to celebrate our city and support our small businesses,” said Mayor Corey O’Connor. “This project isn’t just for the Draft, it’s about carrying Market Square’s legacy forward and modernizing it for the next generation of Pittsburghers. We are grateful to Jeremy Waldrup and the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Governor Shapiro and all of our other partners for supporting this project and continuing the momentum of investing in projects for the Downtown community.”
As the heart of Downtown, Market Square welcomes more than three million visitors each year, supports 49 businesses, and hosts more than 250 events annually. The redesigned Square is now a more accessible, people-first destination for residents, workers, and visitors alike.
“I am proud to announce that Market Square has fully reopened in time for the NFL Draft – fulfilling a promise we made to Pennsylvanians nearly two years ago and completing another significant step in our plan to revitalize Downtown Pittsburgh,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “We are delivering real results on our ten-year plan to help Pittsburgh reach its full potential, including building more affordable housing, investing in violence prevention and public safety, and breathing new life into public spaces like Point State Park and Arts Landing. These targeted investments will create real economic opportunity for the Commonwealth and ensure Pittsburgh remains a vibrant, welcoming destination for residents, businesses, and visitors for years to come.”
Market Square is one of three green space projects outlined in the 2024 “Vision Plan” led by the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. Arts Landing and the renovated Point State Park are already open.
“Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and all the project partners that completed this remarkable Market Square transformation under such a tight timeline. Downtown is the heart of our region, and an improved Market Square that is ready for year-round activation is an important upgrade for the community as we move forward with Downtown’s next chapter,” said County Executive Sara Innamorato.
Market Square is a cornerstone of Downtown’s broader revitalization strategy, led by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority. The project also aligns with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s 10-year, $600 million plan to transform Downtown Pittsburgh.
“Two years ago, the Allegheny Conference brought together a coalition of stakeholders to create a vision for and invest in Downtown revitalization efforts. From millions raised for clean and safe efforts, long-term reinvestment strategies, to focusing on a vibrant, thriving Downtown for all, we’ve made significant progress. The first public realm projects that were just ideas on paper in the Downtown Vision Plan are now coming to fruition, with the newly modernized Market Square being the latest project to mark completion. Together, we’re well on our way to creating the Downtown Pittsburgh that we all know is possible – one that is vital to the vibrancy of our entire region and delivers on our goal of a next generation economy for all,” said Stefani Pashman, CEO of Allegheny Conference on Community Development.
Key Design Features
Market Square was designed by renowned landscape architecture firm Field Operations, with project management by VVA, and construction led by Mascaro Construction. In total, 216 skilled tradespeople representing nine trade unions brought the Square to life. The project includes upgraded infrastructure, improved pedestrian pathways, enhanced lighting, expanded seating, and a new central pavilion. At the heart of the redesign is an open-air steel-and-glass pavilion, inspired by the Square’s historic market buildings. It provides shade and shelter while serving as a flexible focal point for year-round programming, from daily use to large-scale events. The structure’s glass canopy in shades of blue and green reflects Pittsburgh’s industrial heritage and riverfront identity.
“Honoring the past while looking ahead to Pittsburgh’s future, the design reconnects Market Square to its civic and commercial legacy, renewing it as a vibrant Downtown destination that invites connection, activity, and memorable experiences that bring people back again and again,” said Kim Cooper, Director, Field Operations.
Across the Square, new greening elements, expanded outdoor dining, and integrated seating create a more comfortable and inviting environment. Smooth precast pavers improve accessibility, while upgraded lighting enhances safety and supports evening activity.
“Market Square is Downtown Pittsburgh’s living room, the place where the city comes together. This project is about reinvestment in public life at a moment when cities everywhere are rethinking what their downtowns can be. It makes a people-first statement: a new pavilion that draws you in, infrastructure that supports activity in every season, and lively, accessible edges that bring the surrounding businesses outdoors,” said Lisa Switkin, Partner, Field Operations. The project also introduces a shared, curbless streetscape that slows vehicle traffic and prioritizes pedestrians, creating a more cohesive public realm and reinforcing Market Square as a people-first destination.
What Changed in Market Square
The completed modernization includes both highly-visible upgrades and behind-the-scenes improvements that will support the Square for decades to come.
Major Improvements
- New central anchor pavilion for events, markets, performances, and public gatherings
- Expanded outdoor dining areas around the Square
- New pedestrian-priority shared streetscape and south road closure with curbless design
- Improved lighting to enhance safety, comfort, and evening activity
- More flexible public space to support year-round programming
- New and upgraded public furnishings and seating
- 15 percent expanded tree canopy and additional understory plantings
- Improved event infrastructure, including upgraded utility capacity
- Market Street redesign with expanded outdoor dining, new Redbud trees and lighting
Big and Small Upgrades Across the Square
- Smooth new precast pavers replacing uneven surfaces to improve accessibility
- Expanded tree pits to support healthier long-term tree growth
- Additional irrigation upgrades to support landscaping and seasonal plantings
- Modernized electrical systems to better support events and public programming
- Upgraded water infrastructure and related underground utility work
- Improved stormwater management
- More usable and programmable space throughout the Square
- Improved pedestrian connection from the Square to the 6th Street Corridor and the Cultural District
Together, these upgrades create a more comfortable, functional, and cohesive public space while preserving the character of Market Square.
A Defining Investment in Downtown Pittsburgh
Funding for the modernization of Market Square was provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a coalition of corporate and philanthropic partners, including BNY, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Dollar Bank, Federated Hermes, Highmark, K&L Gates, Pitt Ohio, PNC, PPG, Reed Smith, Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and Jewish Healthcare Foundation.
Additional support was provided by Benter Foundation, Colcom Foundation, Eden Hall Foundation, Comcast, First National Bank, Flyspace Productions, Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale Co, and Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, with financing provided by the Strategic Investment Fund. Governor Josh Shapiro, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, and City of Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor provided critical support.
For more information on the Market Square Modernization, visit DowntownPittsburgh.com/MarketSquareUpdates.