After being closed for over a year, Market Square is open for business after its second transformation in a little over 15 years was completed last Wednesday.
This time, the public square is meant to cater even more to pedestrians than before. Areas which were once cobblestone roads have been replaced with gray pavers level with the sidewalk, with the only place accessible to cars being near the Original Oyster House.
If needed, the square can be closed off completely to cars.
Metal retractable bollards along entry points for cars can go up to make Market Square only accessible for foot traffic, fitting in with the pedestrian-first focus of the renovations. Originally, renovation plans were going to bar vehicle traffic completely, but this met the ire of business owners worrying about future deliveries becoming too complicated.
Beyond just infrastructure improvements and the addition of more outdoor dining space for restaurants in the square, one of the biggest pieces of the new Market Square is the steel and glass pavilion acting as a centerpiece and cover from the rain. It includes a sound system with speakers scattered around the structure, playing live music or background music.
Additionally, 33 new trees were planted in the square, along with several new security cameras going up around the area to make monitoring it easier.
Jeremy Waldrup, CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP), lauded the new Market Square as just one big piece of the pie with revitalizing Downtown.
“Market Square represents a major milestone in Downtown’s progress,” Waldrup said. “Stretching from Arts Landing in the Cultural District, to upgrades in Point State Park, to new housing that’s going on throughout Downtown and most importantly, small businesses popping up around the city.”
Waldrup mentioned how over 100 projects spearheaded by the PDP were complete or “better be in the next several hours.” Despite the 2026 NFL Draft being the cause for putting businesses and art installations in empty storefronts Downtown, along with various other improvements, he said the focus on continued investment is long term and will go well beyond just the draft.
Much of that vision Waldrup is referring to is the ongoing, $600 million investment to Downtown from Gov. Josh Shapiro. While projects such as the renovation of the May Building Apartments and Arts Landing are part of this initiative and are nearing completion, others have yet to see much progress, such as the conversion of the Gulf Tower to apartments and a hotel.
Some of the new pieces in Market Square were chairs donated by Riverlife painted by City Charter High School students, Pittsburgh Police officers serving zone two and Rivers of Steel.
Among the people watching the unveiling of the new Market Square was former mayor Ed Gainey. Waldrup thanked him for kicking off the project, to which the audience responded with a hearty applause as Gainey stood up.
Shapiro was also present in Market Square.
Over 100 people attended the grand opening, with various people standing up and walking around the new plaza during the event.
“We are just getting started,” Waldrup said. “Market Square is back.”
