Pike Place Market

RENOVATION PROJECT SUMMARY

Ensuring the Market's Future into the 21st Century

After years of planning, public meetings, assessing the needs of the Market's aging buildings, and receiving a decisive voice of support by Seattle voters in 2008, the Pike Place Market Renovation project began in April 2009.

The project will be done in phases over the next three to four years. Phase I, which focused on the Western Ave. Hillclimb area and the Leland and Fairley buildings, began in late April, 2009. Phase I work will be completed in mid-June 2010.

The focus of renovation work is centered on replacing the aging core infrastructure at Pike Place Market including all mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems which have reached the end of their useful lives. We are upgrading the seismic stability in some of the Market's historic buildings. Enhanced accessibility to the Market and in the Market will be provided with the addition of three new elevators. Lastly, we'll upgrade and add to the existing bathroom facilities. The last time any major comprehensive renovation work was done in the Market was in the late 1970s and early 1980s through Federal Urban Renewal funds.

The Market will not change in appearance because of the current renovation work. The work being done over the course of the next few years is to ensure that basic operating systems are sufficient to sustain Seattle's public market through its second century. It's all work that is necessary to keep the Market functioning - but not work that you'll necessarily be able to "see" when the project is complete.

Project Background:

In September of 2006, the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority (PDA) engaged a team of architects and engineers to perform a comprehensive study of the buildings it owns and manages. The need for such a study had been growing in urgency for many years. The PDA had commissioned a series of smaller studies focused on understanding the condition of various particular systems in the Market, and these continued to reveal that capital maintenance issues were mounting throughout the Market’s infrastructure. A single definitive report was needed to document the status of the buildings, make clear recommendations for the needed repairs, and to set forth a plan to accomplish the work.

Since that time, the design team has worked closely with many stakeholders in the Market community to craft and refine a plan for the renovation of the buildings and their systems. This summary is intended to provide a brief overview of the conclusions of the work to date.

Project Priorities:

Early in the process, the team, in partnership with the PDA, developed a list of priorities that would guide the development of all of the design work. These priorities are as follows, listed in order of importance:

1. Upgrade the electrical systems as needed to serve all of the Market’s needs now and into the foreseeable future.
2. Perform code-required structural upgrades and additional sensible and prudent upgrades to improve the safety of the Market’s buildings.
3. Provide sensible and cost-effective upgrades to the mechanical systems in the Market to allow for the efficient environmental control of the interior spaces.
4. Provide new accessible public restrooms of reasonable size and located appropriately.
5. Provide new elevators and other features as required to improve accessibility for disabled people and service to the Market’s buildings.

The renovation work has been made possible by the citizens of Seattle.  In November, 2008 they approved a taxpayer-funded property tax levy in order to update and replace the aging infrastructure at Pike Place Market.  More than 60% of those who voted in the election supported Seattle Prop. 1.  The renovation project will cost $68.6 million.

Read more about the upgrades in the full project summary (pdf)

Market Renovation Phase II Scope, Schedule and Impacts (pdf) (Updated August 2010)