Pike Place Market

RENOVATION PROJECT SUMMARY

PDA Reports to City: Renovation Work Within Budget, On Schedule

On July 11, PDA Executive Director Ben Franz-Knight presented the Market Renovation and Levy Annual Report to the Mayor and Seattle City Council. Accomplishments of the past year are highlighted in these documents:

For Phase I in the Leland and Fairley Buildings, Hillclimb, and Public Market Parking Garage, we completed an improved entry from Western Avenue, new elevator, new electrical vault and service upgrades, replaced plumbing lines, expanded loading dock, flooring repair, and new mechanical central plant.

Phase II renovation of the Corner Market, Sanitary Market, Triangle Building, and 1st and Pine Building included major repairs (plumbing, windows, doors, stairs, fire suppression systems and flooring) in all buildings; major seismic and structural upgrades in the Corner, Sanitary and Triangle Buildings; mechanical and electrical upgrades, and new or upgraded HVAC systems. We added a new elevator in the Corner Market Building and new restrooms in the Sanitary Market Building. This phase of renovation created significant tenant impacts that resulted in temporary tenant relocations, some temporary business closures, and apartment residents temporarily relocated.

Phase III of the renovation will include work in the Stewart House, Soames-Dunn, and Economy Buildings. Plans include major repairs, seismic upgrades, and structural improvements for all buildings (including exterior work on the Stewart House); a new public restroom in the Soames-Dunn Building; and a new elevator and HVAC system in the Economy Building.

We have spent approximately $49.4 million of the $68.6 million of levy funds allocated to the renovation. The project is 73% complete and is within budget and on schedule. The renovation has meant new jobs, employing an estimated 250 workers annually in a variety of trades and industries. 
 
The report concluded with this acknowledgement to the Market community: “Market tenants, residents, merchants, farmers and artists have contributed countless hours of patience, cooperation, understanding and hard work weathering tremendous disruptions and relocations while demonstrating the resilience and heart that has made the Pike Place Market the heart of Seattle for over 100 years.”

Phase III Renovation Work Now Underway

Phase III planning is ongoing for the Economy Building, Soames-Dunn, and Stewart House. 

Photos: Renovation Progress and Projects

See renovation unfold! View renovation progress photos for the weeks listed below.

Phase III:
November 11, 2011 
November 4, 2011
September 16, 2011
September 1, 2011 

Phase II:
June 10, 2011
May 27, 2011
April 28, 2011
April 15, 2011
April 1, 2011
March 18, 2011
March 4, 2011
February 18, 2011
February 4, 2011
January 21, 2011
January 6, 2011


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 and III June 2010 - June 2011 (pdf) (Updated September 2010)