York Central Market Historic Renovation

Completion Date: February 20, 2013

Construction Cost: $2,400,000

York Central Market Historic Renovation

The Architect orchestrated a transformational renovation of York's most historic downtown building - rescuing the Central Market from a
dysfunctional unsustainable operation - to become the centerpiece and catalyst of York City's "Market District". The $2.4 million renovation
design addressed many "macro and micro" aspects and specific areas of physical disrepair within the 35,690 square foot building designed by
York's most famous Architect J.A. Dempwolf and constructed by Baltimore shipbuilders in 1888.
The Architect's design provides for over 80 vendor stand locations, new restrooms, shared kitchen prep space, vendor storage/housekeeping,
mezzanine meeting space, new market offices, a performance/demonstration kitchen, a Brewpub/Restaurant and a County Visitor Information
Center - in conjunction with a flexible seating area at the north wing that can accommodate nearly 100 at tables or up to 200 in different
configurations for dining, music and community events.
The design removed and replaced all unsightly (and unsafe) overhead electrical conduits, "street lamps", gas lines, and a hodgepodge of "lids"
over vendor stands - to expose, clean and highlight the magnificent heavy timber wood roof structure of the historic market building. New exterior
wood and glass doors matching the original 1888 Dempwolf design were custom built and installed at the primary exterior entrances. The
Architect developed new guidelines for vendor stand design, stand lighting and stand signage - permitting the creative personalization of vendor
locations, products and branding - within parameters that enhance - not compromise the overall "sense of place" within historic Central Market.
The new plan developed by the Architect restored the "farmers market" intention by relocating the remaining original "green" wooden market
stands for produce, bakery and other low intensity vendors to the western main entry area adjacent to a new seating zone. Prepared food vendors
were relocated to the building perimeter to better accommodate ventilation hood and cooking requirements. New "hybrid" vendor locations were
arranged in a more structured aisle configuration reflecting the original market circulation patterns.
All new utilities were either relocated below the concrete floor slab of the market or discretely along the painted white brick masonry perimeter
in cable trays above vendor stands. Natural daylight now filters into all areas of the market from repaired historic dormers, restored windows and
through the impressive wood timber trusswork to the market floor thirty feet below. New energy efficient aisle lighting, decorative LED uplighting
highlighting the original roof/ceiling structure and new metering of each vendor stand power usage has drastically reduced utility and operational
costs.
Good Design = Good Business
York Central Market is now a profitable operation - with the right vendor mix emphasizing "local/fresh" and "farm to table" offerings - a
waiting list of vendors - and an inspired, growing base of customers excited about "market days". The Architects' implemented vision at York
Central Market reinforces a design philosophy that successful outcomes are not dependent on "How Much", but rather "How" - and that
"Good Design = Good Business".

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Waterside Pavilion