Houston Market Square

Phil Myrick led the planning and concept design for Project for Public Spaces to guide the future development of Market Square Park, an underused park in Houston’s Historic District, one of the few downtown neighborhoods with residential buildings.

Public workshops and collaboration with artists whose work was displayed in the park were central to the planning process, which led to two alternative concept plans and a program that was provided to local designer, Lauren Griffith Associates, who executed the design.

The emphasis on creating an intricate space program and Placemaking concept before entering the design phase has paid off handsomely. Market Square reopened in the Fall of 2010 and has become a magnet space that has increased the number of visitors to the district and improved the desirability of downtown as a place to live. It has boosted downtown economic development and attracted several significant residential projects to the immediate surroundings. Downtown Houston’s extraordinary programming and management continues to make this park a huge success with the public.

Awards: Downtown Achievement Pinnacle Award, International Downtown Association, 2011.