Since 1982, The Pike Market Child Care and Preschool (PMCCP), located in the “Down Under” section of the Fairley Building, has been making high-quality early learning accessible to families, regardless of income. In 2012, they began using the former Market Heritage Center and its courtyard as an indoor/outdoor playground where kids could burn off steam year-round.

After years of planning and fundraising with the support of dedicated volunteers and the Market Foundation, the PMCCP was ready to undertake a major renovation and contacted SHED. SHED was a natural choice because its founders, Thomas Schaer and Scot Carr, designed the Market Heritage Center in 1998 as part of a joint master’s thesis and then built the project alongside SHED founders, Prentis Hale and Damon Smith.

The goal of the renovation was to create a dynamic and versatile space that would encourage infants and preschoolers to invent, discover, and build social, cognitive, and physical skills in a more open and spacious setting. The outdoor playground needed to be safe, secure, and accessible for staff and children. It also needed to include storage for toys and cleaning supplies and withstand the wear and tear of constant play.

The renovation opens the building to natural light, clears out clutter, and provides updated finishes, lighting, and fixtures with a focus on function. The most significant change came from removing a portion of the heavy steel coiling doors and replacing them with glazing to bring in year-round light. New outdoor turf replaces a planter, deck, and steps to maximize the open-air play space and new climbing wall. A living wall replaces a steel fence, separating the outdoor play area from a new concrete planter that abuts the sidewalk. The renovation includes a new storage area, drinking fountain, updated bathroom, and a new “wet zone” that designates space for arts, crafts, and cleaning. Updated details include new LED lighting, colorful interior and exterior finishes that mimic the colors of the market, and steel “view boxes” that provide natural light and nooks for kids to play in.

Design: SHED Architecture & Design
Contractor: SSI
Landscape Architect: Berger Partnership
Lighting Designer: Luma Lighting Design
Photography: Dain Susman