Downtown Defrost: Pittsburgh Engages Artists to Warm Up Public Spaces

Keeping public spaces active and attractive during the winter months is a common challenges in cold weather climates. Pittsburgh is seeking ideas from artists to help enliven downtown's Market Square during the depths of winter.

1 minute read

August 19, 2013, 2:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


"When the bright lights and cheer of the winter holidays and New Year's have faded, when the cold of a Pittsburgh winter has really set in, Market Square can become a bit dreary," writes Moriah Balingit. "But the city hopes to brighten the square for the next few years with temporary art installments to run from February through April, when activity in the recently renovated Downtown square tends to slacken, said Morton Brown, public art manager for the city."

"Last week, the city put out a call for artists of all media to design art for the square or to submit proposals to have already finished works placed there. Supported by a grant from the Heinz Endowments and an anonymous donor, the city is offering stipends of $50,000 to $75,000 to build and install the art in the square."

Monday, August 19, 2013 in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

November 11, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6, 2026 - Grist

People walking in downtown St. Louis, walking past shops.

Move over, LA: St. Louis gears up for Olympics, invests millions in downtown redevelopment

The Missouri city will host the 2028 Olympic soccer group stage and knockout matches.

November 1, 2026 - Smart Cities Dive

Construction in Dallas. An aerial shot of a wooden frame of an apartment building.

Dallas releases zoning code overhaul to officials

The drafted overhaul is over 400 pages long.

November 11 - Dallas Morning News

Canal street, where pedestrians are packed shoulder to shoulder.

NYC renovations for dangerous, ‘mercilessly crammed’ street delayed until 2027

Construction was supposed to begin this fall.

November 11 - Gothamist

A rendering of Midway Rising that shows people mingling in a green space between apartment buildings.

San Diego’s Midway Rising project gets greenlight from city council

The project looks to become the largest affordable housing development in California's history.

November 11 - KPBS

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.