May 29, 2026

Hat trick of projects debut June 6 in Renton

City of Renton photo [enlarge]

Legacy Square, shown here in March, will be a host site for watch parties and programming linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The city of Renton is set to unveil three public projects on June 6. They are Legacy Square, a new outdoor gathering space featuring a stage and large TV screen; year-round indoor marketplace Renton Market, which is a reimagining of the former Pavilion Event Center; and an upgraded Piazza Park adjacent to the market.

The trio is in the heart of downtown Renton, between South Second and South Third Street, near Logan Avenue South. The city of Renton developed all three projects.

Legacy Square and Piazza Park will open to the public on June 6. On that day, the public will also be able to tour Renton Market. The city has completed an initial phase of renovations, which have readied the old events center for its next chapter. It will now hand over the keys to tenant Logan Market to begin the next phase of renovations for future vendors and activities.

Logan Market will manage daily operations, lease vendor spaces, and activate the space while the city retains ownership of the building.

LEGACY SQUARE

Rendering by Graham Baba Architects [enlarge]

Graham Baba Architects designed the adaptive reuse of the Pavilion Event Center into a year-round indoor market.

Legacy Square is located on a former gravel lot at South Third Street and Logan Avenue South. Envisioned to be the city's newest “living room,” it includes a mass timber performance stage with a large-format screen, a futsal court, built in partnership with the RAVE Foundation, a children's play structure, and public art by Renton-based artists.

Legacy Square will be a host site for watch parties and programming linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After the tournament, it will serve as a permanent hub for arts and culture in the city's civic core. Planned events this summer include movie screenings and concerts.

The centerpiece stage was designed by Mithun and built by Andersen Construction. The all-mass-timber structure is designed to optimize view lines to the large-format screen and supports natural acoustic projection.

Mithun used regionally sourced CLT for the stage's roof and wall panels, which it says shortened the construction schedule and reduced embodied carbon by 20% from a comparable steel and concrete structure. The stage also features Cor-ten metal siding which provides a durable shell and is a nod to local industrial heritage. A mural by indigenous Pacific Islander artist Toka Valu will grace large bifold doors, enclosing the stage after hours.

The project team for the stage also includes KPFF, structural engineer; Lstn, AV and acoustics; P2S mechanical, electrical and plumbing, and HLB, lighting design.

Construction of Legacy Square began last summer and was divided into phases. ACI Active Construction was the Phase I contractor. Andersen built Phase II.

RENTON MARKET

The transformation of the old events center at 233 Burnett Ave. S. began in September.

The city hired Graham Baba Architects to design the adaptive reuse project. Schuchart was the general contractor. The 15,000-square-foot masonry and wood-frame structure now houses an anchor tenant space, room for up to 12 kiosk vendor stalls for start-ups and rotating businesses, and a classroom kitchen space for community programming.

The city approved the Renton Market lease and facility agreement with Logan Market in March. The operator is now recruiting anchor business tenants and vendors. Logan Market will also deliver a full calendar of public events, activities, and workshops open to the public throughout the year.

The DJC previously reported that the budget for the pavilion renovation, and the upgrade of the adjacent Piazza Park, is $9.7 million. The city says the Piazza Park upgrades cost $2.8 million.

PIAZZA PARK

The overhaul of Piazza Park has created an “outdoor lobby” for the Renton Market. Upgrades focused on creating a seamless connection between the two spaces. They included new seating, shaded areas, and paved paths.

A new south-facing canopy on the Renton Market space ties directly into the Piazza, creating a unified space for festivals, farmers markets, and casual daily use.

The Piazza Park design also incorporates Crime Prevention through Environmental Design principles to keep the space safe and welcoming, the city says.

Graham Baba was also the architect for Piazza Park, and Schuchart was the contractor. Hewitt was the landscape architect.

The project team for the park and pavilion also includes SparkLab Lighting Design, lighting design; KPFF Consulting Engineers, civil and structural engineering; Arup, MEP engineering; Tenor Engineering Group, acoustical engineering; Tony Foden, specifications; DCW, cost estimating; and Studio Matthews, branding and environmental graphics.

COMMUNITY KICK-OFF

The public is invited to a free festival-style grand opening event on June 6 from 1-8 p.m. The event will kick off with former Seattle Sounders player Brad Evans and a performance by the Hazen Highlander Marching Band, followed by a full lineup of live entertainment throughout the day.

More information is at https://tinyurl.com/RentonOpeningsJune6