What Could 20 Market Street Become? Exploring the Hidden Potential of an Underutilized Downtown Harrisburg Building
Can thoughtful design completely change how we see an existing building? In the first edition of Seeing Potential | Commercial, explore the hidden potential of 20 Market Street in downtown Harrisburg through a conceptual architectural redesign focused on adaptive reuse, storefront design, and community revitalization.
Seeing Potential | Commercial – Study No. 001
Every building has a story.
Some are just waiting for their next chapter.
One of the reasons I created the Seeing Potential | Commercial series was to encourage people to look beyond what a building is today and begin asking a different question:
What could it become?
For the first study in the series, I chose 20 Market Street in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania—a commercial property that has quietly become part of the city’s streetscape. While many people walk past it every day, I saw an opportunity to explore how thoughtful architectural design could completely transform its relationship with the surrounding community.
Looking Beyond the Building
When architects & designers evaluate commercial properties, the building itself is only one piece of the puzzle. The surrounding neighborhood often tells the larger story.
Located within walking distance of Harrisburg University, Strawberry Square, the Whitaker Center, the Pennsylvania State Capitol, hotels, offices, restaurants, and the Harrisburg Amtrak station, this property sits in one of downtown’s most active pedestrian corridors.
That’s where the design process began.
Not with architecture. With context.
Understanding the Building’s History
Before proposing any design direction, I researched the building using publicly available resources, including historical Google Street View imagery. Over the years, the property has housed different commercial tenants, reflecting the natural evolution of downtown Harrisburg.
Rather than asking why previous businesses left, I found a more productive question:
What opportunity does this location create today?
Every city changes. Successful buildings evolve with it.
Finding the Right Concept
Every Seeing Potential study assigns a theoretical client.
Not because it represents the only solution, but because every successful design begins with understanding who you’re designing for. For this concept, I imagined the property becoming a dedicated Harrisburg University Campus Store.
Its proximity to campus, surrounding pedestrian activity, and visibility from Market Street made it an interesting architectural exercise that demonstrates how an existing commercial building might better connect with its community.
Have a commercial property you’d like me to feature?
Whether you’re a property owner, commercial broker, developer, municipality, or business owner, I’m always looking for interesting buildings with untapped potential.
If you’d like your property considered for a future Seeing Potential study—or you’re ready to explore a real renovation project—I’d love to start the conversation.
The Design Approach
Rather than replacing the building’s identity, the concept focused on strengthening what already exists.
The architectural goals included:
- Increasing storefront transparency
- Creating a stronger pedestrian experience
- Introducing architectural lighting
- Enhancing storefront visibility
- Preserving the existing mural
- Respecting the building’s original proportions and structural rhythm
Thoughtful renovations don’t always require rebuilding a structure.
Often, carefully targeted improvements can dramatically change how a building is experienced.
Why Adaptive Reuse Matters
One of the most sustainable buildings is often the one that’s already standing.
Across the country, communities are rediscovering the value of adaptive reuse and strategic renovations that preserve character while supporting modern businesses and changing community needs.
Projects like this encourage conversations about investment, revitalization, and long-term community growth.
This Is Only One Possibility
It’s important to remember that this concept represents only one potential future. The building could just as easily become a café, boutique retailer, technology showroom, gallery, coworking space, or something entirely different.
That’s the beauty of architecture. Great buildings rarely have only one answer.
Watch the Full Study
The complete design process, research, and conceptual transformation are available in the first episode of Seeing Potential | Commercial on YouTube.
You’ll see how the concept developed from the initial site analysis through the final architectural visualization while learning the design decisions behind each improvement.
Important Disclaimer
This article and the accompanying video present a conceptual architectural design study created for educational and inspirational purposes only.
The concepts shown are not affiliated with the property owner, listing broker, tenants, Harrisburg University, or any future development plans. They are intended solely to demonstrate one possible architectural direction based on publicly available information.
Let’s Imagine the Next One Together
If you’re a commercial property owner, developer, municipality, Realtor®, commercial broker, or business owner with a property you’d like featured in a future Seeing Potential study, I’d love to hear from you.
Every building has a story.
Let’s imagine its next chapter together.
Community Connections
One of the most important parts of evaluating an existing commercial building is understanding the community around it. Great architecture doesn’t exist in isolation—it responds to the people, organizations, businesses, and institutions that shape its surroundings.
Located in the heart of downtown Harrisburg, 20 Market Street benefits from its proximity to several of the city’s most significant destinations and employers.
Website: https://www.harrisburgu.edu/
Harrisburg University continues to play a major role in the growth of downtown Harrisburg through education, innovation, and student life. For this conceptual study, the university served as the inspiration for the theoretical client because of its close proximity to the property and its active campus community.
Website: https://www.whitakercenter.org/
Whitaker Center is one of downtown Harrisburg’s premier destinations for science, education, entertainment, and the performing arts. It attracts residents, visitors, and school groups throughout the year, contributing to the area’s pedestrian activity.
Website: https://www.strawberrysquare.com/
Strawberry Square remains an important mixed-use destination featuring offices, restaurants, retail, and public gathering spaces. Its location helps strengthen Market Street as a key commercial corridor within downtown Harrisburg.
Website: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dgs/resources/capitol-complex.html
Just a short walk from the property, the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex brings thousands of employees, visitors, and elected officials into downtown Harrisburg each day, creating consistent activity that supports surrounding businesses.
Website: https://downtownharrisburg.org/
Downtown Harrisburg continues to evolve through investment in local businesses, public spaces, housing, arts, culture, and community events. Organizations dedicated to downtown revitalization play an important role in creating a vibrant, walkable urban environment.
Website: https://www.visithersheyharrisburg.org/
Visit Hershey & Harrisburg promotes tourism, attractions, restaurants, events, and local businesses throughout the Capital Region, helping showcase everything downtown Harrisburg has to offer.
Website: https://sprocketmuralworks.org/
Sprocket Mural Works is a Pennsylvania nonprofit dedicated to creating, preserving, and promoting public murals that strengthen neighborhoods and foster community pride throughout Harrisburg, York, and surrounding communities. Their work has transformed dozens of public spaces while encouraging civic engagement through the arts.
Explore Harrisburg Mural Projects:
https://sprocketmuralworks.org/area/harrisburg/
Why Public Art Matters
Public art helps define a community’s identity, creates memorable destinations, encourages walkability, and strengthens the relationship between architecture and the public realm. In this conceptual redesign, the existing mural was intentionally preserved because it contributes to the unique character of Market Street and serves as an important visual landmark within downtown Harrisburg.
The organizations and artists referenced above are acknowledged to recognize their contributions to the local arts community. Their inclusion in this article is for educational and contextual purposes only and does not imply affiliation with or endorsement of this conceptual architectural study.
Website: https://www.danblack.work/
Dan Black is a Pennsylvania-based artist and muralist whose large-scale public art explores themes of community, identity, storytelling, and place. His work demonstrates how public art can become an integral part of the built environment, adding character and creating memorable experiences within cities and neighborhoods.
Why Public Art Matters
Public art helps define a community’s identity, creates memorable destinations, encourages walkability, and strengthens the relationship between architecture and the public realm. In this conceptual redesign, the existing mural was intentionally preserved because it contributes to the unique character of Market Street and serves as an important visual landmark within downtown Harrisburg.
The organizations and artists referenced above are acknowledged to recognize their contributions to the local arts community. Their inclusion in this article is for educational and contextual purposes only and does not imply affiliation with or endorsement of this conceptual architectural study.
About the Author
Jessie Ellis is an architectural designer, creative, and founder of Gable Design. She helps homeowners and small business owners navigate the often-overwhelming design and construction process by focusing on clarity before commitment. Her work blends practical experience from commercial projects with a deep appreciation for thoughtful, livable design—always with the goal of making big decisions feel more grounded and approachable.
👉 Explore Jessie’s planning resources and design guidance at Gable Design.
Share:
Related Posts
Most people make their biggest mistakes before they even start.
The early decisions shape everything. Budget, timeline, and how smoothly your project actually goes.
I share the exact insights I walk through with clients before they commit. What to think about, what to avoid, and what most people only learn after it gets expensive.
If you want to move forward with clarity instead of second guessing, this is where to start.
No spam. Just thoughtful guidance for real projects and real decisions.
