Market Square upgrades look
Renovation will be done before High Point Market
By Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, March 8, 2010
HIGH POINT — Market Square and the Suites at Market Square will complete the third phase of a big renovation before the April High Point Market.
Officials said they aimed to preserve the historic nature of the building while adding upgraded services and amenities for exhibitors and buyers.
Market Square, the former Tomlinson Chair Mfg. factory and the largest building on the North Carolina Register of Historic Places, has been home to furniture showrooms for more than 25 years. Dating from the early 1900s, it is the oldest surviving furniture factory in High Point.
The Suites at Market Square section was added to the complex 10 years ago.
With the completion of the renovations, Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. will have spent more than $1.5 million on the improvements, said Karen Olson, vice president of marketing for MMPI High Point, which operates the Market Square complex and other High Point showroom buildings.
Additional renovations are planned but a timetable hasn't been finalized, she said.
Bradshaw Orrell of Greensboro, N.C., is the design firm for the updates. His firm, Bradshaw Orrell Interiors, also designed the Greensboro Proximity Hotel, the first platinum U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certified hotel in the country.
“When we heard about the design process behind the Proximity Hotel, which was grounded on the concept that they would pretend they had found an old factory and would adapt it to their needs, we knew we had the perfect designer for our project. We already had the old factory,” Olson said in a press release.
Improvements to the Market Square complex include redesigned ground and mezzanine floors, with polished concrete in booths from the building's original floors, new aisle carpet, a new aisle system to enhance traffic flows, new directional and booth signs and a direct aisle from the front door of the Suites to the historic section of the building.
A renovated Market Square Café will serve a full Starbucks drink menu.
Other improvements include a renovated lobby in the Suites; a redesigned courtyard; a remodeled restaurant (formerly Sammy G's and now called The Factory); new TV monitors to promote daily events and exhibitor information; upgraded wireless and cell services, and a new concierge service to assist buyers.
Also new is Salon, a juried area on the ground floor of the Suites showcasing design-driven furniture, lighting, textiles, rugs, wall art and decorative accessories. A jury of retailers, designers and national style editors will help find and vet the companies showing in this area.
In October, the Market Square Courtyard unveiled improvements that included a fountain and landscaping features to give it a more upscale feel.
-
Market Square, Suites to unveil improvements
Mar 4, 2010
Featured Company
-
Wright Labels
Bill and Tom Wright founded Wright of Thomasville in 1961 on the idea that printing was a creative medium and the belief that "a promise made is a promise kept." The Wright brothers focused their attention on providing exceptional printing for the... more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
