Market Square, Shopping center in Lake Forest, Illinois
Market Square is a U-shaped shopping center in Lake Forest with two-story buildings arranged around a central green space where a fountain and sculpture take prominence. Ground floor retail and dining spaces face inward, with residential apartments occupying the upper levels throughout the complex.
Market Square opened in 1916 as the first planned shopping center in the United States designed specifically to accommodate automobile access and parking. This pioneering approach marked a shift in how American communities would develop retail spaces.
The fountain with Judson's sculpture 'Girl with Baby on Shoulder' sits at the heart of the space, drawing visitors to pause and observe local artistic expression. This sculptural element shapes how people move through and experience the square.
Parking spaces are available throughout the space between the central green and the retail buildings, making it straightforward to park and visit stores. The location directly across from Lake Forest train station offers easy access for visitors arriving by rail.
This was one of the first places in America where shopping, dining, and residential living were intentionally designed together in a single complex. The mixing of functions in one location was unusual at the time and remains a defining feature.
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