Strawberry Square facts for kids
Strawberry Square as seen looking South from Walnut Street & 4th Street, September 2010
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| Location | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA |
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| Address | 11 N. 3rd Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 |
| Opening date | 1978 |
| Owner | Harristown Development Corporation |
| Architect | Mitchell/Giurgola and later Lawrie and Green |
| No. of stores and services | 30+ |
| No. of floors | 2 (public area) |
| Website | Strawberry Square |
Strawberry Square is a special kind of building complex in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It's called "mixed-use" because it has both shops and offices all in one place.
This big building is owned and managed by the Harristown Development Corporation (HDC). HDC is a non-profit organization, which means it works to help the community rather than just making money for itself.
The Story of Strawberry Square
Strawberry Square was a big part of making downtown Harrisburg new and exciting again. The first part of the complex opened in 1978. It offered lots of office and shop space, with great views of the Pennsylvania State Capitol. This happened after an old hotel, the Penn-Harris Hotel, was closed and taken down in 1973.
Eleven years later, the Harristown Development Corporation added more to Strawberry Square. This second part cost $21 million and brought back to life ten old buildings from the 1800s and 1900s. These buildings are very important because they are some of the oldest shops left in the city. They are even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The complex got its unique name from an old alleyway called Strawberry Alley. This alley still runs through downtown Harrisburg. Part of the alley that used to be here is now a common area inside the building, near the escalators. When it was first built in the 1970s, people also called it the 'Key Block'.
What You Can Find Inside
Strawberry Square is home to many different businesses and organizations. Some of the larger tenants include Verizon and offices for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. You can also find parts of Harrisburg University and Temple University Harrisburg here.
There are more than 40 shops and galleries, offering everything from fashion to jewelry. If you get hungry, there are 10 different food places in the food court. You can find many kinds of food, both local and from around the world.
For many years, a huge, 41-foot tall sculpture called the "Chockablock Clock" was a main attraction. This amazing art piece, made by George Rhoads, moved and made sounds. It was moved to Shippensburg University in 2022 to make space for new meeting areas.
Because it's so well-known and in the center of the city, the main area of Strawberry Square has become like a town square for Harrisburg. Many community groups, schools, and art organizations use it for events throughout the year. It even hosts classes for high school and college students.
Learning at Strawberry Square
Strawberry Square is a hub for education, hosting several schools and programs. Students come here to learn and grow in a city environment.
- Capital Area School for the Arts
- Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
- Messiah College
- Olewine School of Culinary Arts (part of Harrisburg Area Community College)
- SciTech High
- Temple University
