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The $13-million market was initiated, in part, to serve a growing cruise ship business. Now a year old, it's popular with tourists and locals alike

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The Seaport Farmers' Market has transformed a former seaport terminal into an ecological showcase on the Halifax waterfront. The front facade of the old warehouse was peeled back to create a seawall public plaza that maintained the outline of the original structure.

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The market is packed with locals on most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and ranks as one of the three most popular tourist sites in the city. It's especially popular with cruise ship passengers.

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Designed by Lydon Lynch Architects, responsible for some of Atlantic Canada's most recognized buildings, the market is one of the first LEED Platinum buildings in Canada. Here, market goers walk up the central staircase to the green wall. The staircase was designed to also serve as a stage or seating for small arts performances or public events that draw more foot traffic to the market during slower periods.

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The green roof features 10 different species of red and green sedum, a drought-tolerant succulent native to the region. The plants cool the building naturally in the summer and eliminate the need for air conditioning. The sun preheats hot water for bathrooms. Four rooftop micro turbines generate electricity.

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Arts and crafts vendors sell their wares in the interior of the market, which is a naturally day lit environment. Wood recycled after Hurricane Juan is used throughout the interior.

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The rooftop deck gives unparalleled views of Halifax Harbour. The building boasts Canada's second-largest green roof. The building is one of the most sustainably designed, low energy buildings in North America.

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Because the building is situated in a cruise ship terminal area, there is no ground level access to the seawall for security reasons. The constraint became a design opportunity - a full-length rooftop deck that acts as an urban room in the city.

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