Editing Reading Terminal (section)

== Convention Center Connection ==

The Pennsylvania Convention Center, opened in 1993, incorporated the Reading Terminal train shed into its design, extending modern facilities behind the historic structure. This integration preserved the shed while providing the large, flexible spaces that convention use requires. The shed's dramatic volume serves as the convention center's grand hall, hosting events that benefit from its historic character. This adaptive reuse demonstrates that landmark preservation can serve practical contemporary purposes when approached with imagination and commitment.<ref name="webster"/>

The convention center connection brought new visitors to the Reading Terminal Market, strengthening an institution that had struggled during downtown Philadelphia's difficult decades. Convention attendees discovered the market's offerings, spreading its reputation beyond the local community. The symbiotic relationship between market and convention center shows how preservation can generate economic benefits that support continued maintenance of historic structures.<ref name="gallery"/>