New Sidewalk Shed Design Unveiled in NYC
On Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams introduced a sleek new design for the city’s future sidewalk sheds. This updated version is so striking that it could easily be mistaken for a permanent fixture.
Advocates highlighted that this modern alternative aims to replace New York’s long-overdue and often dreary sidewalk scaffolding, ideally enhancing street aesthetics and boosting pedestrian safety.
Adams remarked, “Today marks a major step in our mission to reimagine New York City’s streets.” He noted that outdated sidewalk sheds have long blocked sunlight, negatively impacted small businesses, and cluttered neighborhoods.
The redesigned sheds, developed by the architecture and design firm Arup along with Practice for Architecture and Urbanism, are expected to be utilized in construction projects and buildings with ongoing facade work as early as next year.
Dubbed the “Baseline Shed,” this new model features a transparent roof that angles upward to allow natural light to filter through to pedestrians below.
There’s also a lightweight “Speed Shed” designed for short-term projects, such as emergency repairs, which incorporates a slanted roof with netting.
Another concept, the Wide Baseline Shed, is sturdier and made for wider sidewalks and boulevards, with columns set further apart to provide more space.
Arup has also introduced a lightweight ‘air shed’ that can be elevated completely off the ground and securely fastened to buildings during facade repairs or window replacements.
The adaptable ‘Flex Shed’ can be customized to fit around road signs, bus stops, and various building layouts.
On the other hand, the “Rigid Shed” is intended for heavy-duty operations involving tower cranes and high-rise buildings.
City Hall indicated that the firms were commissioned in February 2024 to create “innovative designs” to enhance existing shed models, which have often been criticized by the public.
While sidewalk sheds are mandated by the city’s building code to protect pedestrians from falling debris near construction zones, they can also provoke safety and crime concerns among the public.
This development is part of the mayor’s ongoing Get Sheds Down Initiative, which has removed over 400 long-standing sheds since July 2023, some having been in place for nearly two decades.
A joint study conducted with Mastercard last year revealed that these sidewalk sheds might be costing Manhattan businesses between $3,900 and $9,500 in lost consumer spending each month.
Design professionals can now seek permission to utilize the new shed plans through the same approval process that was used for the old, cumbersome designs.
