Yesterday the city announced that it had selected that very cool looking scaffolding rendered above—which is called “Urban Umbrella”—as the winner of a competition for new sidewalk shed designs. So is this what we’re going to be seeing at construction sites around town going forward? According to NY1, the new design won’t be mandated but the costs for installing it are similar to those for the current scaffolding that’s used. A prototype is going to be installed at a site in Lower Manhattan. The city was looking for a design that would improve scaffolding aesthetics and let more light onto the sidewalk.
Winning Scaffold Design Provides Lift Above, Movement Below [NY1]


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. I think it is the opposite direction that I would have gone in. To make the sheds look better, they should be more minimal and less obtrusive. These strange parasols are very attention-grabbing and look more like an art installation. Not so sure I want to see these everywhere.

  2. Sheds are semi permanent because under LL11 you have to inspect your building with an engineer every 7 years; and the cost to repair facades is enormous. So every time an engineer finds an issue (which they do every time they look – hey why not) you have to go an install sheds (to protect the public) then you have to find the $, contractor and time to actually do the work (even more shed time).

    If I knew then what I know know – I would have immediately bought a shed co in 1998 when LL11 passed (I wonder if some of the pols did just that)

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