NYC sidewalk shed revamped for first time in 60 years


Renderings of three versions of the winning design.

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A new sidewalk shed design was unveiled today by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, along with Robert LiMandri, city buildings commissioner, and Anthony Schirripa, president of the New York Chapter of the American Insittute of Architects. The new proposed sidewalk structure marks the first time in approximately 60 years that the protective structure between pedestrians and construction was redesigned for New York City. The design was chosen from the “urbanSHED International Design Competition,” a competition sponsored by the AIA that drew more than 164 submissions. The wining designer, Young-Hwan Choi, a 28-year-old student at the University of Pennsylvania, had pitched the “Urban Umbrella” design to the competition, a structure that utilizes an arch-like frame (see accompanying renderings). Bloomberg emphasized how the new design would fuel the “entrepreneurial spirit” of the city. “Sidewalk sheds are a part of New York life, reflecting the face of a city that is constantly changing,” Bloomberg said. “Yet the sheds themselves haven’t evolved at all during the past four decades and its time to bring them into the 21st century.” The Department of Buildings will approve the design, according to a statement from the Mayor’s office, and will then promote the design to real estate and construction professionals for future use. TRD