New Yorkers have long accepted scaffolding–those precarious green tunnels that block sunlight, swallow storefronts, and make entire blocks look like they’re perpetually under construction–as a built-in part of city life. Last April we suggested turning them into elevated outdoor dining–because if we’re stuck with them, we might as well sip a negroni on top, right? But officials have now proposed something far more practical.
Mayor Adams just unveiled six sleek new sidewalk shed designs that promise to bring back the beauty of our streets while still keeping everyone safe from overhead construction. And if all goes according to plan, the days of the gloomy green tunnel might finally be numbered!
For far too long, hideous scaffolding has overshadowed the beauty of NYC. As of 2023, about 9,000 active sidewalk sheds in NYC spanning nearly 400 miles stood in NYC, some of which were certainly overstaying their welcome–in December 2023 NYC’s longest-standing sidewalk shed was finally removed after 21 years.
While sidewalks sheds and scaffolding are necessary for infrastructure repairs and public safety, they’re certainly an eyesore. Since 2023, officials have taken down 15,224 sidewalk sheds, and NYC’s Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) issued an open call in March 2023 for artists to beautify scaffolding, making them more visually appealing to pedestrians.
Now, this scaffolding is being reimagined altogether–no beautifying required!
The new designs will keep New Yorkers safe while brightening up city streets and doing away with the dark green plywood of the past. Two of the city’s leading architecture and design firms–Arup and Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU)–were tasked with each delivering three new scaffolding concepts, all guided by the same core criteria:
- Improve the pedestrian experience
- Beautify the streetscape
- Keep costs reasonable for building owners
- Use cost-effective materials that are readily available to contractors
- Improve public safety
New NYC Scaffolding Designs
The six new designs are as follows:
“The Speed Shed” – Designed by PAU
A light-duty shed that’s easy to put up and take down, ideal for short-term jobs and emergency repairs. Its angled, netted roof lets natural light filter down onto the sidewalk below.
“The Rigid Shed” – Designed by Arup
A heavy-duty shed meant for large-scale projects, such as tower crane work and high-rise construction. Its design takes up less space on the sidewalk and is intended to keep pedestrian obstructions to a minimum.
“The Baseline Shed” – Designed by PAU
A flexible shed available in both heavy and light-duty versions, designed to fit a range of building sizes and sidewalk layouts. Its angled, transparent roof lets sunlight illuminate the sidewalk beneath.
“The Air Shed” – Designed by Arup
A light-duty shed that’s fully elevated and attached directly to the building, ideal for façade repairs and window replacements. Its cantilevered structure, reminiscent of a balcony, keeps the sidewalk below largely unobstructed.
“The Wide Baseline Shed” – Designed by PAU
A heavy-duty shed designed for large-scale projects, especially on wide sidewalks along busy streets. Its robust columns are spaced widely to reduce pedestrian obstructions.
“The Flex Shed” – Designed by Arup
A light-duty shed ideal for maintenance tasks and emergency repairs. Its adjustable roof height and column placement create a compact footprint that can be adapted around building features and sidewalk obstacles such as signs and bus shelters.
These new designs serve as a continuation of Mayor Adams’ Get Sheds Down initiative, which is improving the aesthetic on city streets while protecting the public from potential overhead hazards. Adams stated:
For too long, scaffolding and outdated and cumbersome sidewalk sheds have blocked sunlight, hurt small businesses, and cluttered our neighborhoods…By introducing these six modern designs…we’re proving that safety and good design can go hand in hand.
The DOB will collaborate with PAU and Arup going forward to make all six designs publicly accessible through the agency’s rulemaking process. The city anticipates these modern sheds appearing on sidewalks as early as 2026.