flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

New York design competition looks to shed the sidewalk shed

Architects

New York design competition looks to shed the sidewalk shed

New York, which has nearly 200 total miles of sidewalk sheds, is seeking a concept that is practical but that also looks good.


By BD+C Staff | July 20, 2015
New York contest looks to shed the sidewalk shed

Photo: Sidewalk shed in Licnoln Square, Manhattan, New York. Billie Ward, Creative Commons.

Pedestrians are all too aware of sidewalk sheds, the makeshift plywood, sheet metal, and concrete scaffolding tunnels that shield city street walkers from debris from nearby construction projects. While the sheds are functional enough, New York believes they can be aesthetically pleasing, too.

Curbed NY reports that the New York Building Congress will hold a competition where architects and other professionals in the construction industry will submit proposals for alternative sidewalk shed designs. New York, which has nearly 200 total miles of sidewalk sheds, is seeking a concept that is practical but that also looks good.

"In the course of their daily lives, millions of New Yorkers are forced to encounter sidewalk sheds that can best be describe as dark, constrictive, and forbidding. It's time we stopped treating their design as an afterthought," Tom Scarangello, Chairman of the New York Building Congress, said in a statement.

The number of permits for sidewalk sheds in New York rose 25% from 2009 to 2014, and some sheds could stay up for several years whether construction is occurring or not. Local businesses have also been negatively affected by the sheds, and it turns out the structures aren't always safe.

The contest's four winners will be announced in September, and they will receive $10,000.

Related Stories

| Nov 18, 2013

How do construction professionals use social media?

LinkedIn is the social network used by most construction professionals, according to the results of a newly released national survey conducted by the Construction Marketing Association. 

| Nov 17, 2013

How to spend your first 15 minutes with a prospect

Every business development person has been there. You’ve finally earned a few minutes to impress a prospect that you’ve been pursuing. This is your opportunity to shine. What do you say?

| Nov 17, 2013

Meet up with the BD+C team at Greenbuild. Drinks are on us!

To all our friends in the AEC industry, you are cordially invited to join the BD+C team at several fun events during the Greenbuild show this week. No RSVP required. Just show up and enjoy. 

| Nov 15, 2013

Halls of ivy keep getting greener and greener

Academic institutions have been testing the limits of energy-conserving technologies, devising new ways to pay for sustainability extras, and extending sustainability to the whole campus.

| Nov 15, 2013

Pedia-Pod: A state-of-the-art pediatric building module

This demonstration pediatric treatment building module is “kid-friendly,” offering a unique and cheerful environment where a child can feel most comfortable. 

| Nov 15, 2013

Metal makes its mark on interior spaces

Beyond its long-standing role as a preferred material for a building’s structure and roof, metal is making its mark on interior spaces as well. 

| Nov 14, 2013

Fan of Frank Lloyd Wright? Here's your chance to run his architecture school

The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture has launched a search for a new director. Deadline for applications is January 6, 2014.

| Nov 13, 2013

Government work keeps green AEC firms busy

With the economy picking up, many stalled government contracts are reaching completion and earning their green credentials.

| Nov 13, 2013

First look: Renzo Piano's addition to Louis Kahn's Kimbell Art Museum [slideshow]

The $135 million, 101,130-sf colonnaded pavilion by the famed architect opens later this month. 

| Nov 11, 2013

4 trends driving the recovering commercial construction sector

Jones Lang LaSalle research reveals a four-point “new look” for the post-recession construction industry.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Warehouses

California bill would limit where distribution centers can be built

A bill that passed the California legislature would limit where distribution centers can be located and impose other rules aimed at reducing air pollution and traffic. Assembly Bill 98 would tighten building standards for new warehouses and ban heavy diesel truck traffic next to sensitive sites including homes, schools, parks and nursing homes.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021