New York’s Sidewalk Shed Designs Unveiled
The City of New York recently unveiled six revamped, cost-effective sidewalk shed designs by Arup and Practice for Architecture and Urbanism | PAU, according to a PAU news release. Supporting the city’s Get Sheds Down initiative, the new designs aim to significantly enhance the public realm with improved circulation, aesthetics, and natural light while protecting the public from potential overhead hazards. The ultimate goal is to transform the sheds “from an eyesore into a welcome element of New Yorkers’ civic life.”
Sidewalk sheds, or scaffolding, are essential in protecting pedestrians from falling debris during construction and demolition. At any given time, New York City has more than two million feet—nearly 400 miles—of sheds deployed.
Most sidewalk sheds follow a uniform design from the 1980s, featuring a flat deck, a plywood parapet, steel columns, cross-bracing, railings, and electrical lighting. While they are affordable and code-compliant, these sheds are often considered a nuisance by city residents.
In 2024, the city’s Department of Buildings selected a team led by PAU and another by Arup to redesign the city’s sheds. To stay within budget constraints, PAU is creating a standardized “kit of parts” for easy construction and maintenance. A simple, adjustable aluminum frame will enable the sheds to be erected and moved around a site by only two people.