The Urban Umbrella won the competition to improve scaffolds and sheds

New Yorkers got their first glimpse of the new “Urban Umbrella” sidewalk shed this week, when the first prototype was unveiled at the front door of 100 Broadway (between Pine and Wall Streets) by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri, and designers Andrés Cortés, Sarrah Khan, and Young-Hwan Choi.

The prototype won the city’s urbanSHED International Design Competition that was launched in late 2009 to improve upon ubiquitous construction scaffolds and sheds, which have become a regular part of the city landscape. Urban Umbrella was selected for its sustainable characteristics, increased safety elements, and aesthetic features.

It features several new elements that improve upon the current shed style, including sustainable LED lighting and translucent overhead panels; elimination of cross-bracing that visually obstructs storefronts and building entrances; and adjustable feet that pivot and extend to accommodate changes in sidewalk pitch, eliminating the need for wood shims. The design is safer than the current model because it is more resistant to the forces associated with falling debris, vehicle accidents, and strong winds.

After extensive testing on material and connections prior to this pilot installation, the prototype meets the criteria required by the Department of Buildings. It also is in line with the current costs for custom-made sidewalk sheds with reduced maintenance costs.

“The Urban Umbrella is a perfect combination of design elegance and construction safety that will complement our city’s sidewalks and businesses rather than hide them,” said Buildings Commissioner LiMandri. “This prototype is safer and more pleasing to the eye than the current model, and we expect many property owners will take advantage of this new design during their construction operations. The sidewalk shed is critical to ensuring public safety in such a dense, urban environment like New York, but for too many years, it has become an eyesore for New Yorkers. The Urban Umbrella is the solution to that problem.”