Unsightly scaffolding ‘sheds’ that dominate New York City sidewalks are set to get a sleek new design.
Just outside of a 16-story building in the Flatiron District, Urban Umbrella has installed an ‘elegant’ new system that combines high-strength recycled steel and translucent plastic panels to protect pedestrians from construction hazards.
The white sidewalk shed is designed to be ‘modern and harmonious,’ allowing natural light and city views to remain visible while the structure is up.
Just outside of a 16-story building in the Flatiron District, Urban Umbrella has installed an elegant new system that combines high-strength recycled steel and translucent plastic panels to protect pedestrians from construction hazards
The New York installation follows trials in Toronto, where the ‘umbrellas’ have been installed at two sites so far, according to Yahoo Finance.
The firm won a design competition sponsored by former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg seven years ago – but, apart from a two-month stint in lower Manhattan, the system was not picked up in the US.
But now, Urban Umbrella’s new sleek sidewalk sheds appear to be taking off.
The project is expected to come to two more buildings in New York, along with installations in Boston, Quebec, and Vancouver, according to Yahoo.
Urban Umbrella’s sidewalk sheds – as the name implies – use an arching design that sweeps upward and out, like an umbrella.
![According to the firm, the umbrellas are made with ultra-rigid high-strength steel alloys, allowing them to achieve a slim profile over a greater distance, while remaining sturdy](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/19/46FB402800000578-0-image-a-47_1512414707744.jpg)
![The ‘elegant’ sidewalk sheds are also equipped with LED lights, to keep the system illuminated even at night](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/19/46FB402F00000578-0-image-a-48_1512414707745.jpg)
According to the firm, the umbrellas are made with ultra-rigid high-strength steel alloys, allowing them to achieve a slim profile over a greater distance, while remaining sturdy. The ‘elegant’ sidewalk sheds are also equipped with LED lights
With translucent panels constructed from clear polymer resin, the firm claims the installations allow 90 percent of light through.
‘This means sweeping skyward views, incredible amounts of sunlight and an airy feeling,’ according to the project’s website.
‘Designed for the most extreme environments and applications.’
The ‘elegant’ sidewalk sheds are also equipped with LED lights, to keep the system illuminated even at night.
![The white sidewalk shed is designed to be ‘modern and harmonious,’ allowing natural light and city views to remain visible while the structure is up](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/19/46FB402000000578-0-image-m-56_1512415014281.jpg)
The white sidewalk shed is designed to be ‘modern and harmonious,’ allowing natural light and city views to remain visible while the structure is up
According to the firm, the umbrellas are made with ultra-rigid high-strength steel alloys, allowing them to achieve a slim profile over a greater distance, while remaining sturdy.
Despite winning the NYC Design contest back in 2009, the project has remained too expensive to adopt in the city.
But, those involved with the system now say it’s cost effective, according to Yahoo.
The firm ‘learned lessons from the Installation in Toronto, Andrés Cortés, founder of Urban Umbrella, told Yahoo Finance.
![Unsightly scaffolding ‘sheds’ that dominate New York City sidewalks are set to get a sleek new design](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/19/46FB5D6E00000578-0-image-a-53_1512414981910.jpg)
![The firm previously tried out a two-month installation in lower Manhattan in 2011](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/19/46FB5D9000000578-0-image-a-52_1512414981857.jpg)
Unsightly scaffolding ‘sheds’ that dominate New York City sidewalks (stock image shown left) are set to get a sleek new design. Urban Umbrella has now installed a new system in the Flatiron District, after a two-month stint in lower Manhattan in 2011 (right)
![The project is expected to come to two more buildings in New York, along with installations in Boston, Quebec, and Vancouver, according to Yahoo. It could replace ugly sidewalk sheds (as seen above) with a sleeker system](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/12/04/19/46FB5D8500000578-0-image-a-50_1512414973365.jpg)
The project is expected to come to two more buildings in New York, along with installations in Boston, Quebec, and Vancouver, according to Yahoo. It could replace ugly sidewalk sheds (as seen above) with a sleeker system
And, this past January, the company raised $1.5 million in seed funding.
As construction remains an ever-present fixture of New York City streets, the team behind the project said the new design could make the streets look far more pleasant.
‘There is a lot of opportunity to affect the quality of people’s lives in this project,’ Cortes explained in the past.
‘On the walk to work, on coffee breaks, New Yorkers make their way through these dark ugly structures.’