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 “will significantly enhance the public realm with improved circulation, aesthetics, and natural light while protecting the public from potential overhead hazards,” the release says. The aim is to transform the sheds “from an eyesore into a welcome element of New Yorkers’ civic life.”

Sidewalk sheds, or scaffolding, protect 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 adhere to a uniform, 1980s-era design consisting of a flat deck, a plywood parapet, steel columns, cross-bracing, railings, and electrical lighting. Although they are inexpensive and code-compliant, the sheds are widely seen as a nuisance to city residents.

In 2024, the city’s Department of Buildings selected a team led by PAU and another by Arup to reimagine the city’s sheds. To meet budget constraints, PAU is designing a standardized “kit of parts” for easy construction and maintenance. A simple, adjustable aluminum frame will allow the sheds to be erected by only two people and moved around a site as needed.