In an effort to beautify New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently unveiled a new design for sidewalk sheds – the wood and steel structures built to protect pedestrians walking alongside buildings under construction. There are approximately 6,000 sidewalk sheds in New York City, representing more than one million linear feet. The competition winner, “Urban Umbrella,” was developed by Young-Hwan Choi, a 28-year-old, first-year architecture student from the University of Pennsylvania. For his design, Choi was awarded a $10,000 prize. “Sidewalk sheds are installed to protect pedestrians from construction or building maintenance work, and this design is a perfect way to improve safety and the quality of life for all New Yorkers,” said Buildings Commissioner LiMandri. “This new design is great for building owners because less of your building will be hidden, and it’s great for pedestrians because there’s more space to walk, run, or shop than ever before. I am confident this design will change the city’s landscape and make people fall in love with this city all over again.”
via bustler