Call it a sidewalk shed or bridge: pedestrian protection by any name is viewed as a Big Apple eyesore to many, including local building officials and the New York City chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Through a design competition, they are trying to improve the covers, which they say number 6,000 and add up to more than 1 million linear feet of unsightliness.
In August, the New York City Department of Buildings and AIA NY launched an international design competition called urbanSHED to create a designer shed that improves the pedestrian experience while maintaining or exceeding safety requirements.
Registration for the competition ends on September 18, and all entries are due on October 2. Three finalists will be announced during the week of October 7, and each will receive a $5,000 stipend to refine their entries. The winner, which can be an individual, group or firm, will be announced on December 17. The winner will receive a $10,000 prize, and the design will be built as part of the Alliance for Downtown New York’s Re-Construction Art Program.
Seen at Archrecord. For more information, go to the competition’s official website.
