Urban Umbrella Prototype
Reinventing Scaffolding
In 2009, Agencie’s design was the winning entry in a city-sponsored design competition. Run by the Department of Buildings, the competition sought a fresh new sidewalk shed to replace the dark, boxy scaffolding that is ubiquitous in New York City. Our design, called Urban Umbrella, melded high-strength steel and polycarbonate into a shape that resembles a gracefully unfurling umbrella.
Urban Umbrella is more than just a pretty rendering. After winning the competition, we extensively engineered the structure to meet the standards of the Department of Buildings. Our architects performed finite element analysis on the structure to meet the 300 lbs per square foot loading requirements. The panel and frame system tested for small missile impact. Agencie engineered over 250 pages of calculations for review by the Department of Building.
We tested the assembly for impact resistance in a facility in Pennsylvania. The small missile impact test involves shooting a brick out of a cannon, simulating a brick falling 100ft. The shed is designed to withstand 300lbs per SF of Live Loading. Engineered with superior materials to the modern NYCBC codes, Urban Umbrella delivers more strength, higher rigidity, more sustainably with greater efficiency.
With arching struts sweeping the structure upwards, Urban Umbrella is modern and harmonious. It is gleaming white with transparent overhead panels and sustainable soft LED lighting. Not only is Urban Umbrella better looking than its predecessors, but it also allows for more air, light, and walking-around room underneath.
SERVICE
- ARCHITECTURE
- ENGINEERING
- CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
LOCATION
- NEW YORK,NY
STATUS
- COMPLETED
Client
- NYC Buildings
- Downtown Alliance
- Mayor's Office
RECOGNITION
- WINNER OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK URBANSHED COMPETITION
- NEW YORK TIMES
- NBC NEWS
- FAST COMPANY
- NY1
- CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER
TEAM
- SARRAH KHAN, PE
- ANDRÉS CORTÉS, AIA
- SCOTT WAGNER
- Young H. Choi
