Violations & compliance · 11/03/2026
DOB shows two new PAU sidewalk shed designs at 280 Broadway
Two sidewalk shed prototypes by PAU, the Baseline Shed and the Speed Shed, are on view outside DOB headquarters in Lower Manhattan. They use modular aluminum framing, angled roofs and see-through decking or netting to let in light. DOB is writing rules to allow their use citywide, and the mayor says active sheds are down about 1,200, or 15 percent, this year.
Reported by 6sqftRead the original ↗
What happened
Two new sidewalk shed designs are on public view outside the Department of Buildings (DOB) headquarters at 280 Broadway in Lower Manhattan, 6sqft reported on 11/03/2026. The designs come from the firm Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU). They are called the Baseline Shed and the Speed Shed. This is the first time either design has been set up on a city sidewalk.
The Baseline Shed comes in heavy-duty and light-duty versions. It has clear polycarbonate decking and an angled roof that lets in daylight and keeps ground-floor storefronts visible. The Speed Shed is for lighter-duty use. Its angled roof is made of rockfall netting that catches debris but lets light through, and it has detachable wheels so it can be moved quickly. Both use a standard kit of adjustable aluminum parts meant to make installation, maintenance and reuse simpler and cheaper.
The project began in 2024 under former Mayor Eric Adams. DOB picked PAU and Arup to redesign sheds, and each firm got a $3.5 million contract through the "Get Sheds Down" campaign. The two firms made six prototypes. Arup's two designs, the Flex Shed and the Rigid Shed, were shown for 30 days at the same location earlier. 6sqft reports that TIME magazine named Arup's design one of its Best Inventions of 2026.
DOB is working on rules to make the new designs available citywide and expects to finish them before the end of 2026. Because the city owns the designs, anyone can reproduce them for free. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city has cut active sheds by roughly 1,200 since the start of the year, about a 15 percent drop. As of 11/03/2026, DOB counts 6,822 active sheds, in place an average of 568 days and covering 1,624,990 linear feet.
Key facts
- Location
- Outside DOB headquarters, 280 Broadway, Lower Manhattan
- Designer
- Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU)
- Designs shown
- Baseline Shed (heavy and light duty) and Speed Shed (light duty)
- Contracts
- $3.5 million each to PAU and Arup, awarded in 2024 under the Get Sheds Down campaign
- Agency
- NYC Department of Buildings (DOB)
- Rulemaking
- DOB expects to finalize rules for citywide use before the end of 2026
- Active sheds as of 11/03/2026
- 6,822, average age 568 days, 1,624,990 linear feet
- Reduction this year
- About 1,200 fewer active sheds since the start of the year, roughly 15 percent
What it means
Landlords
Once DOB finalizes its rules, owners who must put up a shed may have the option to use these city-owned designs, which can be copied for free. Until then, nothing changes, and current shed requirements still apply.
Buyers and owners
The modular aluminum kits are designed to cut labor and disruption, which could affect shed costs over time. The material gives no prices, so actual savings are unknown.
Tenants and voucher holders
Tenants may see brighter, less blocked sidewalks if the new designs catch on. DOB has also issued rules to limit shed coverage on large campuses, including NYCHA properties, where open spaces are far from buildings.
The highlights
- DOB expects to finalize rules for the new designs before the end of 2026.
- The designs are city-owned, so they can be freely reproduced.
- As of 11/03/2026, NYC had 6,822 active sheds, up 568 days on average.
Why it matters Landlords
Owners facing facade or construction work may soon have cheaper, modular, city-approved shed designs to use.
What to do: Ask your contractor about the new DOB shed designs once the rules are final.
Not known yet
- Whether using the new designs will be optional or required for owners
- What the new sheds cost to rent or build compared with standard sheds
- How long the PAU prototypes will stay on view at 280 Broadway
- The exact date the DOB rules will take effect
Background
In New York City, sidewalk sheds generally go up to protect pedestrians during construction, demolition or facade repair. Many stem from the required periodic facade inspections for buildings taller than six stories, when an inspector finds an unsafe condition. Sheds need a DOB permit. They can stay up for long periods when repairs are delayed, which is why the city has moved to limit how long they remain in place.
Summary written by Bulwark from 6sqft’s reporting. The original story is at 6sqft.com. This is general information, not legal advice.
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Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0