How Urban Umbrella Is Illuminating Cities One Sidewalk at a Time
- May 3, 2019
- 10 min
Alternative to Traditional Sidewalk Coverings
Urban Umbrella is brightening a once-dismal market by transforming the foundational infrastructure of cities and elevating them skyward. In an innovative approach, products commonly employed for drains, grates, and walkways are now enhancing overhead safety and visibility for pedestrians.
For over 50 years, scaffolding was an industry that existed without improvement. In 2009, a creative group challenging the status quo set out to find a unique and practical scaffolding solution to the issue of sidewalk sheds.
The Plague of Scaffolding Bridges
Every ten years, mandatory building inspections pave the way for extensive construction or maintenance. These inspections resulted in approximately 300 miles of scaffolding throughout New York City. The traditional green plywood and metal cross bracing of sidewalk sheds are a familiar, if not unwelcome, sight to passersby.
These scaffolding bridges may only be a minor nuisance to pedestrians. For the businesses behind them, it could mean much more. The design of standard sidewalk canopies visually obscures storefronts, eliminates signage opportunities, and limits the reach of light. These obstacles reduce foot traffic and deter customers.
Estimates suggest that traditional scaffolding will force one in five establishments out of business. Surviving businesses typically lose around 20 percent of their revenue on average.
How Urban Umbrella Challenges the Status Quo
Considering these alarming statistics, Urban Umbrella opted to suggest a safer and more visually appealing alternative to conventional scaffolding structures.
Andrés Cortés, architect and co-founder of Urban Umbrella, sparked a revolution with his inventive approach. By using higher-quality steel and a more efficient design, scaffolding is no longer limited to the uninspiring standards of sidewalk dungeons.
Urban Umbrella’s team composed a scaffolding structure that is the opposite of its predecessor. The modern support system utilizes recycled steel beans that ascend upwards and extend outwards to resemble an unfurled umbrella. The lateral support of the design eliminates the need for obstructive cross-bearing. This shape is the inspiration behind the company’s name.
Assembling a roof with McNICHOLS® Bar Grating. ensures overhead protection. The corrosion-resistant Aluminum Grating has a durable construction and a high strength-to-weight ratio.
The material’s lightweight nature puts minimal pressure on supports. This allows for seamless assembly, while its durability increases safety and fulfills city regulations.
This Bar Grating is an essential part of satisfying New York building code requirements. The requirements mandate scaffolding load capacities of 300 pounds per square foot. Translucent plastic panels laid across the grating thoroughly protect pedestrians from falling construction debris.
This protective roof increases safety, while its translucent, open-grid structure allows light to flood sidewalks below. The sweeping views of the sky are a stark contrast to the dark confinement of plywood sheds.
How Bar Grating Provides a Solution
Assembling a roof with McNICHOLS® Bar Grating. ensures overhead protection. The corrosion-resistant Aluminum Grating has a durable construction and a high strength-to-weight ratio.
The material’s lightweight nature puts minimal pressure on supports. This allows for seamless assembly, while its durability increases safety and fulfills city regulations.
This Bar Grating is an essential part of satisfying New York building code requirements. The requirements mandate scaffolding load capacities of 300 pounds per square foot. Translucent plastic panels laid across the grating thoroughly protect pedestrians from falling construction debris.
This protective roof increases safety, while its translucent, open-grid structure allows light to flood sidewalks below. The sweeping views of the sky are a stark contrast to the dark confinement of plywood sheds.
With multiple redesigns, intensive engineering, and extensive examination including small missile tests, Cortés affirms that the new scaffolding is even stronger than before. Even the fabrication methods of Urban Umbrella contribute to a safer pedestrian experience. Workers hastily assemble traditional scaffolding bridges without considering the building's architecture. While Urban Umbrellas are custom-fabricated for each location.
On average, scaffolding in New York City is active for approximately 350 days. Although there are cases of sidewalk sheds that have been around for over 12 years. With these extended lifespans in mind, Urban Umbrella is providing an enhanced scaffolding solution. The solution is durable and assembled to be a continuous extension of each building.
Brand Partnership - Urban Umbrella x McNICHOLS
The Urban Umbrella team knew that a modern scaffolding solution would need to give brand customization back to tenants. As part of this effort, Urban Umbrella utilizes McNICHOLS® Perforated Metal to construct parapets. This material allows for light filtration and provides a space for companies to feature their signage--opportunities unavailable with traditional scaffolding. It was essential that the Urban Umbrella design include an aesthetic canvas to allow businesses to tailor their messaging. This advertising space aims to increase brand visibility and reverse the negative impacts of traditional scaffolding.
Beyond signage, Urban Umbrella continues to partner with store brands to provide a fully customized scaffolding experience. A recent collaboration with ULTA Beauty added festive spirit to sidewalks by installing pink scaffolding poles at their storefront. These advertising opportunities allow companies to take ownership of their locations, rather than being subjected to city-mandated structures.
An Urban Sculpture
The Urban Umbrella team knew that a modern scaffolding solution would need to give brand customization back to tenants. As part of this effort, Urban Umbrella utilizes McNICHOLS® Perforated Metal to construct parapets.
This material enables light filtration and offers companies a canvas for showcasing their signage—opportunities not possible with traditional scaffolding. It was essential that the Urban Umbrella design include an aesthetic canvas to allow businesses to tailor their messaging. This advertising space aims to increase brand visibility and reverse the negative impacts of traditional scaffolding.
Beyond signage, Urban Umbrella continues to partner with store brands to provide a fully customized scaffolding experience. A recent collaboration with ULTA Beauty added festive spirit to sidewalks by installing pink scaffolding poles at their storefront. Companies can take ownership of their locations through these advertising opportunities, rather than being subjected to city-mandated structures.
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If you’d like learn more about Bar Grating or Perforated Metal, please contact us at 855.318.8791, [email protected], or via Live Chat on mcnichols.com.