Maybe it is because I have had street construction occurring around my venue since February (reaching my block December 1!) but my interest was piqued when I saw a FastCompany article about the effort to redesign the scaffolding used on construction projects in New York City.

The goal is to make the structures, also called construction sheds, less obtrusive and overbearing for pedestrians and more attractive overall.

I have written about efforts to make construction zones more welcoming in order to maintain a welcoming environment and sense of ease of access so that people continue to patronize businesses in construction zone.

While New Yorkers seem undeterred by the never ending construction they are surrounded with on a daily basis, the design concepts would most certainly facilitate the experience of people in other cities.

I will admit I never considered that there might be alternatives to the boxy, dark passages that loom over the sidewalks of cities. There is obviously a need to protect passersby from falling debris and separate construction zones from the streets. As the article notes, the scaffolding is not only an obstacle for pedestrians to navigate, but they frequently block building entrances and limit where people can exit their cars.

Some of the designs submitted are much more open on the sides and above allowing light to better suffuse the space. One design is even stronger than current structures even with fewer cross bracing. Others accommodate the current placement of benches, street lights, public art, fire escapes and other structures maintaining safety features and avoiding the need to remove amenities and attractions.

For me this was a little more evidence of how creativity and utility can intersect to improve quality of life for communities.