The Shed, located at the intersection of Hudson Yards and the High Line, embodies a bold vision for the future of cultural spaces. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro with Rockwell Group, it is a model of architectural innovation and adaptability. Housing a nonprofit cultural organization, The Shed’s 200,000 square feet can transform to accommodate a wide range of artistic disciplines, offering flexible spaces for exhibitions, performances, and events. Its dynamic design redefines the relationship between art and architecture while enhancing Manhattan’s evolving urban landscape.
The Shed Technical Information
- Architects 1-21: Diller Scofidio + Renfro & Rockwell Group
- Location: 545 West 30th Street, Hudson Yards, Manhattan, New York City, USA
- Area: 18,500 m2 | 200,000 Sq. Ft.
- Project Year: 2008 – 2019
- Photographs: © Iwan Baan
The Shed’s open infrastructure can be permanently flexible for an unknowable future and responsive to variability in scale, media, technology, and the evolving needs of artists.
– Diller Scofidio + Renfro Architects
The Shed Photographs
Architectural Innovation: Kinetic Design and Flexibility
One of the most striking aspects of The Shed is its movable shell, which defines the building’s identity. Inspired by the industrial history of the West Side Rail Yards and the nearby High Line, the shell is a kinetic architectural feature that can expand and contract to create various spatial configurations. The telescoping shell, made from an exposed steel diagrid frame and clad in translucent ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) panels, glides along rails to transform The Shed’s adjacent public plaza into a controlled performance space called The McCourt. This flexibility allows the building to host large-scale events while maintaining an open public space when the shell is retracted.
The kinetic elements of The Shed—particularly the six massive bogie wheels that support the shell and the sled drive mechanism powered by twelve motors—are a feat of engineering. The entire transformation of the building takes just five minutes, creating a versatile environment that adapts to the needs of the artists and events it hosts. The design exemplifies how The Shed embraces change with a structure that is always ready to evolve.
Inside the base building, the programmatic flexibility is equally impressive. The two expansive galleries on Levels 2 and 4 and the Griffin Theater provide column-free, adaptable spaces for exhibitions, performances, and events. These spaces can merge with The McCourt to create a contiguous area for even larger gatherings, demonstrating how the design fosters versatility. The result is an architectural environment that can shift and reconfigure, offering a blueprint for the future of cultural institutions.
Technical and Structural Mastery
The Shed’s kinetic design is not only an architectural marvel but also a technical one. Thornton Tomasetti, the structural and kinetic engineering firm behind the project, overcame significant challenges in constructing the movable shell, which rests on six bogie wheel assemblies and weighs millions of pounds. Each bogie wheel, made from hardened forged steel, carries an immense load spread across a surface area the size of a human hand. The engineering precision required to achieve this level of movement and structural stability is extraordinary, especially given the building’s size and complexity.
In addition to its kinetic prowess, The Shed is designed with sustainability in mind. The building has achieved LEED Silver certification, with energy-efficient systems that include a radiant heating system embedded in the plaza and a variable forced-air system to serve the lower, occupied sections of the shell. Despite the shell’s vast interior volume, only the lower 30% needs temperature control, optimizing energy use. The translucent ETFE panels used in the shell’s cladding also contribute to energy efficiency, offering the thermal insulation of glass at a fraction of the weight. The result is an environmentally conscious design that exceeds New York City’s energy code requirements by 25%, setting a new standard for large cultural buildings.
Aesthetic Considerations and Cultural Identity
The Shed’s architectural language speaks to its surroundings’ industrial past and the creative future it envisions. Located next to the High Line and within the broader Hudson Yards development, The Shed embraces the raw, utilitarian aesthetic of the neighborhood’s history while simultaneously projecting a forward-thinking design. The use of kinetic elements, such as the gantry-crane-inspired sled drive, and the exposed steel diagrid frame of the shell, evoke the area’s industrial heritage, grounding the building within its context.
The building also makes a bold statement in its aesthetic relationship with the arts. The Plaza, when not in use by The McCourt, serves as a public space that incorporates art into the everyday experience of visitors. A site-specific work by artist Lawrence Weiner, IN FRONT OF ITSELF, is embedded into the Plaza, transforming the ground into a walkable piece of art. This integration of art into the architecture not only enhances the cultural identity of The Shed but also blurs the boundaries between building and artwork, between structure and stage.
The flexible infrastructure of The Shed supports a variety of artistic endeavors, offering spaces that can adapt to the evolving nature of art. The building becomes a sculptural object in its own right while also providing a neutral backdrop for the artists it serves. The Shed’s ability to host multiple disciplines under one roof without compromising the architectural quality of each space is a significant achievement in design.
The Shed Plans
The Shed Image Gallery
About Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Diller Scofidio + Renfro is an interdisciplinary design studio at the forefront of architecture and urbanism, known for blending art, technology, and architecture to create innovative and culturally significant projects. Founded by Elizabeth Diller and Ricardo Scofidio in 1981, the firm has since expanded with the addition of Charles Renfro and Benjamin Gilmartin. Their work spans diverse typologies, focusing on public and cultural spaces that challenge conventional architectural norms. Notable projects include The High Line, the MOMA Renovation, and The Broad Museum. Their design for The Shed exemplifies their commitment to flexibility, kinetic architecture, and integration with the urban fabric.
Notes & Additional Credits
- Lead Architect: Diller Scofidio + Renfro
- Collaborating Architect: Rockwell Group
- Owner’s Representative: Levien & Company
- Construction Manager: Sciame Construction, LLC
- Structural, Façade, and Kinetic Engineering: Thornton Tomasetti
- MEP and Fire Protection Consultant: Jaros, Baum & Bolles (JB&B)
- Kinetic Systems Consultant: Hardesty and Hanover
- Energy Modeling Consultant: Vidaris
- Lighting Consultant: Tillotson Design Associates
- Acoustics / Audio / Visual Consultant: Akustiks
- Theater Consultant: Fisher Dachs
- Structural Steel Fabricator: Cimolai
- ETFE Fabricator: Vector Foiltec
- Code Consultants: Code Consultants, Inc.
- Vertical Transport Consultants: Van Deusen & Associates
- Security Consultants: Ducibella Venter & Santore
- Façade Maintenance: Entek Engineering
- Waterproofing: James R. Gainfort AIA Consulting Architects PC
- Specifications: Construction Specifications Inc.
- Client: The Shed – Independent, nonprofit cultural organization
- Project Cost: $404 million (construction hard costs)
