The Shed Center (its building is named after its sponsor - Bloomberg Building) provides a cultural program for the largest development project in New York, the Hudson Yards complex. The complex is located above the marshalling yard on the banks of the Hudson River, and the final section of the High Line flyover park is located nearby.
The Shed was originally conceived to be larger and more versatile, but considerations of "effective development" made it smaller and more modest. However, the original idea of transforming the building, depending on the needs of the moment, is still implemented. The 37 m high retractable shell consists of a diagonal steel frame and translucent ETFE “cushions”, some of which are 21 m long, which is a record for today. From below, movement is provided by six pairs of wheels (four with a single axle, two with a double axle) and rails with a length of 83 m, on top - "skids" with 12 motors of 15 horsepower each. The transformation process takes five minutes.
When unfolded, the base and shell form a space for large concerts, exhibitions and McCourt meetings, which also occupies the space in front of the building. With a size of 1,600 m2, this McDvoor can accommodate 1,250 seats or a group of over 2,000 standing spectators. It can be connected to two exhibition halls in the base section and the capacity can be increased to 3000 people. The lower third of McCourt is covered by climate control, in general it is sound, light and heat insulated, but if you wish, you can open the "gate" outside and connect it to the city.
If The Shed is folded, various events can be arranged on the area (1860 m2) in front of it, while the eastern facade can become a screen: there is sound and light equipment.
The base building has two museum-standard exhibition halls (total area 2340 m2, ceiling height 6 m), and the Kenneth Griffin theater hall of the black box type (1080 m2, 500 spectators), which can be divided in two and use the resulting premises, including at the same time. At the very top are a creative lab for artists from the surrounding Manhattan area (160 m2), a rehearsal studio (305 m2) and an event space (880 m2). Offices, technical rooms, dressing rooms, storage facilities are located on the ground floor and on the underground level of the adjacent
residential skyscraper 15 Hudson Yards (architects - also Diller Scofidio + Renfro): this made it possible to give all the spaces of The Shed exclusively for artistic purposes.
