Urban umbrella opens in Toronto

[AndrewJM3D]

The Canadian Press
Posted: Oct 27, 2012 10:17 AM ET


The urban umbrella made its debut in Toronto this week. (Canadian Press )

A pedestrian-friendly alternative to clunky wood and metal scaffolding that turns sidewalks into narrow, dark tunnels around construction sites is making its Canadian debut.

A pair of Toronto construction projects are said to be the first use of Urban Umbrella's metal and plastic design outside of New York City.

The new scaffolding — made of recycled steel and resembling an unfurling umbrella — is being installed on Yonge Street next to the downtown site of Ryerson University's new student learning centre.

The Urban Umbrella also is being adopted by developer Great Gulf for its One Bloor condominium project at the corner of Yonge Street and Bloor Street.

Urban Umbrella was first introduced in New York City after winning an international design competition sponsored by New York's department of buildings and Mayor Michael Bloomberg to address the many projects that were taking up space on sidewalks.

Designer Young Choi, architect Andres Cortes and Canadian structural engineer Sarrah Khan invented a design to maximize sidewalk space while beautifying the construction site.

Arching struts hold the structure up while translucent plastic panels allow for 90 per cent of natural light onto the sidewalk, the inventors say.

The structure has vertical poles on either side holding it up, which leaves plenty of open space in between, unlike the criss-crossing metal poles used in conventional scaffolding.

Full story - http://http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada...-umbrella.html

[Toronto2008]

Proud Ryerson alumni

Go Rye!

[Taller, Better]

But, isn't the purpose of scaffolding to shield people below if objects fall down? If you are under the glass and something falls down, you don't have to be David Suzuki to figure out what happens next.

[AndrewJM3D]

It's plastic TB and it probably would have to be up to code to protect from things like falling debris, tools, dirt etc. No scaffolding will protect you if an I-Beam decides to come crashing down.

[Taller, Better]

I wasn't expecting hoarding to save me from a collapsing building or a falling I-Beam, but thick plywood would provide a better shield for a falling drill or relatively heavy tools, would it not? I walked under it today, by the way.

[rbt]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

I wasn't expecting hoarding to save me from a collapsing building or a falling I-Beam, but thick plywood would provide a better shield for a falling drill or relatively heavy tools, would it not?

Plastic can be significantly stronger than the same thickness of wood.

In bulletproof glass (a mix of glass and plastic layers), the glass is actually the soft flexible portion. Plastic stops the bullet and the glass breaks/spreads the load.

I have no idea what the material in this actually is but a layering of plastics could accomplish something similar.

[Taller, Better]

This in no way looked thick enough to be "bullet proof" to the naked eye, but I didn't climb uptop, either.

[AndrewJM3D]

Originally Posted by Taller, Better

I wasn't expecting hoarding to save me from a collapsing building or a falling I-Beam, but thick plywood would provide a better shield for a falling drill or relatively heavy tools, would it not? I walked under it today, by the way.

Plexiglass is can be very strong and I'm sure the one being used has a high impact threshold.

[MattToronto]

Originally Posted by AndrewJM3D

Plexiglass is can be very strong and I'm sure the one being used has a high impact threshold.

Yeah, most scaffolding just uses this sheet metal as is. Plexiglass is usually a stronger option but more expensive...