Only in NYC: The Shed’s impressive architecture is bridging artsy boundaries

The Shed serves as a new cultural hub for the New York City arts scene.

Located where Hudson Yard meets the end of the High Line, this new architectural wonder — designed by the interdisciplinary studio Diller Scofidio + Renfro with the collaborative help of the Rockwell Group — The Shed is situated in a newly bustling center of the city.

The Shed’s core structural principle is its ability to morph to the desires of the artists being showcased within it.

According to the Hudson Yard’s website, the Shed’s Bloomberg Building has two large gallery spaces, a theater, a rehearsal space, an event space, as well as an artist’s lab.

However, the most remarkable aspect of The Shed’s architectural capabilities can be clearly seen with its removable outer shell, called The McCourt.

The structure of The McCourt is optimal for harsh New York weather as well as movability due to its inflatable shell being made out of a Teflon fabric.

This isn’t the first time architects have experimented with inflatability — the O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida opened in 1980 and has a roof made from a similar design strategy.

Most notably, however, is the McCourt’s ability to move away from the original building to serve as an additional performance space, effectively melding the visual and performing art worlds.

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The Shed’s adaptability allows it to transform into a space to accommodate a multitude of different artists no matter what medium they use.

Chairman Daniel Doctoroff told Town and Country Magazine,

“The idea was, ‘Let’s create the world’s most flexible cultural institution, both programmatically and physically.’”

As of April 22, The Shed’s program already consists of the Anne Caron play production Norma Jeane Baker of Troy as well as two visual/performative art exhibitions.

One exhibition, Reich Richter Pärt, focuses on the interactions between visual art and music through two live performances. Included in the exhibition are live performances by composers Arvo Part and Steve Reich as well as similar works of visual art by the German painter Gerhard Ritcher.

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The second exhibition is a free showcase of the work of the conceptual artist Trisha Donnelly. Make sure you make time to pull up you don’t want to miss out on NYC latest architectural and artsy feat.