Case Study: The Shed achieves a future-proof, movable arts center with Thornton Tomasetti

The Shed creates a 17,000-square-foot moving arts space with Thornton Tomasetti

The Shed, an avant-garde arts center in New York City, faced the challenge of creating a future-proof venue capable of accommodating any type of artistic performance or exhibition. To achieve this unprecedented flexibility, they engaged the engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti for its integrated structural, kinetics, and façade consulting services.

Thornton Tomasetti designed and engineered a massive, telescoping outer shell that rolls on rails to double the building's footprint, creating a 17,000-square-foot space called The McCourt. This innovative, kinetic solution allowed The Shed to become a highly flexible cultural hub. The $275-million project, which completed in 2019, has been a critical success, winning multiple awards and being hailed as an engineering marvel that provides a more democratic arts experience for all audiences.

The Shed