"The economic crisis permits us to stop and reconsider businessas usual at construction sites," says Rick Bell, executive directorof the American Institute of Architects' New York chapter, in arelease. "That's one of the reasons why the urbanSHED competitionis so important at this point in time. We have the opportunity tocall for a different, greener and better-designed way to protectpassers-by. When construction picks up again, the new standard--onethat addresses our city's safety, sustainability and streetscapeconcerns--will be ready."

The DOB and AIANY are sponsoring the competition, along with theAlliance for Downtown New York, the ABNY Foundation, theIlluminating Engineering Society New York City Section and the NewYork Building Congress. Providing additional support are the city'sDepartment of Transportation and Department of City Planning andthe Structural Engineers Assoc. of New York.

Elizabeth Berger, president of the Downtown Alliance, notes in arelease that the urbanSHED competition complements the alliance'sRe: Construction program of turning Lower Manhattan constructionbarriers into canvases for temporary artwork. The alliance onFriday announced that four temporary installations have been put upat separate construction sites through the Re: Con program.