The Culture Shed (aka The Shed) that is being constructed as part of the mammoth Hudson Yards development on the West Side of Manhattan is progressing impressively.
Yesterday Haglund was down at Caffè Via Trenta having cappuccino and fluffy cornetti when he struck up a conversation with a couple of steelworkers who wandered in on their coffee break. These know-no-fear Flying Wallenda-like ballerinos in steel-toed boots, who casually waltz along steel beams hundreds of feet up in the air like they're meandering through The High Line park below them, were pretty excited that their project would make its deadline.
According to the steelworkers, our new Culture Shed is going to roll out her conestoga frame onto the pavilion for the first time on May 24th. This maiden voyage, which might be all of a couple of hundred feet, will represent a magnificent example of the city's commitment to making the arts a vibrant part of every neighborhood. The Shed, in addition to providing a unique performance space, will also house thousands of square feet of gallery space over several floors.
No doubt about it, The Shed will be the place to be when it opens in 2018 as originally announced. Wait a minute! Now The Shed's website says it won't open until 2019. But the steelworkers beamed with pride about their project meeting its deadline! Oh well …. 😞
Haglund will try to be Johnny-on-the-spot on the 24th so that he can get video of The Shed's maiden voyage. Until then, here are some photos:
Here is one set of wheels on which The Shed will slowly roll out onto the pavilion: