🌆 ACE Club Digest - Details On Our Spring Hang

Save the Date for the Spring Hang! Wednesday May 14th. Come grab a brew at Beer Authority in Time Square after work. Weather permitting we’ll be hanging on their outdoor terrace.

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Speaking of outdoor dining…

While the first official day of Spring each year is March 20th, last Saturday, March 19th, felt like the first unofficial day of Summer in NYC. Vibes and temperatures were high, parks were full, and lines were long. The only thing missing was outdoor dining sheds. I dug into the new al fresco dining program, Dining Out NYC, to find some information that may be interesting to an ACE member - foodie or not!

Quick Facts about the Program

• Dining Out NYC, led by the Department of Transportation (DOT) breaks outdoor dining into two categories: Roadside and Sidewalk

• The permits for Roadside dining are seasonal - restaurants can keep their sheds up from April thru November each year. Sidewalk set-ups are allowed year-round.

• The Eater reported that 3,000 applications for outdoor dining were submitted as of December 2024 and due to popular demand and lengthy process, hundreds of establishment were granted conditional approval so they wouldn’t miss the season start

Now onto the fun part: Construction and Design

• Construction of roadside sheds can begin on March 25th, with dining to commence on April 1

• Establishments have options for how to construct their dining sheds:

  • NYC DOT published resources to guide establishments through the process:

    • Marketplace features a directory of products for rent as well as design and other services

    • Set-up Menu offers options for roadways and curbside compliant designs for establishments that want to build their own

  • SITU, and WXY architecture + urban design worked with the city to develop renderings & prototypes for the program

• The DOT Rentals are available for prices as low as just over $1,000 a month, or $33 a day, to provide affordable set-up options that do not require restaurants to find storage when the roadway outdoor dining season ends

👨‍🏫 Upcoming AEC Courses & Events

• Construction AI Training Course - This online course is designed specifically for professionals in the construction industry who are eager to learn about AI and its transformative impact on their field.

• (3/31) Fundamentals of Interior Architecture - This course offers an introduction to the process of commercial and residential interior design. Learn about the principles of design, the history of design in Los Angeles and Southern California, and more (UCLA Extension)

📰 Our favorite reads, listens & watches

• How New Materials are Changing Architecture - learn about 5 cutting edge materials changing the world of design

• Why Austria's New Skyscraper is a Game Changer - the DC2 is a unique building that came with numerous design and engineering challenges. Check out The BIM’s intriguing breakdown of how this structure came to be.

• How Empathy Should Reshape Our Built Environment - this thoughtful piece by Jonathan Ward, FAIA makes a compelling case for more empathy in the AEC world

Don’t forget to subscribe to ACE to get updates about meet-up and events

Until next time,

Emma & Sawyer