The Shed Cultural Center

The Shed is a cultural center and exhibition space in New York City that hosts events dedicated to art, film, design, food, fashion, and much more. For example, it serves as the home of the annual art fair Frieze New York.

History and Architecture

The idea for The Shed emerged in the 2000s as part of the Hudson Yards project, also known for attractions such as City Climb and the Vessel. City authorities and project initiators wanted to create an innovative cultural venue that could flexibly adapt to different forms of art.

The architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro designed the building with a unique feature: a movable outer shell — a massive structure on wheels that can slide outward, transforming the adjacent outdoor plaza into a covered performance space.

The Shed consists of an eight-story base with exhibition halls, a theater, and rehearsal studios, along with the mobile shell that creates The McCourt — a spacious venue for large-scale performances and installations. This architectural innovation makes the center literally transformable, capable of changing shape depending on the needs of each project.

Collection and Exhibitions

Unlike traditional museums, The Shed does not maintain a permanent collection. Its main mission is to produce and present new artistic works. The center collaborates actively with contemporary artists, musicians, choreographers, and directors, providing them with resources to create unique projects.

Notable projects have included:

Soundtrack of America, a music program exploring the contributions of African American culture to U.S. music.

A large-scale augmented reality installation by Trisha Baga.

The premiere of innovative theatrical works, such as Björk’s futuristic opera.

Interesting Facts

Transformation Mechanism: The building’s movable shell weighs about 4,000 tons and can extend in just five minutes using industrial wheels with low friction. The entire system is operated by a simple remote control — like something from a sci-fi film.

Futuristic Design: The cladding of the moving structure is made of translucent ETFE, a super-light plastic that is 100 times lighter than glass, yet durable, long-lasting, and highly insulating.

Sustainability: The architecture was designed with environmental efficiency in mind: the HVAC system automatically shuts down in unoccupied areas, and construction materials were selected for a low carbon footprint.

Versatility: The Shed’s spaces can be adapted for almost any purpose — from intimate exhibitions to large concerts. The halls can transform into a cinema, laboratory, or concert venue.