In the wake of pandemic-era adaptations, WXY led the effort to turn temporary outdoor restaurant dining areas into fixtures of New York City street life with a modular framework that’s as much about civic identity as it is about dining. 

New York’s initial outdoor dining program was an urgent response to the unprecedented circumstances of COVID-19. The challenge now lies in transitioning these temporary structures into sturdy, easily assembled and collapsed, and equitable installations that enhance New York City’s vibrant street life while meeting rigorous safety and accessibility standards. 

Our kit-of-parts approach enhances the character of New York City’s streets while standing up to the unique challenges of corner setups, steep slopes, and “floating” parking lanes.  Modular barriers, flooring elements, and canopy systems work in concert, incorporating practical solutions for heat and electrical inputs that make outdoor dining viable across seasons. The framework remains open and iterative, designed to hit a price point that enables equitable participation across the city. As new vendors, products, and neighborhood needs emerge, the system can grow and adapt, creating a living design solution. 

We tested our prototypes in real-time across four distinct sites with a team of structural engineers, fabricators, and city agencies, including SITU Fabrication and Silman Engineers. The Lower East Side served as the first testing ground, with three additional prototypes in development. This iterative process ensured the practicality and transformative nature of the final design framework.

The project promises to democratize outdoor dining design while maintaining high aesthetic and safety standards. The resulting system will enable restaurants across the city to create inviting outdoor spaces that feel uniquely New York.