Outdoor Dining Pavilions

Providing safe dining

Sedeo strata

Order
supellex
Family
sedes
Genus
sedeo
Species
Sedeo strata
Sub-species
S. strata unum (c.n. Single pavilion)
S. strata pariēs (c.n. Edge wall pavilion)
S. strata domos (c.n. Multiple pavilions)

Description

Outdoor dining pavilions, often temporary, located on public thoroughfares. Built with mostly short-lived materials such as plywood, wood framing, or inflatable plastic.

Subspecies variations

We’ve observed three distinct subspecies and variations which are important to call out:

S. strata unum
Single pavilion
S. strata pariēs
Edge wall pavilion
S. strata domos
Multiple pavilions

Identification

Generally boxy in appearance, but can be composed of multiple structures, the outdoor dining area has a rain screen, protective bollards, and chairs & tables inside.

Single pavilion (S. strata unum)
Composed of a single continuous pavilion, often a simple shed or gable roof
Edge wall pavilion (S. strata pariēs)
Composed of low walls at the perimeter, often planters
Multiple pavilions (S. strata domos)
Composed of smaller multiples of the same pavilion, such as bubbles or yurts.
Examples: Outdoor Dining Yurts

Habitat

Primarily curbside, on both the sidewalk and roadway. On both primary and secondary streets.

Range

Throughout the five boroughs.

Examples

Discussion

COVID-19 dealt a blow to humanity in many ways, and in New York City, restaurants in particular. The Outdoor Dining Program was conceived by the New York City Department of Transportation as a safe way for people to support local restaurants. These outdoor dining pavilions are generally on the sidewalk or in the parking lane directly across from the restaurant. The NYC Open Restaurant program is only for food establishments seeking permission to place outdoor seating in front of their establishment on the sidewalk and/or roadway. Check out all the NYC Open Restaurants on the map and dashboard.

There are two similar but distinct regulations for restaurants providing outdoor dining on the sidewalk or on the street. Structures, seating and heating elements are required for both, but on roadways special regulations on Roadway Barriers, and FDNY required materials, and when not in use the tables and chairs must be removed or secured in place when not in operation.

Climate impacts

Undoubtably all of this temporary construction has created additional carbon emissions and the restaurant’s individual embodied energy use is higher due to both the structure built and any heating elements employed. But this must be balanced by the fact that private automobiles (which get to park for free on the street) are removed from the street. The substitution of a lower-embodied energy item such as outdoor dining which replaces a heavy carbon and embodied energy activity, and a better use of finite public space is a net positive.

This shows that we can divide and apportion our finite street space in a way which allows fuller use and utility, and still allow movement of people on the right-of-way.

We believe Open Restaurants and the companion program NYC Open Streets needs to become a permanent part of the street life, not just a temporary response to the pandemic.