Project Spotlight: Sidewalk Labs’ Smart City Building Raincoat

This project spotlight records WRS steel fabrication for a Sidewalk Labs building-raincoat prototype in Toronto. It describes completed prototype work, rather than the current status of a neighbourhood development.

Quayside Prototypes by Google-Affiliated Sidewalk Labs

Heated, hexagonal-shaped sidewalks that can light up and large umbrella-like raincoats that shield from precipitation are among the most exciting prototypes Sidewalk Labs has to offer. The building raincoats also adjust by season – effectively allowing a transition from indoors to outdoors based on the weather. Interactive projections are also projected onto the raincoats based on current events in the city.

Steel Raincoat Support Structure

As a leading firm for custom metal fabrication in Toronto, Weld Rich and Steel assisted with the structural steel framing that would support the plastic-like raincoat.

The project took roughly one week to complete, to assemble the steel components. The only caveats are Toronto’s harsh winter weather and the sheer weight of the steel components, totalling roughly 7500 lbs across all three steel parts. Regardless, the final product is stunning. The raincoats offer a level of contemporary style and functionality to the underdeveloped Queen’s Quay area – effectively maximizing the amount of time Toronto-dwellers can spend outdoors, even in the colder months.

The value of this historic prototype is the fabrication challenge: supporting an unusual architectural concept with a custom steel assembly. Future development proposals and approvals should be checked separately from this completed project.

If you’re looking for custom metal fabrication in Toronto, look no further than Weld Rich and Steel. Our team of professionals is fully capable of bringing your design to life, regardless of the project scope and specifications. For all your custom metal fabrication needs in Toronto, call us today!