Street Lab’s colorful, modular equipment is a familiar sight throughout NYC. At open streets, block parties, and other public events, Street Lab works with community groups to transform streets with temporary mobile furniture—everything from an obstacle course to a communal table to a reading room—creating pop-up spaces for play, learning, and connection, many in historically underserved neighborhoods that lack safe open space for recreation. Their newest activation, Oasis, addresses the concurrent vulnerability of these neighborhoods during high heat events by using water, plants, and shade to encourage people of all ages to gather and cool off together, without energy-intensive air conditioning.
Visit Street Lab’s Brooklyn warehouse and get a behind-the-scenes look at how Street Lab creates better public spaces for all New Yorkers. Hear about their approach to design and logistics, see the equipment in action (including the Oasis misting river!), and meet Street Lab staff and fellow Metropolitan members who are passionate about improving public space and urban design.