The underground pedestrian tunnel linking Lee Street at Glenwood Avenue with UNCG, has been completed since April, 2014. The 170 foot tunnel cost ten million dollars.* The North Carolina Railroad partnered with the University and contributed a million dollars for the project. As seen in the photos, above and below, the tunnel is hauntingly beautiful. It is open, clean, and convenient. Students can leave campus safely and get to housing in a tunnel with ample lighting and a camera to monitor safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. The waffled ceiling and wavy walls minimize noise in the tunnel. Also from the Lee Street side, you can see blue paint; however, as seen in the above photo, from the main campus side, only gold is visible. The Lee Street side features amphitheatre-like seating where students can gather.
For ABC Wednesday today, for this S.T.E.A.M. Round, we're featuring J for JOINT EFFORT; the joining of two sides of campus as well as a joint effort between the university and the community. Increasingly, the scientific world is emphasizing collaboration and joint effort. If you look closely, you can see students in the first photo, and a train crossing in one of the photos below.
*reference, News & Record, here.
Joint effort is a good thing. The more people join each other in creating beautiful things like this, the better.
Have a great week.
Wil, ABCW Team.
Posted by: Reader Wil | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 10:37 AM
The ceiling reminds me of snakeskin.
Posted by: William Kendall | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 11:58 AM
A really nice addition to the university. I walked through it recently and was proud of such a well-done and functional structure.
Posted by: Jane T. Mitchell | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 03:20 PM
We could do with more beautiful things in the world like that, so often tunnels are a wall of concrete with graffiti.
Posted by: Joy | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 04:41 PM
Yes @Joy, we're hoping this one stays graffiti free!
Posted by: Janis & David | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 05:35 PM
that's a bit hypnotic, actually
ROG, ABCW
Posted by: Roger Green | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 06:41 PM
@William It rather feels like walking underneath a snake.
Posted by: Janis & David | Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 08:51 PM
The first time I saw a covered pedestrian walkway on a bridge was at U of Minnesota. This is quite a nice way to get to the other side of the road. It feels a little psychedelic. I'm afraid here the walls would be tagged in no time.
Posted by: Oakland Daily Photo | Thursday, September 18, 2014 at 01:52 AM