Client: University of North Carolina

Location: Greensboro, NC, United States

Completion date: 2014

Artwork budget: $10,000,000

Project Team

Architect

David Wagner

Wagner Murray Architects

Client

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Overview

This project allowed the architecture and design team to look at creative ways to make a 200 foot long concrete tunnel appealing. The tunnel is constructed beneath an active railroad right of way with daily train service. It’s reinforced concrete construction with limited ability to apply materials to the surfaces in the tunnel because of vibration from the trains above.
The design team developed patterns to create interest in the vaulted ceiling structure. Each pattern was fabricated with a rubber mold and concrete pattern models were tested. The final design created “movement” in the vault.

Goals

The UNCG project allowed the architecture and design team to look at creative ways to make a 200 foot long concrete tunnel more appealing. The tunnel is constructed beneath an active railroad right of way with daily train service. It is reinforced concrete construction with very limited ability to apply any materials to the surfaces in the tunnel because of vibration from the trains above.
The design team developed a series of patterns to create interest in the vaulted ceiling structure. Each of these patterns was fabricated with a rubber mold and concrete pattern models were tested. The final design which was agreed upon by the university and the design team, created “movement” in the vault, an achievable design intent.

Process

Once again, our project team developed the color palette along with the university planning officials and mocked up a number of alternate paint schemes for the ceiling and wall textures. The final result utilized a number of colors including the university’s colors (blue and gold). The project was executed by a combination of our design team and the painting subcontractor.

Additional Information

The project has become immensely successful and has garnered significant regional awards including the Best Project in the Southeast Under $10,000,000. The University applauded the design and the tunnel and adjacent plaza has become a destination and gathering place for the university. Color in architecture can convey a sense of well-being and comfort when properly executed. Color and art can lift the mundane to a much higher level so that both consciously and subconsciously any viewer can feel and sense positive reactions.