An underground trolley station in Washington D.C. that later had a turn as a short-lived underground food court is being eyed by local artists as a possible site for a new underground cultural center and art space.
The underground area makes up more than 100,000 square feet and has sat unused since the food court closed in 1996.
"This is where architect Julian Hunt envisions a series of hip galleries called Dupont Underground, where up to 1,500 people at a time would take in avant-garde art shows and exhibits of experimental architecture. Museum-quality lighting would fill curved hallways, and a sophisticated ventilation system would keep the humidity to art gallery standards. As Hunt sees it, the depths of Dupont Circle would become the go-to spot for the visual arts in Washington.
'This enormous piece of infrastructure has just been mothballed,' said Hunt, who said he has been pushing the idea for five years. 'If you get enough people down there and there's interesting artwork and it's well lit, I think it would be quite a spectacular space, unlike anything else in the District.'"
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