The underpass on Humphrey Street is universally recognized as dark and creepy, this project introduces many brilliant color changing lights to the pedestrian paths through the tunnel.
Leader
J.R. Logan
Location
100 Humphrey Street, New Haven, CT New Haven, CT 06511
The Amtrack underpass on Humphrey Street in the as you are entering the Fair Haven neighborhood of New Haven is universally recognized as the dark creepy underpass. Probably the darkest and creepiest in New Haven.
Let's turn it around and make it brilliant! The underpass is important as it is an entry to Fair Haven from East Rock and Mill River Districts and is used by many pedestrians: school kids, neighbors and people headed to work. It is a part of the burgeoning Mill River Trail and adjacent to the District innovation campus development.
Inspired by colorful lighting projects in other cities we hope to bring many brilliant colored lights to the pedestrian paths through the tunnel. We have been exploring color changing lights that create an attractive effect which emphasizes the interesting arched architecture of the underpass. These photos demonstrate the impact of just one light.
Our plan is to put one of these bright color changing lights every 40ft.
They will be aimed upward to bounce light off the ceiling and walls and reduce glare.
We have been working with the City of New Haven and consulted lighting professionals. We will be putting in a comercial grade weather proof fixture that is expected to last 10+years. Lighting control will be based on a pre programed sequence to start, but we will build the system so it can be upgraded to be programed in diffrent ways. We envision working with Holberton School and others to create creative color changing sequences based on sensor or internet data. Working with Ryan Zaveruha at Acuity Lighting we have already done a proof of concpet demonstrating programatic control of color changes.
November, December - Fundraise
Feburary - Order fixtures, and schedule install
March - Install lighs, setup control system
April - Community cleanup of underpass and ribbon cutting celebration
We hope that this completely changes the feel of that transition point between East Rock / Mill River and Fair Haven to something uplifting. We hope that it will be something that visitors to New Haven stumble upon and talk about to their friends when they are back in their home city. We hope it makes the walk for students of Elm City College Preparatory School enjoy their walk to school more. We hope that it will be a highlight of the points of interest walk that people take along the Mill River Trail. If these hopes are fulfilled we have reason to believe that it will achieve the goal of inspiring pride in locals for where they live. That will in turn lead to greater excitement for how we can celebrate the assets of that community, and in turn encourage ongoing authentic, community driven economic development.
