# That funky tunnel at the Detroit airport **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 29, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-funky-tunnel-at-the-detroit-airport/277059 "2004-11-29T00:35:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-funky-tunnel-at-the-detroit-airport/277059/1 "2004-11-29T00:35:10Z")
We just got back from spending the holiday down in [Myrtle](http://www.travelbase.com/destinations/myrtle-beach/driftwood/images/front_b.jpg) [Beach](http://www.funbeaches.com/Cancun2004/cancun32.jpg), and had to make a connecting flight in Detroit. Is there any significance to that [funky](http://www.sanaleibak.com/USAPICS/DetroitAirportTunnel.jpg) [tunnel](http://www.physicschick.com/pics/hermes_2/68_detroit_tunnel.jpg) inside the airport? Did they intend for the strange lights and music when they built it, or did it somehow just evolve that way? I’m thinking there must be a story behind it. Everytime I’m there I’m in a BIG rush to catch my connecting flight, so I don’t have time to snoop around for the facts. That thing is interesting. Kind of makes me feel like I’m in a [scene](http://users.snowcrest.net/fox/loganpics/movie/4more/maze14a.JPG) from [Logans Run](http://upx.primenova.com/mpp_main/Logans_Run.jpg).😛 ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-funky-tunnel-at-the-detroit-airport/277059/2 "2004-11-29T01:01:41Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > That thing is interesting. Kind of makes me feel like I’m in a [scene](http://users.snowcrest.net/fox/loganpics/movie/4more/maze14a.JPG) from [Logans Run](http://upx.primenova.com/mpp_main/Logans_Run.jpg).😛 Logans Run! No doubt. 😛 Everytime I go thru there I imagine that someone in a black jogging outfit s going to yell “Runner!” and start shooting fireballs at me. 😃 I think that it is just to distract you from the fact that it is very long and boring. ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-funky-tunnel-at-the-detroit-airport/277059/3 "2004-11-29T01:19:46Z")
Perhaps a Detroit resident can fill in the details; until then, I’ll give my WAG. I’m fairly sure the effects were intentional and designed/built that way, and my guess is that it falls under the “public art” category. It’s reminiscent of the works from light artist [James Turrell](http://www.mattress.org/catalogue/02/turrell) (but not quite similar enough, so I don’t think he did it), whose commissions include the [tunnel](http://www.deviantart.com/view/3656900/) connecting the old and new wings of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Evidently, tunnels with lighting effects are also quite the trend, and are built into [several airports](http://www.chatabouttheatre.com/can_tell_me_about_tunnel_lighting_software-1621091-1051-a.html) (scroll about halfway down) now. An interesting tidbit I Googled up: the Detroit airport tunnel’s lighting system is based on [LEDs](http://lfw.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ARTCL&ARTICLE_ID=177630&VERSION_NUM=1). ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-funky-tunnel-at-the-detroit-airport/277059/4 "2004-11-29T01:38:44Z")
Aha, here we go – an article from [Architectural Lighting](http://www.archlighting.com/architecturallighting/al/projects/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1813074): > [@](#): > > Detroit-based architect/engineer SmithGroup, Inc., who led the design of the tunnel, promises that travelers will enjoy a “one-of-a-kind” experience on their three-minute journey through the underground tunnel…“It’s more than just moving from point A to point B, but rather a sensory event”…this was a response to Northwest Airlines’ desire to dramatically elevate their customers’ experience and to alleviate the normal concerns that one might experience entering a long, narrow, windowless space. > > “The design of this space was intended to create the impression of being in a surreal environment” There’s also a [blurb](http://www.colorkinetics.com/showcase/installs/?id=52) from the lighting contractors. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-funky-tunnel-at-the-detroit-airport/277059/5 "2004-11-29T01:44:02Z")
There’s a similar funky tunnel connecting terminals 1 and 2 [at O’hare](http://www.cisc-icca.ca/ohare.html)