资本运作令旧车站成为艺术中心

Underground Station in Capital to Become Arts Center 资本运作令旧车站成为艺术中心

The Dupont Circle park in Washington DC is a busy, crowded place. Popular restaurants and businesses around the circle attract many city residents¹ and visitors. But few people know about the old streetcar station below the street.

Braulio Agnese is the Managing Director of an organization called Dupont Underground. The group wants to change the old station into a place for the arts.

"We see everything from site-specific art work, that fills the space in different ways, light and sound or installations³. Or it can be used like a traditional gallery. But also as a curved⁴ space, it offers a chance for new kinds of performance. DC has quite a few experimental⁵ theater groups that would like to work in an unusual space and do different kinds of production.'

The system of tunnels was built in the late 1940s. But the streetcars only ran for a short time. They stopped running in the 1960s. Mr. Agnese says the station could become a symbol of how quickly Washington is changing.

"Changes in the last five or ten years have been tremendous⁶. The restaurant scene is changing, new development, new opportunities. We think there is an opportunity to create something here that helps the city to move forward."

Dupont Underground is just one example of the trend toward⁷ giving a new purpose to unused industrial sites. In New York, builders want to make a forgotten street car garage into a park below the street.  And New York already has the popular High Line Park. It was once an old railroad⁸ path. The question is -- can Dupont Underground be as successful?

Bill McLeod is Executive⁹ Director of Historic¹⁰ DuPont Circle Main Streets. The group helps small businesses in the DuPont Circle area. Mr. McLeod says the underground will fill a need in the area.

"I think there is definitely¹¹ need for art space, or event space, in DuPont. And I think that will be the perfect space to activate¹² because it's very large - it's 75 thousand square feet. (7-thousand square meters)  I think it will be very cool."

Another organization tried to open a group of eating places in the space 15 years ago. That food court project failed. Mr. McLeod says the group leading the new effort has a better understanding of the project. He says the group knows it will take a lot of time and money and is successfully seeking financial support.

Braulio Agnese and his co-workers hope to open the underground station to the public in the next few months.

Words in This Story

streetcar - n. a vehicle that travels on streets on metal tracks and that is used for carrying passengers

underground – n. located or occurring below the surface of the earth

site - n. the place where something (such as a building) is, was, or will be located

installation² – n. a work of art that usually has several parts (such as a sculpture, lights, and sound) and that is usually shown in a large space

symbol – n. an action, object, event, etc., that expresses or represents a particular idea or quality — often + of

trend – n. something that is currently¹³ popular or fashionable

food court – n. an area within a building (as a shopping center) set apart for restaurants

Now it’s your turn. Are there any underground spaces in your town that are used for the arts? Write to us in the comments section to tell us about them.

1 residents   

n.居民( resident的名词复数 )；（旅馆的）住宿者

参考例句：

• Plans to build a new mall were deep-sixed after protests from local residents. 修建新室内购物中心的计划由于当地居民反对而搁浅。
• Local residents have reacted angrily to the news. 当地居民对这一消息表示愤怒。

2 installation   

n.装置，设备，设施；安装，设置；就任

参考例句：

• All large ships now have a wireless installation.所有的大型船舶现在都有无线电装置。
• When will the installation be completed?安装工作什么时候可以完成？

3 installations   

n.装置( installation的名词复数 )；安装；就职；军事设施

参考例句：

• The cooker,heaters and other electrical installations are all in perfect working order. 厨房、加热器以及其他电器设备都处于完好的工作状态。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 curved   

a.弯曲的

参考例句：

• His lips curved in a barely perceptible smile. 他的嘴角弯了弯，露出一丝几乎察觉不到的笑容。
• The missile curved gracefully towards its target. 导弹呈优美的曲线状飞向目标。

5 experimental   

adj.实验的，用作实验的，根据实验的

参考例句：

• This trip will be only experimental.这次旅行只是试验性的。
• The experimental farm is near the waterpower station.实验农场靠近水电站。

6 tremendous   

adj.巨大的，极大的；很好的，非常好的

参考例句：

• This book was the outcome of a tremendous amount of scientific work.这本书是大量科学研究工作的成果。
• There is a tremendous difference between them.他们之间有着极大的差别。

7 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

8 railroad   

n.铁路；vi.由铁路运输

参考例句：

• The railroad connects two cities,namely,New York and Chicago.这条铁路连接两个城市，即纽约与芝加哥。
• My brother is working on the railroad.我兄弟在铁路系统工作。

9 executive   

adj.执行的，行政的；n.执行者，行政官，经理

参考例句：

• A good executive usually gets on well with people.一个好的高级管理人员通常与人们相处得很好。
• He is a man of great executive ability.他是个具有极高管理能力的人。

10 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

11 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

12 activate   

vt.使活动起来，使开始起作用

参考例句：

• We must activate the youth to study.我们要激励青年去学习。
• These push buttons can activate the elevator.这些按钮能启动电梯。

13 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。