River Tunnel, by Artist Gordon Huether, Salt Lake City International Airport, 2024
Structure Type: Interior fin facade
Project Scope:
Project Size:
Material: Composite Fabric, Aluminum Tubing
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Completion Date: October 2024
Owner: Salt Lake City Department of Airports
General Contractor: Gordon Huether Studio
As part of Salt Lake City International Airport’s ongoing transformation, the River Tunnel art installation is a 1,200-foot immersive experience that enhances the journey for travelers moving between the Main Terminal and Concourse B. ETS is proud to have partnered once again with renowned artist Gordon Huether to bring his artistic vision to life, continuing our successful collaboration that began with The Canyon, another signature installation at the airport’s Main Terminal. River Tunnel is inspired by the natural beauty of Utah’s rivers and canyons, offering passengers a serene and visually stunning environment as they pass through the Central Tunnel.
ETS, in partnership with Rainier and Charles Duval, designed, fabricated, and installed River Tunnel’s signature membrane sculpture, which consists of almost 284 individual “fins.” Each fin is supported by an aluminum frame wrapped in durable Tweave Duratech® 570C fabric, secured with a precise zipper system along the spine. The installation uses over 1.5 acres of composite fabric and more than 3.5 miles of aluminum tubing, all carefully engineered to create a seamless flow that mimics the movement of water. Fastened along the tunnel’s ceiling, these fins are illuminated with blue-toned LED lighting, further enhancing the river effect.
River Tunnel exemplifies ETS’s expertise in “designer structures”—custom creations that integrate artistic vision with advanced engineering. As with The Canyon, ETS collaborated closely with Gordon Huether to ensure his vision was fully realized, creating a structure that elevates the airport’s aesthetic and functional aspects while enhancing the passenger journey.
Photo Credit: Enclos Tensile Structures
