Need help figuring out how to hide this U ducting. Direct link to the Imgur album (so sorry if this is not the right way to share, still trying to figure out how to create a thread properly. Tried to add with new photo but it wouldn't let me add by URL): https://imgur.com/a/9xdkYrP
Background: We're finishing our basement and changing to ducting for HVAC. The HVAC contractor called us in and showed us this U duct next to the support beams in the middle of the room. There is no way - and I mean NO WAY - to do anything else with this U. The ducting has to cross there and the beam has no space above it. The floor joists also apparently run the wrong way so they can't just put the ducting up above and to the side.
So we need to figure out what to do to hide this. It has completely stumped us and our GC. Drywall a weird U in front of this post? Make a fake cabinet? Build it out and put fake lights in front of it? Totally lost.
An idea could be lowering the ceiling to create a faux-corridor or a "reverse island" and installing recessed lights on it. If you're into it you could also extend the base of the new lowered ceiling to form a shelf and then put plants on said shelf.
That's an interesting concept, I'll have to find some inspiration to figure out what that would look like