Architectural Fountain Design & Manufacturing
Jacksonville, FL
Originally designed by Taylor Hardwick in 1963, Friendship Fountain remains one of the city’s most recognized and enjoyed icons. The fountain is prominently located along Downtown Jacksonville’s Southbank Riverwalk. In the early 2000s, the fountain suffered from severe corrosion and deterioration of the equipment, leaving the fountain all but inoperable. The City made it a priority to preserve this landmark and the surrounding park with a $3.2 million renovation. To accomplish the restoration the fountain, the City called in experts to assess the damage and redesign the fountain’s mechanics.
Delta Fountains specified and provided the equipment and programming necessary to rehabilitate Friendship Fountain. Today, the fountain has returned to its historic place as part of Downtown Jacksonville’s riverfront. At full power, the fountain pumps 15,000 gallons per minute through 63 nozzles. Below the surface 135 submersible, cast bronze LED Color-Changing Fountain Lights illuminate the jets in multiple DMX-controlled musical light shows.
Due to the level of disrepair to the fountain’s equipment, a complete overhaul of its operating systems and an infusion of modern technology was necessary (to save energy costs). The City also wanted to add lighting, motion and sound to create a multi-dimensional display along the St. John’s River.
Delta Fountains converted old belt-drive pumps to variable frequency drive operated systems, changed the existing lighting fixtures, and wrote programs sequenced to musical input for digitally mixed lighting with control capability. The restored fountain- now with new light, sound and motion – operates at a savings of 130,000
Friendship Fountain in Landscape Architect & Specifier
