University of Chicago Law Library

The renovated reflecting pool at the University of Chicago Law Library provides mirror-like reflections of the surrounding architecture with only one-quarter inch of water covering black granite pavers. When not in use due to weather, the design appears as a dark stone plaza, rather than an empty basin.

Reflecting Pool Renovation Challenges

To renovate the 40-year-old feature, and yet respect the original design, the architect chose a “zero-depth” pool, which required a uniform elevation of the stone pavers over the entire area. In addition, a re-circulation system had to be designed to move the water slowly enough to maintain the appearance of a motionless sheet of water.

Delta Fountains’ Solutions

Delta Fountains supplied the electrical and mechanical design and all the equipment for the stationary water feature at the University of Chicago Law Library. To design a re-circulation system that would produce a mirror-like pool surface, Delta Fountains created 30 six-inch discharge tees feeding the granite-topped reflecting pool, and surrounded the pool with a 474-foot negative weir edge. Each feature pump operates at a minimum pumping rate of 2,054 gallons per minute (GPM) at 30 feet total dynamic head (TDH).