General Motors Plaza

The two fountains located on either side of the Apple Cube in the General  Motors Plaza are part of a total renovation done in 2006. The original GM Plaza, built more than 30 years ago, was set 10 feet below the surrounding streets. The new plaza included work to raise the level from sunken to above street-level. The GM Plaza water feature consists of two identical fountains, each with 16 display discharge points that perform at a minimum pumping rate of 360 GPM at 60 feet TDH. The discharge points have the capability of being controlled individually and independent of each other, with a maximum nozzle display height of 4-5 feet. The system is controlled by a 24-hour programmable time clock.

GM Plaza Fountain Renovation Challenge

The CBS Morning Show which is telecast from the plaza required the development of a fountain system that had a quick drain down capability therefore enabling either fountain to be covered while the show was in production.

Delta Fountains’ Consultation & Solution

After reviewing the morning show needs and the desired renovation plans, Delta engineered a drain-down system whereby the television crew and maintenance staff would merely press a button on a graphic user interface. This button would stop the display systems, open large, motorized valves, rain the pool water into tanks located in the basement. When the show was complete, another button was pushed and ejector pumps put the water back in the pool, the valves returned to normal, and the display pumps turned back on.