Project scope
The fountain is a circular tiered fountain with a diameter of approximately 11 m (38 ft) and a height of approximately 6 m (20 ft). At the top of the fountain, there is a 6-in. (152-mm) deep upper basin with a 5.4 m (18 ft) diameter that houses the platform for the Panther sculpture.
Water is introduced to the upper basin beneath the steel platform and flows down to the intermediate pool basin, which has a diameter of 6.4 m (21 ft). “The basin weighs over 6,000 lbs [2,721 kg] and has 6 in. [152 mm] of water that acts as a weir with water flowing over it like an infinity pool over its entire 360-degree perimeter,” says Robert Hayter of LKC Engineering.
From there, the water cascades down a series of steps to the lower basin before being returned to an equipment vault for filtration and recirculation. As the water flows over the rocks, it agitates the water, making it look like a real waterfall. Hayter adds, “This is a very unorthodox design, but it creates a very impactful, visual effect.”
The panther design led LKC Engineering to add in a rock design into the fountain. This custom design element allowed the panther to be standing on the rocks with water flowing all around.
The panther sculpture itself is very unique. There are quite a few panthers on campus, as it is the athletic icon of the university. “Keith really achieved what the university wanted, all the way down to the way the tail is formed,” says Hayter. In fact, Keith travelled with the sculpture on a semi-truck across the country. The sculpture is made of bronze and weighs more than 2,267 kg (5,000 lbs), and it was made in California.
