Show fountains: Choreographing music, water, and lights to attract visitors

by jason_cramp | January 24, 2021 3:32 pm

By Chris Thomas

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Station Park is home to approximately 74,000 m² (800,000 sf) of retail, entertainment, restaurant, hotel, and office space in Farmington, Utah; it also boasts an amazing show fountain. The area’s developer, CentralCal Properties, commissioned Fountain People, a Texas-based designer and manufacturer of architectural and interactive fountain equipment systems for water features, to create a one-of-a-kind show fountain. The latter collaborated with Lifescapes International, a landscape architecture firm, and Outside The Lines, a design and themed-construction company, to bring the project to life.

To complete the developer’s vision, Fountain People provided L4 light-emitting diode (LED) lighting, static sequencing jets, multi-axis robotic nozzles, and advanced show-control systems to design a choreographed fountain, which features a unique viewing experience every hour. The 465-m² (5000-sf) water feature dances to the music of popular and contemporary artists, with a stunning display of choreographed 9- to 18-m (30- to 60-ft) high water streams mixed with vivid colour effects. Many of the shows feel like firework displays because of their high-impact visual and sound effects.

“The music, water, and light effects in this fountain come together to provide true entertainment,” said Craig Trottier, vice-president of development for CenterCal Properties. “These shows change seasonally and are updated regularly, so the playlist consists of the latest popular tunes.”

The fountain has made Station Park a destination for families, patrons, and even tourists who come specifically for this reason. Fountain People programmers continuously work with Station Park management to ensure it continues to attract visitors for years to come.

The fountain

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The $2.5-million fountain offers synchronized spurts of water that shoot up to 18 m (59 ft) into the air as music is piped through a complex audio setup with nine speakers, providing superior sound for the surrounding audience.

There are shows every hour, with rotating songs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to midnight on weekends. The fountain also features a waterfall flowing into a lower pool, making it even more visually appealing.

The fountain uses 182,000 L (48,000 gal) of water, which recirculates through a closed-loop underground filtration system. The equipment vault is located 3 m (10 ft) below the fountain and uses a Hayward ProSeries 915-mm (36-in.) sand filter, as well as a Chemtrol CH250 ORP/pH microprocessor-based digital controller, which ensures superior water quality and chemical balance. As the fountain is a year-round amenity, it is also equipped with a heater to keep the water flowing and the shows going during the winter holiday season.

The nozzles

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The theatrical shows in this fountain are supported by 52 vertical chasing nozzles, one transforming nozzle, and six robotic nozzles, which move water side to side, front to back, and can twist and turn in 360-degree directions. The nozzles are placed within motion bases, which move sheets of water to create dramatic effects.

The nozzles used in this water feature are commonly called ‘chasing nozzles’ due to their ability to create low arcs of water that meander throughout the fountain and can be made to mimic water chasing different streams of movement. These ‘chase’ scenes are choreographed to music and give personality to the water. It is like dancers onstage but, in this case, the performers are streams of water with unique lighting effects.

With the ability to shoot water up and down, as well as popping and cutting the water off, the system offers individual control of each nozzle and light.

Each robotic nozzle provides a wide array of possible effects.

The lighting

The fountain also uses LED colour mixing, red, green, and blue (RGB) lights, which can be calibrated with a wide palette of programmed and repeatable colours with a variety of brightness and hue options. There are 60 light fixtures throughout the fountain, as well as a fog system to create additional dramatic effects.

The fountain’s capability is so vast it can portray up to three million variant shades of colour. It also features a cascading waterfall flowing into a lower pond combining with the misting nozzles to create a magical fog. Although the fountain looks spectacular at any time of the day, it is best viewed at night when the wide range of colours is most vivid.

Choreographing the shows

The shows are created using a sophisticated program powered by a complex computer system more than one terabyte in size. Each display is manually choreographed beat-by-beat to music, which creates the illusion of moving water while adjusting the light intensity and colour to create audio-visual shows.

The company’s programmers use specialized software and hardware to synchronize the movements of water to the crescendos of a musical score. For most of the year, seven different shows rotate throughout the day, while three additional holiday-themed displays are added into the rotation in the winter.

The shows are programmed using Digital Multiplex (DMX), a type of electric signal data protocol used in the lighting industry to control a series of light fixtures, LEDs, and other devices. The code is then exported, and the information is transferred to the client digitally or by mailing a flash drive. This process is executed at the company’s office to eliminate the expense of sending a programmer to adjust the show.

Sometimes, the company sends out its programmer for a quick test and adjustment in the field, rather than spending two to three weeks at the fountain doing the programming.

Additionally, there is no real downtime for the fountain. This is particularly important as the water feature operates almost 365 days a year.

Programming the song

The time taken to choreograph a song depends on its personality—the longer the sound track, the lengthier the programming. Also, choosing the best song is key to the success of the show.

The program is like video-editing software that allows for the creation of 3D rendering and animations for the client to approve. These include several details so the final outcome is nearly identical to the shows sent to clients for their approval.

Often, the company’s programmers assist clients in song selection based on information such as atmosphere, venue, patrons, colours, size of surrounding area, target audiences, and stores. The company also helps customers with licensing questions related to using songs that are under copyright restrictions.

The time spent on programming shows depends on the song and the project. At times, large fountains are easier to program compared to smaller ones. Bigger fountains have more features, allowing programmers to experiment with the software; it is like comparing the performance of a song by a large symphony versus the same song performed by a small trio.

This technology allows fountains to remain ‘current’ and, therefore, exciting for viewers. Like Broadway musicals, the audience is always looking for novel experiences, and these water features can provide visual excitement on a regular basis without any renovation to the structure itself. That said, maintenance will always be required, where mechanical pieces or parts might need replacing or adjusting, but major repair is not necessary to obtain a completely ‘new’ show for onlookers.

Recently, the company’s programmers were asked to create a new show to a Michael Bublé song, which took a bit longer because of the length and complexity of the track. However, it was a challenging but exciting project. The team took nearly 10 days to complete the program. They shared the show visually on-screen in a meeting so the client could see the proposed display, and made adjustments as requested. Once the client agreed upon the final look of the show, the code was written and loaded into the fountain for a new water and light show to premier on-site.

Programming the lights

All programmers use different methods to achieve their objective of blending the coloured lights used in fountains. The company’s main programmer, Brian Reese, is the master programmer for the Station Park fountain, and has a unique program-writing style. In fact, he likes using muted hues and pastel mixes, and chases are his favourite.

Many programmers opt for the traditional rules of colour, especially when the shows are choreographed to music. Reds can be aggressive as well as passionate, so Reese tends to combine and transition orange and amber with green and cyan because they ‘cool down’ sections of the show, taking the viewer from an aggressive moment to a soothing one. Choreographing new shows and songs is an ongoing service the company provides to its customers.

The firm originally provided Station Park with 12 different shows, each choreographed to individual songs. However, the client now has more than 30 songs in its repertoire, with a budget for about five to six new songs every year. New shows are also typically provided for various public holidays and the winter holiday season.

The shows are so spectacular that patrons come to sit and watch the effects as they might observe a dance performance. To keep the fountain relevant and current, the team is constantly at work to reinvent the water feature so it offers patrons a different show.

The owners of Station Park are aware the fountain attracts customers to the retailers and restaurants nearby and, therefore, continue to invest in the feature to ensure it offers a breathtaking performance every time.

[4]Chris Thomas is the director of marketing at Fountain People and has a decade of experience promoting the physical, mental, and social benefits of water features and aquatic play. His background in marketing and communication design allows him to identify market needs, contribute to the aquatic community through product development to enhance the guest experience, and discover design strategies that move child development forward. Thomas has contributed to various industry publications, and collaborated with consultants and end-users to bring their vision to life. He can be reached via email at chris.thomas@fountainpeople.com[5].

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/features/show-fountains-attract-visitors-choreographed-music-water-lights/

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