(Video) $90 million project will overhaul iconic fountain at Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens will make $90 million  in major improvements to its Main Fountain Garden in Kennett Square, Pa. near the Delaware border. The  fountain will close until 2017.

The  investment,  “New Heights: The Fountain Revitalization Project,” will replace the 83-year-old fountains’ systems with the latest technology, improve guest access to the Garden, and add new elements that honor the  original design by Longwood Gardens founder Pierre S. du Pont. Groundbreaking will begin in mid-October of this year and the Main Fountain Garden will reopen in spring 2017.

“New Heights is a part of our long-term commitment to delivering a world-class experience for all our guests.” said Executive Director,  Paul B. Redman.

The project will feature

• Restoration by specialists of the original limestone reliefs and fountains throughout the five-acre garden.
• Total  replacement of the fountains’ electric and plumbing infrastructure with 21st-century systems, allowing the fountains to run more efficiently and for a significantly longer period of time during the year.
• New water choreography, which will include jets that project water 175 feet in the air—45 feet higher than the current capabilities; the jets will also allow for more precise control of the water movement to create unique undulating, flexing, and spinning effects.
• Replacement of the fountain lighting system with energy-efficient LED lights, which will also allow the water choreography to take on a new range of colors.
• Re-opening of the elegant south wall, which has been closed to the public for the last 20 years, containing 20 wall-mounted fountains.
• The  Grotto, entered from passageways on either side of the loggia, which lead to a vaulted central hall; at the center will be a circular water curtain wall and oculus that allows natural light to enter the space.
• A trellis bridge connecting to the Fountain Terrace allowing guests to look out over the surrounding gardens.
• New seating areas, including a seat wall along the fountains as well as tables and chairs behind the trellis bridge;
• A renovated pump house lobby, which will showcase the original pumps that powered the Main Fountain Garden from 1931 to 2014.
• An enhanced landscape that includes increased planting, enhanced horticultural displays, and expanded, fully accessible walking areas.

“Our founder Pierre S. du Pont created the Main Fountain Garden for the enjoyment and delight of his guests at Longwood. Over the past eight decades, they have become a beloved part of our grounds,” said Redman. “The Gardens and its Board of Trustees have been planning for the revitalization of these iconic fountains for many years now. We are preserving Mr. du Pont’s legacy and adding to it through beautiful new plantings, the creation of new spaces in which to relax and reflect, and improved accessibility so guests can walk freely among the fountains. To help us realize this fully-funded project — the largest in our history — we have assembled an outstanding team of experts who share an appreciation for the Garden’s history. Together, we will ensure the Main Fountain Garden’s continued enjoyment for many generations to come.”

Longwood is working with the following firms:

• Beyer Blinder Belle, an architectural firm specializing in historic preservation, will lead the renovation project and a team of local, national, and international designers. BBB will also take the lead on reimagining the existing architecture to accommodate a greater range of visitors and to improve visitor flow and access to different areas of the Garden.
• West 8, a  landscape architecture firm, will design the garden’s public spaces to harmonize with the original design and enhance the Main Fountain Garden’s horticultural elements, as well as creating new gardens that will be new amenities for Longwood’s guests.
• Fluidity Design Consultants, a Los Angeles-based water feature design and engineering firm, will oversee the incorporation of state-of-the-art infrastructure to the fountains. The firm  will also add exciting new capabilities to control the water’s movement that will enhance Longwood’s  Illuminated Fountain Shows set to music.

Du Pont himself designed the five-acre Fountain Garden, incorporating both French and Italian elements. The goal was to rival the fountains he had seen in Europe and at the 1893 World Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

Paul B. Redman  concluded,  “New Heights is a part of our long-term commitment to delivering a world-class experience for all our guests. The project will ensure that our guests enjoy this iconic fountain collection for decades to come. Longwood will remain open throughout the Fountain Revitalization Project, with special one-time, summer programming and events to provide our audiences with exciting new cultural and horticultural experiences. We look forward to announcing these special events and programs in the months to come.”