San Francisco Arts Commission Votes to Dismantle Vaillancourt Fountain Due to Safety Hazards
By
Ellen Eberhardt
Front-window bakery material. Catches the eye, delivers the goods.
Summary
The San Francisco Arts Commission has voted to dismantle and store the Vaillancourt Fountain, a 1970s concrete fountain designed by artist Armand Vaillancourt, due to safety concerns. The fountain, located in Justin Herman Plaza, has been deemed an "immediate and serious hazard" with structural issues including exposed rebar, concrete spalling, and water damage. The decision follows years of debate about the fountain's future, with some advocating for preservation and others supporting removal due to safety and maintenance concerns. The fountain will be dismantled and stored while the city explores options for its future, which could include restoration, relocation, or permanent removal.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledThe city of San Francisco's arts agency made the decision to remove the Vaillancourt Fountain following reports that it posed 'an immediate and serious hazard'
Made of twisting, cubic bands of reinforced concrete, the Vaillancourt Fountain has been a controversial landmark since its installation in 1971
The fountain's structural integrity has deteriorated over decades, with exposed rebar, concrete spalling, and water damage creating safety concerns
The Arts Commission's decision represents a compromise between preservation advocates who wanted to save the fountain and those who argued for its removal due to safety and maintenance issues
The dismantled fountain will be stored while the city explores options for its future, which could include restoration, relocation, or permanent removal
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