Crown Fountain at Millennium Park

Location
Chicago, Illinois

Owner
Millennium Park

Team
AV - Threshold
Architect - Krueck + Sexton Architects
Artist - Jaume Plensa
Video Integration - Panasonic
Structural Engineering - Thornton Tomasetti

Size
Two towers, each 50 feet tall, 23 feet wide, 16 feet deep

Schedule
Completed 2004

Crown Fountain, a vision of artist Jaume Plensa executed in collaboration with Krueck & Sexton Architects, has become an iconic landmark at the Chicago lakefront. Thousands of visitors, as well as many Chicagoans, visit the fountain every year to see the projected faces on the glass structures, play in the water, and on hot days enjoy the spray from the water gargoyle emanating from the fountain images. 

The projected images were initially realized using early-era LED video walls within the glass structures, giving it a “Lite Brite” effect. However, the low-quality video resolution dimmed over time. The design team was challenged during recent upgrades to recreate the original character with newer, brighter LED wall technology. Additionally, new equipment had to work around rigging and wind sheer structural elements that were designed around the original panels. Through a collaboration of architect, LED system manufacturer, structural engineers, and Threshold, a new specialized support system integrated with existing elements to support new LED walls that adhere to the original vision and look of the Crown Fountain.