The Bon Secours Heart Institute in Richmond, Va., is built into a steep slope, with 65 feet of grade change. Higgins & Gerstenmaier proposed a water feature that would address the grade change, screen the parking lot and create a highly visible identity for the institute. This view shows all three intermediate pools and the fieldstone veneering. The backdrop for the fountain is a 10-foot tall cast-in-place concrete retaining wall.

The Bon Secours Heart Institute is built into a steep slope, which serves as the foreground for the medical office building. It is located just off the exit from Interstate 64 in the western suburbs of Richmond, Virginia and the Reynolds Crossing mixed-use development.

Faced with the challenge of siting a 100,000 square foot medical office building on a slope with a 65-foot grade change, Higgins & Gerstenmaier proposed a water feature for the Bon Secours Heart Institute in Richmond, Virginia that would address three objectives: the grade change, parking lot screening, and creating an identity for the institute.

The signature fountain offers a 40-foot wide waterfall that cascades into three intermediate tiers and a lower pool, all of which are faced with fieldstone. An 8-foot wide by 9-feet tall by 14-feet long direct-bury fiberglass enclosure behind the fountain houses a 15 horsepower pump for the waterfall, a one horsepower pump and two 3/4 horsepower display pumps for the nozzles. The enclosure also has a filter pump, cartridge filter and control panel.

The vertical jets are controlled by three separate variable speed pumps, allowing the height of the sprays to vary. The walls are cast-in-place colored concrete with a sandblasted finish, precast concrete caps and field stone veneer.

The pumps and filters are contained in a direct bury fiberglass enclosure measuring approximately 8 feet wide by 9 feet tall by 14 feet long. The placement of the walls reduced the slopes to a manageable grade, and has the effect of shielding the view of parked cars that circle the building. However, it is the effect of the flowing water and the constantly varying heights of the fountain jets that creates a lasting impression on the passersby and gives this building its identity. These three objectives are also accomplished in the winter, when the fountain is winterized.

The vertical jets are controlled by three separate variable speed pumps, which allow the height of the sprays to vary. A large cascade-nozzle sends water as high as 18 feet in the air. An anemometer is located on a nearby light pole to reduce the height of the spray or shut down the nozzles in the event of high winds.

The main challenge was to site the structure so that it complemented the building architecture. The architectural precast caps match the lintels and sills around the punched windows on two sides of the building. The field stonewalls are used on the water feature and landscape walls throughout the Bon Secours facilities in Richmond. The color of the concrete walls is harmonious with the building brick and the fieldstone.

The fountain consists of a 10-foot tall cast-in-place concrete retaining wall with a 40-foot wide waterfall that cascades into three intermediate tiers and a lower pool, all of which are faced with fieldstone. The cast-in-place concrete walls contain an integral color pigment with a sandblast finish and false joints that give it the appearance of architectural precast concrete. In addition to the waterfall, the water effect is accented by smooth-bore nozzles in each of the intermediate pools and in the lower pool. A large cascade-nozzle sends water as high as 18 feet in the air. The nozzles operate on three variable speed pumps that operate to a set program creating visual interest for passing motorists. Underwater lighting accents the vertical streams of water at night.

There are smooth-bore nozzles in each of the intermediate pools and in the lower pool. This side views shows the large nozzle in the lower pool. The cast-in-place colored concrete wall is notable for its false joints and sandblast finish.

An 8-foot wide by 9-feet tall by 14-feet long direct-bury fiberglass enclosure behind the fountain houses a 15 horsepower pump for the waterfall, a one horsepower pump and two 3/4 horsepower display pumps for the nozzles. The enclosure also has a filter pump, cartridge filter and control panel. Excavation for placement of the vault required temporary shoring from the parking lot and building pad. An anemometer is located on a nearby light pole to reduce the height of the spray or shut down the nozzles in the event of high winds.

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Higgins & Gerstenmaier, PLC is a landscape architecture and land planning firm in Richmond, Virginia. Keith Van Inwegen was the fountain designer and managed the project through construction, and Dave Gerstenmaier served as principal in charge.

Design Team
Owner: Reynolds Development, Lingerfelt Development
Tenant: Bon Secours Richmond Health System
Landscape Architect/Fountain Designer:
Higgins & Gerstenmaier, PLC, Henrico, Va.
Architect: Odell Associates, Inc.
Structural Engineer: Draper Aden Associates
Civil Engineer: RK&K
General Contractor: Hourigan Construction

Vendors
Arch. Precast Concrete: Seaboard Concrete
Concrete: Heard Concrete
Electrical: Commercial Electric
Fountain equipment: Roman Fountains
Plumbing: Atlantic Constructors
Site contractor: Shelton Corporation