The brick walled amphitheater fountain at High Point University in High Point, N.C., has cascade jets operating in the main pools, stainless steel spillways from the upper to lower pool and rain bars mounted to the trellis. The fountain design was by RLAs Andy Otten and Paul Scully while at Melrose Design Group in Asheville, N.C.

High Point University (HPU) in High Point, N.C. (Piedmont Triad region) is a liberal arts institution founded in 1924. U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges 2014" edition ranked HPU No. 1 among regional colleges in the South. HPU was also named a 2013 Green College by "The Princeton Review" in recognition of its improving energy efficiency, conservation of resources and enhancing the school's environmental quality.

There are three fountains at High Point University with this design, and another one planned. Each has a central fountain bowl that overflows, 32 smooth bore precision jets that arc inward, and 16 1.5" connection cascade jets. There are throttling valves to adjust each set of jets, so that the cascade nozzles can shoot higher when the arcing jets are reduced. The arching jets are at max height, which makes the waters collide over the central fountain bowl.

High Point University's President Nido Qubein, the driving force behind the university's growth, works to make HPU an exceptional learning institution. He also strives to make the HPU campus visually stand out.

In 2000, HPU partnered with architect Greg Mercer, president of Mercer Architecture, for a complete campus transformation strategy. A few years later, Roman Fountains was invited to join the team as water feature designer and equipment manufacturer supplier. Since that time, nearly a dozen water features have become an integral part of the campus transformation.

The Village Fountain is a single level circular pool with water being sprayed through 19 cascade nozzles arranged in two circular patterns around a center nozzle. The center 3" cascade nozzle has a max. spray height of 12'; the six 2" cascade nozzles in the circle around the center nozzle have max. spray heights of 8'; and the 12 outermost 1.5" cascade nozzles have max. spray heights of 4'. There are 23 250-watt freestanding submersible lights, one located near each of the 20 outer nozzles, and three located around the center nozzle. The fountain has a two-stage wind compensation system. When the anemometer senses modest winds, all display nozzles reduce the spray heights by about half.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+During heavy winds the display nozzles reduce the spray heights by two thirds. The electrical and mechanical controls for the fountain are housed in a Series IV direct-buried prefabricated fiberglass vault (pump station) located in the planter area approximately 50 feet from the center of the pool. The vault includes a 25 hp display pump with in-line suction strainer; a 100 sq. ft. cartridge filter; a .5 hp filter pump; a fill manifold; a 1/3 hp sump pump; an RCUAG-15 ionization system; a variable frequency drive; a wind compensation system and the necessary valves and piping.

 

Roman Fountains' first project with the group came in 2005 when Bryan Had was contacted by Mercer to consult on the engineering of a new fountain. After that first fountain was completed, a new partnership was born. Since that time, Mercer and Had have collaborated on 11 fountains on the HPU campus.

Each of the campus fountains has its own qualities and objectives: a gathering place, an inspirational piece of art and even architectural elements that dictate pedestrian traffic patterns. Whether the intent is a serene reflective pool or a powerful display of jetting waters, Qubein insists on more water.

The reflecting pool was built in 2014 and features a raised circular upper pool on each end that overflows into the rectangular reflecting basin. This "meditative" pool is antithetical to the sprouting fountains that dominate the campus. The pool features a biological filtration system to allow growth of aquatic plants.

"We design fountains as part of the building," says Mercer, adding that "most of the fountains are high-energy features." Qubein likes movement, sound, flow, and an overall sense of wonderment.

Creating a vibrant campus filled with the sounds and motions of water is elemental in High Points' vision of a transformative campus. Each tour of potential new students always includes a stop or two at the fountains to take in the decorative designs and engineered water effects. For student attending HPU, whether they visit a quite reflecting pool to read the classics, or gather with new friends around a fountain with powerful jetting waters, Greg Mercer's style and design of these fountains are defining elements of the campus and a daily part of student life.

This is the newest of the HPU fountains and was built in 2014. It has the same central fountain bowl design of two of the older fountains (fountains on previous page), but incorporates LED fixtures for their multiple energy efficient benefits. HPU is currently working to replace all the incandescent fountain lighting with LEDs.

One thing all the fountains have in common was tight construction deadlines. While school is in session, the design, engineering, and fabrication takes place. When students leave for the summer, there is a small window to deliver equipment, install piping and construct the fountain. Bryan Had of Roman Fountains stays in constant communication with Mercer Architecture, the installation contractors and the construction manager to meet deadlines. There is a mutual respect among these three parties.

This fountain, located outside the student activity center, features an upper pool with eight central 3" connection cascade jets, surrounding 1.5" cascade jets and 12 1" cascade jets. Water from the upper pool flows over the fountain steps into the lower pool. Four brick-faced spillways create sheets of water that flow into the lower basin. The fountain has 39 "Donut Hole' RGB LED submersible 12-volt light fixtures with high-output LED diodes. This fountain design was by RLAs Andy Otten and Paul Scully while at Melrose Design Group in Asheville, N.C.

Mercer says, "I'll often send Bryan a fountain concept and ask, "What do I need to make this work?'" This type of early collaboration is what makes each project successful.

Steve Potter, HPU director of facilities for HPU, notes that Roman Fountains makes sure the fountain functions as it was designed. The design for an additional fountain will be built this summer.

Mercer Architecture remains HPU's landscape architect and is continuing with the transformation of this institution. Roman Fountains continues its partnership and looks forward to an future working on the HPU campus.