One of the most dramatic ways to showcase a property is to install a theatrical, one-of-a-kind waterscape. Creating an impressive signature water feature can separate the ordinary landscape from the spectacular one. Companies that specialize in custom-made fountains produce water features that are much more than stationary architectural ornaments. Instead, these fountains become the defining element for the overall design of the location and the focal point that conveys the true splendor of the site.

Commercial locations such as hotels, shopping centers and corporate headquarters have always used water to beautify the area and increase traffic at the location. But the trend in recent years is to go beyond the characteristics of a traditional water feature by installing a more identifiable landmark. With the use of dramatic lighting, lasers, music, and new technology, theatrical water displays can bring attention and interest to any location.

The costs for creating a spectacular water feature varies from $100,000 to millions of dollars depending on the scope of the project. Not all theatrical waterscapes need to be high-budgeted projects in order to utilize the benefits of water. Landscape Architects can use recent technological advances in the customized water feature market to bring flare to small applications. Botanical gardens, residential projects and small commercial projects can all benefit from unique waterscapes.

Water as Entertainment

The Fountain of Angels by Show Fountains is located at the Precious Moments, Inc. site in Carthage, Missouri. An underground reservoir of 100,000 gallons of water supplies 13 pumps and 265 nozzles with up to 16,000 gallons of water per minute. Lighting towers for the show telescope into underground vaults for storage between shows. Advanced computer lighting and water control systems operate from a vault buried under the plaza. The show contains more than 160 bronze figurines standing 3.5 to 4 feet tall.

Waterscapes that showcase light, music and movement attract a wide range of interest from onlookers. The more dramatic the waterscape, the more interest it creates. "Everything we do has a theatrical element in it," said Michael Przystawik, president of Waltzing Waters, Inc. in Cape Coral, Florida. As designers, manufacturers, suppliers and show producers, the family-owned business has been involved in musical fountain design since 1927. The company creates fountains utilized by clients wanting something more than just an ordinary water feature.

"We've been shown in a lot of different environments. I've had clients put them into parks, or indoor facilities and turn those facilities into paid attractions," explained Przystawik. One such project is a park located in South Africa that attracted 4 million people in first year alone, using the water show as its main draw. "Park facilities are often passive experiences," explained Przystawik, adding, "but through the implementation of a musical fountain, Landscape Architects can turn that location into a more entertaining experience where they actually have the capacity to draw people to the area, even in the evening."

The addition of a musical fountain may not be as complicated as people think. "Whether a Landscape Architect puts a static fountain on a property or whether they choose a musical fountain, the difference involved between the pure fountain aspect of things is minimal," explained Przystawik. "The only additional consideration is the implementation of sound."

Each show can be customized depending on the needs of the client. "We want the show to be an immersive experience, where you're not just standing looking at a fountain. Instead, as you're standing watching the fountain, different colors of light wash over the audience and wash over the backgrounds around the audience," said Przystawik. "The choreography of the water is computer stored yet creatively driven."

The process begins with a designer who creates a show based on the needs of the client and the details of the location. Once the script and music are complete, the information is placed on a compact disc (CD) for the client to use in a stand-alone system. "If a client wants a change in the music or choreography of the water, we have the ability to quickly take the show program data and create a new show," explained Przystawik. "We Fedex the new CD to the client, and all they have to do is press "Play" and they've got a brand new Waltzing Water show."

Fountain of Angels

"There is something special about the combination of music and fountains, especially holiday music," said Michael Connery, president of Show Fountains in Spring, Texas, a privately-owned company that recently acquired Dancing Waters®. Connery, a nineteen year veteran of Dancing Waters, says that Show Fountains will continue to build and maintain permanent water show installations, while Dancing Waters will continue to provide smaller scale water shows on a rental basis.

One of the company's most spectacular projects was recently domed over in part so that the display could be showcased all day throughout the year. The "Fountain of Angels" show for Precious Moments, Inc. in Carthage, Missouri is a prime example of an effective theatrical waterscape. "From an engineering standpoint, it's the finest thing that Show Fountains has done to date," said Connery. Working with Precious Moments on the project proved to be an uplifting and creative experience for all involved. "They allowed us the freedom to do the job right," said Connery. "From a technical standpoint, they spared no expense. You rarely get the luxury to do that."

The spectacular water feature contains more than 160 of the well-known Precious Moments porcelain collectibles by artist Sam Butcher. The bronze figurines stand 3.5 to 4 feet tall and are located in a large plaza which transforms into a large-scale gospel water show. In addition to the 60' diameter fountain, water effects erupt from pits under the 170' diameter plaza. Hymns arranged by composer Bob Krogstad and performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, provide inspiration for the water show, which features Carol Connery's water choreography, theatrical lighting by Jim Tetlow, as well as a film sequence projected onto a large water screen.

With an estimated cost between $15 to $25 million, the “Fountain of Angels” used the latest technology to optimize the equipment at the site. "Our company’s trademark is the use of analog movements within a fountain. We were the first to use variable speed pumps on a musical fountain in 1988 at Opryland Hotel," said Connery. "Using analog instead of digital gave us the opportunity to increase the variety of water movement in the fountain."

The Taman Festival Bali Lagoon Show in Bali, Indonesia, featured highlights from Balinese mythology using laser and motion picture imagery projected onto a large water screen. Screen actions simultaneously triggered live fire, laser and fountain effects consisting of eight popjets up to 301 feet high, two crystal arches up to 201 feet high, two finger jets, and a 1001 foot geyser. The fountains were illuminated by fifty-eight 500 watt underwater fixtures with dichroic lenses and eight color-changing fixtures in waterproof housings. Los Angeles-based Laser Media designed and manufactured the laser equipment and integrated other show elements in the overall technical design. Built in 1997, the show was unfortunately shut down due to lightning damage and the economic condition of the area. The water screen and other nozzles were provided by PEM Fountains.

Connery says that new technology will enable more and more Landscape Architects to utilize elements of theatrical waterscapes in many applications. "The show controls used to create special water effects can be quite simple," said Connery. "That technology has improved dramatically in the past five years. The costs have gone down and the equipment does more."

As the technology improves, Landscape Architects could easily incorporate many alternative non-musical applications into their designs. Clients who want something more than a traditional fountain, but who don't have the budget for a musical fountain, can benefit from a non-musical animated water feature. "There is a huge market in a smaller 20-foot diameter fountain where we could animate a fountain so that a company has something different and special in front of their building."

Signature Style

As technology continues to provide additional choices for designers, many previously untapped possibilities may arise. Professionals will be able to take the elements of a large scale project and incorporate those features into a small project. Designers of applications with a modest budget will have an opportunity to explore the use of water the same way that large-scale projects have in the past.

The company also completed the dancing fountain at St. Augustine which contains up to 300 nozzles reaching more than 25 feet.

"It's a computer generation. We have a fountain control system and a programmable board that we've put in specifically for the landscape industry," said David Dodd, vice president of Fantastic Fountains in Tampa, Florida, which specializes in custom, one-of-a kind water features. "Not everything is a function of size, we have pumps that can be downsized and we have water designs that can be downsized. We take the programmable system and fabricate it to fit within the perimeters of the project," explained Dodd. "You can have all the design elements of a large Las Vegas or amusement park fountain, and be able to utilize those elements in many different commercial environments."

It's this type of flexibility that will give landscape designers more choices in the future. "If a Landscape Architect is looking for a water feature that's going to add life and is looking for a signature type of design for a property or building, then we would take certain elements of the computerized programmable features and add that to a standard water feature," explained Dodd. "That in turn would add a lot of life to any fountain."

For example, the company has introduced a new fountain design that will create a signature style for any business. The Air Fountain can take an image such as a company logo and incorporate that into the water feature. "We’ve taken a lot of our aquarium-building experience and our acrylics experience and turned that into a special architectural water feature,” said Dodd.

Fantastic Fountains created a water feature at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas which features animated spray rings, reverse waterfalls, lighting, and clear jumping jets. The fountain re-circulates more than 32,000 gallons of water per minute while projecting water 65 feet into the air.

The acrylic fountain pool contains a disappearing manifold which uses air to project an image on top of the water. "I think if you're looking to create something different and striking for your client, then an acrylic fountain projecting air instead of water is something that will create interest," said Dodd. To produce this specialized fountain, the company spent many hours in research and development using its expertise working with acrylics and compressed air.

As exemplified with the Air Fountain, a theatrical waterscape doesn't necessarily need to incorporate sound and lighting to be effective. Whether a location contains the Air Fountain or a large musical fountain show, installing unique and interesting water features will enhance any site. With a little effort and experimentation, all of the elements used to create the splendor of a theatrical display can be incorporated into smaller applications.

The future of the customized water feature market will reflect the ability of designers to take advantage of new technology. "I believe that elements of entertainment fountains can be utilized by most Landscape Architects much more than they are today," explained Dodd. As long as the technology continues to improve, the choices for designers will continue to expand.