In 1984, I.M. Pei & Associates (now Pei Cobb Freed & Partners) designed the iconic Fountain Place Office Building and Fountain Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas.
Following an acquisition in 2014, Goddard Investment of Atlanta, Georgia selected a restoration contractor to renovate and transform the 2-acre fountain plaza surrounding the 63-story skyscraper.
The design build project presented numerous challenges as the waterproofing membrane underlying the entire plaza had seriously deteriorated from aging, causing extensive damage to the underlying concrete support structure.
This renovation project required the rehabilitation of all 13 original water fountains, including the concrete weir walls, suspended slabs, plaza pavers, perimeter planter boxes, and the waterproofing membrane that protected the underground parking garage below the entire fountain plaza area.
Among the many challenges facing the concrete restoration process, massive amounts of water had to be contained while protecting the integrity of the entire garage structure. A seamless waterproof coating was selected and installed to provide water containment that was both chemical and UV resistant, while enhancing the overall aesthetics of the plaza.
During the initial stages of the renovation project, precast planter boxes were removed from the plaza perimeter. Removal of these planter boxes opened the view revealing the expansive fountain plaza which had previously been concealed. New elevated pavers on pedestals were installed along with glass handrails, which were incorporate as a major alteration to the original design, to create a “babbling brook” along two exterior borders of the plaza. The addition of these glass handrails to the perimeter allowed the entire plaza to be viewed and enjoyed safely by the public.
Upon completion, Fountain Place Plaza was totally transformed to include four new green space areas for enjoying the fountains.