Rehabilitate Water Tower, Fountains & Main Fountain Area

February 2015

Background/Overview:

The water tower and main fountain area, located within the Podium of the Uptown campus, are not only central, architectural elements to the campus but the 248 foot tall tower includes a 311,000 gallon water tank in it that provides both water volume and pressure for the domestic, sprinkler, and standpipe systems for all Uptown buildings, most notably the 24 story residence towers.

Each of these campus features – constructed in the mid-1960s – functions today with very few modifications from their original construction and are in need of a major renovation to ensure their continued operation. The pumps, pipes, fixtures, and mechanical systems have numerous leaks and issues which require constant attention and repair. The lighting systems at both the main fountain and the Campus Center fountain are problematic, consume a disproportionate amount of energy, and do not serve their intended function. Additionally, the windows that surround the main fountain at the Lecture Center Level are inefficient single pane glass with steel framing which is rusted and deteriorated in places.

Accordingly, as part of the overall architecture of the Academic Podium, and one of the identifying elements of the University at Albany, the water tower and fountain areas (both the main fountain and the Campus Center fountain) were fully renovated, upgraded, and preserved over the2012-2014 period. Deferred maintenance was addressed and selected features were upgraded to create a more dynamic and welcoming "sense of place".

Scope:

This project completely renovated the main fountain and water tower area as well as the Campus Center fountain.

The water tower work included the removal of any corrosion and the reinforcement of any deficient structural elements. New water proof coatings were applied to the interior and exterior of the water tank and structural system; and the tank's heating system, which protects water from freezing, was replaced and updated to modern standards. The tower exterior was cleaned and re-surfaced to its original condition. A new speaker system was installed in the Carillon; and the tower's iconic lighting was upgraded to an energy efficient, LED lighting technology, saving energy and adding a new special event light-color feature to the campus.

The main fountain work area was extensive and addressed all known deferred maintenance deficiencies in this location, taking advantage of the economies of scale of combining work and minimizing the duration and frequency of disruption to campus life if such work was scheduled in some other multi-phased approach. More specifically, the main fountain area work included replacement of the deteriorating stairs leading from the Podium deck to the fountain area; replacement of the single-pane, inefficient, and corroding windows around the Lecture Center concourse with a new energy efficient curtain wall system; and work included demolition and upgrade of the fountain deck and the fountain's mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure.

Improvements to the fountain have created an attractive four season location with the addition of selected trees, gardens, and landscaping, LED lighting in the base of the fountain, and a new, more interactive center element with seating area(s).

Project Renderings\Photos:

(Click the picture for a printable version.)

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  Construction Barriers

  

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  Construction Fencing

  

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  Lecture Center single pane, rusting windows to be replaced

  

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  Exterior stairs to main fountain – structural issues addressed in project

  

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  View looking down from tower – rusting conditions to be resurfaced and restored

  

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  Additional view looking down from tower – rusting conditions to be resurfaced and restored

  

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  Additional view looking down from tower – rusting conditions to be resurfaced and restored

  

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  Pump room for main fountain to be upgraded

  

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  SUNY Fountain Night View 01

  

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  SUNY Fountain Night View 02

  

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  SUNY Fountain Night View 03

  

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  SUNY Fountain Night View 04

  

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  SUNY Fountain View 01

  

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  SUNY Fountain View 02

  

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  SUNY Fountain View 03

  

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  SUNY Fountain View 04

  

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  SUNY Fountain View Top

  

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  SUNY Fountain Winter View 01

  

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  SUNY Fountain Winter View 02

  

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  SUNY Fountain Winter View 03

  

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  Contractor Access Ramp to Main Fountain Plaza for removal and installation of materials

  

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  Contractor Access Route & “orange” Barriers to separate contractor traffic from pedestrian traffic

  

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  Campus Center fountain pavers demolition in progress

  

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  Staging Area - Elevated temporary piping is needed for abatement, sandblasting, painting and concrete pumping construction activities

  

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  Podium - Elevated temporary piping is needed for abatement, sandblasting, painting and concrete pumping construction activities

  

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  Tower scaffolding and sound blanket installation. Light grey sound blankets have additional reinforcing for wind loading

  

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  Concrete forming for the new main fountain planters

  

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  Pump room piping demolition underway

  

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  Contractors performing promenade planter bed demolition

  

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  Tower scaffolding and sound blanket installation

  

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  Campus Center Fountain construction continues

  

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  Campus Center Fountain Waterproofing materials

  

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  Main Fountain and Northern Stair Work

  

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  Main Fountain Plaza

  

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  Pump room construction

  

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  Tower Base and Equipment

  

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  Tower scaffolding and sound blanket installed

  

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  Campus Center Fountain construction continues

  

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  Campus Center Fountain paver construction continues

  

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  Main Fountain and Northern Stair Work

  

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  Main Fountain Plaza

  

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  Pump room construction

  

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  Water tank internal repairs

  

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  Water Tower

  

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  Campus Center Pump room

  

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  Main Fountain and Northern Stair Work

  

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  Main Fountain Foundation

  

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  Main Fountain Pump room

  

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  Water Tower Prime Painted

  

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  Campus Center Fountain

  

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  Fountain Plaza

  

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  Fountain Plaza Landscaping

  

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  Fountain Plaza Pavers

  

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  Fountain Plaza Pavers

  

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  Pump Room

  

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  South Stairs and Main Fountain

  

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  Tower

  

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  Main Fountain Center Fountain

  

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  Lecture Center Curtain Wall

  

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  Main Fountain Plaza

  

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  Main Fountain Plaza pavers

  

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  Mechanical room pumps

  

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  Main Fountain Plantings

  

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  Main Fountain Seating

  

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  Tower

  

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  Center Fountain

  

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  Center Fountain Mechanical room pumps

  

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  Main Fountain

  

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  Main Fountain Mechanical room pumps

  

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  Main Fountain Seating-Plantings

  

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  Promenade Level Planters

  

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  Promenade Level Seating

  

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  Water Tower looking up

  

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  Center Fountain

  

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  MF Seating-Plantings

  

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  Promenade Level Planter

  

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  Center Fountain – High Spray

  

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  Main Fountain Planting

  

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  Main Fountain Plaza

  

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  Main Fountain Jet

  

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  Main Fountain Plaza II

  

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  Water Tower during the Day

  

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  Water Tower at Dusk

  

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  Water Tower at Night