In the News
Vaillancourt Fountain in San Francisco’s Embarcadero Plaza faces demolition
Daniel Jonas Roche, The Architect’s Newspaper
“In San Francisco’s Embarcadero Plaza, Armand Vaillancourt’s Brutalist sculpture Vaillancourt Fountain has been subject to calls for its demolition for some time. Since June, the art piece comprised of precast concrete square tubes has been fenced off. A public-private partnership between the city and real estate development firm BXP proposes a new $32 million park encompassing the site, putting the deteriorating sculpture at further risk.”
SF's Embarcadero Plaza to get $35 million facelift funded by private-public partnership
Suzanne Phan, ABC 7 News
“Supporters say the project will pump new energy into a space that badly needs it. They say now is the time to transform the Embarcadero Plaza into a world-class hub that connects the Ferry Building to downtown San Francisco and brings visitors back to the city's core.”
Controversial S.F. fountain not part of Embarcadero Plaza renovation plans, officials say
Sam Whiting, San Francisco Chronicle
“We did look into keeping the fountain on-site,” Recreation and Park Department Project Manager Eoanna Harrison Goodwin told a decidedly pro-fountain audience, “but once we got the cost estimate, it is beyond our project budget.”
Embarcadero Plaza’s Maligned Brutalist Fountain Likely Done For, According to Rec and Parks Official
Joe Kukura, SFist
“The Embarcadero Plaza’s Brutalist, 710-ton Vaillancourt Fountain is already fenced off to the general public, as SF Rec and Parks officials have said the structure is “hazardous,” plus “cracked, corroded and missing key supports.” And public support for the fountain already seemed at an all-time low, after a proposed $30 million renovation of the plaza released last July did not include the fountain in any of its design renderings.”
'Game-changing' new park twice the size of Union Square inches closer to reality in San Francisco
Amanda Bartlett, SF Gate
“The Board of Supervisors unanimously voted in approval of legislation that would allow for a public-private partnership…”
Could S.F.’s Embarcadero Plaza become a world class park? There are plans to make it happen.
John King, San Francisco Chronicle
“Largely ignored despite its prominent setting near the bay, San Francisco’s stark Embarcadero Plaza is getting more attention than it has in decades..”
San Francisco's Embarcadero Plaza Set for a Transformation with Unanimous Support from Board of Supervisors
Tony Ng, Hoodline
“The unanimous thumbs-up heralds a public-private handshake between the City, powerhouse real estate firm BXP, and the community-focused Downtown SF Partnership to pump new energy (and a decent chunk of change) into a space that's been begging for a makeover.”
A Proposed Park In SF’s Embarcadero Just Made A Major Step Forward
Dana Flynn, Secret San Francisco
“A major new park in Downtown San Francisco just made a crucial step forward to becoming a reality. The San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors recently approved legislation that creates a partnership to make Embarcadero Plaza into a large park for the community to enjoy.”