Crown Fountain at Millennium Park

This iconic, interactive destination within Chicago’s Millennium Park features two 50-foot sculptural structures with LED displays projecting images, video, and light through their glass brick surrounds. 1,000 faces of Chicago residents were filmed and appear on the structure’s video screens, including a few W.E. O’Neil employees!

True to its name, Crown Fountain, the structures also integrate water features for visitors to play in, as well as a ¼ inch reflecting pool, which spans the distance between the two structures and is made of black granite pavers. The fountains coming from each structure, combined with the faces displayed, are intended to provide a playful, contemporary interpretation of medieval gargoyle fountains.

W.E. O’Neil worked with Spanish artist Jaume Plesna and designers at Krueck Sexton Partners to effectively deliver an end product that reflected the artist’s design intent while coordinating several mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems within the towers’ walls. The project was constructed above two levels of underground parking, and is supported by an internal steel frame system behind each exterior glass block.

When opened to the public in 2004, Crown Fountain added to Chicago’s world-renowned public art collection. Still today, it remains an important focal point of the City’s lakefront park systems.