Michigan cities seek approval to build winning water fountains
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EmailMSU, in partnership with the Midland Research Institute for Value Chain Creation, announced the winners of MSU’s first Fountain Challenge.
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Now that the 2017 Michigan State University (MSU) Fountain Challenge competition is over, what’s next for the drinking water fountain design concepts?
On April 12, MSU, in partnership with the Midland Research Institute for Value Chain Creation, announced the winners of MSU’s first Fountain Challenge, a design competition for cross-functional student teams that supports the university’s thematic year, Water Moves MSU. Awards were presented at the Fountain Challenge reception at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center at MSU.
Now the students’ passion, creativity and hard work are merging with innovative cities who want to bring art and access to safe water via these fountains to their communities.
First place was awarded to Caleb Whetstone, Kenzo Bird and Adam Anderson of the Great Lakes Fountain team for their community fountain design, created for the city of East Lansing. The contemporary fountain contains elements of art and sustainability, including a concrete slab base with a blue mosaic inlay of the Great Lakes and three button-activated stainless steel fountain bowls. A solar panel above the fountain provides shade. Their design advocates for safe drinking water and teaches about the importance of renewable resources in preserving the quality of the Great Lakes.
Second place was awarded to Alonzo Bell, Nicola Chidyaonga and Armstrong Nangewei of the Midland Vision team for their community fountain design, created for the city of Midland. Inspired by the existing Dow Founder’s Garden, their contemporary design features fieldstone walls surrounding the drinking fountain, which is designed for easy access and use regardless of age or disability, as well as for dogs. Water will cascade down the interior walls and recycle back up beneath the walls.
“We are excited to announce that both the City of East Lansing and the City of Midland are currently seeking approval to build a fountain in their communities,” said Joan B. Rose, co-director of MSU’s Center for Water Sciences and the Stockholm Water Prize recipient. “The Center for Water Sciences will be taking the next steps to work with these cities to submit grants and support any fundraising efforts to bring these innovative, amazing design concepts into reality."
If you have any questions on the status of these projects, contact Melissa Downs, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, at downsmel@msu.edu.
MSU's Fountain Challenge was made possible with support from Delta Dental, Office of the Great Lakes, Linda Demmer, NTH Consultants and the Homer Nowlin Fund for Water Research.
