the restoration project
The Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain, one of the nation's most significant monuments, is in dire need of restoration. Since its completion in 1927, it has suffered from considerable damage caused by the rough Chicago winters and numerous freeze-thaw cycles.
Plumbing
The plumbing system is suffering from accelerated metal corrosion because the piping consists of a combination of several metals that are causing a galvanic reaction.
Lower Basin
The upper basins received a major treatment in 1994 but due to budgetary restrictions, the lower basin did not. The original concrete slab from over 80 years ago suffers from severe cracking and concrete damage. It continues to deteriorate, causing hundreds of thousands of gallons of water to leak into the ground each season.
Georgia Marble
80 winters have take their toll on the lower basin's carved pink Georgia marble. The continuous expansion and contraction has made it crack, crumble, and erode, which has lead to the loss of the original marble. The erosion process has also formed a sugary layer of stone at the surface of the marble.
Exquisite bronze elements, such as seahorses and cattails created by award winning sculptor Marcel Loyau, are connected to the lower basin with iron screws. The screws are severly corroded and need to be replaced. The bronze will be treated by a professional arts conservator, so the artwork can resist the constant abrasion of water and harsh weather. The bronze fence surrounding the Fountain is damaged and distorted in areas. These elements haven't received any conservation treatment since 1927.
The integrity of Buckingham Fountain is at risk. If the lower basin remains untreated, the entire monument will be subject to irreparable damage. Together we can restore our fountain for the next generation of memories.
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