The city of San Francisco is considering destroying the Armand Vaillancourt-designed Brutalist fountain in the Embarcadero Plaza redevelopment.
At a San Francisco Recreation and Parks Commission meeting in October 2024, Phil Ginsburg, the commission’s general manager, revealed that he had discussed redeveloping the plaza with representatives from property management company BXP “eight to 10 years” before the commission became involved in the public-private partnership. (On September 22, Ginsburg resigned from her position after 16 years.)
according to The Art NewspaperCity officials reportedly discussed redeveloping the square nearly a decade ago before the 2024 plans were unveiled. The plans do not appear to include plazas or public art assets that the city is legally responsible for maintaining.
Previously undisclosed public documents reportedly show 15 different instances in which San Francisco Department of Recreation and Parks officials cited BXP and previous organizations as responsible for maintaining the Vaillancourt Fountain and Embarcadero Plaza from December 1978 to May 2025. BXP officials also reportedly mentioned maintenance obligations in the same document.
BXP reportedly owns the Embarcadero Center office, hotel and retail complex and is responsible for maintaining the Embarcadero Plaza and Vaillancourt Fountain – the deal was struck in exchange for building a spiral staircase in the plaza.
Documents show that while council officials said they wanted to do their best to preserve the fountain and square, they had been developing plans for more than a decade to redevelop the area. Additionally, officials now say the fountain and plaza are too dilapidated to be saved, but it’s unclear why the condition of both continues to deteriorate even though BXP has taken charge of their management. Representatives from the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Commission and BXP could not be reached for comment by press time.
With the city proposing a $35 million renovation of the square, the San Francisco Arts Commission is preparing to vote on selling the fountain, which will determine its future in the city. Although the fountain is not beyond repair, the cost of restoration was reported to be $28,951,519. Some have questioned whether the decision will have a greater impact on the display of public art.
The 710-ton concrete fountain sculpture has had a long history in San Francisco since it was completed in 1971, including an incident in 1987 when Bono spray-painted “Rock and Roll Stops Traffic” on its surface during a free U2 concert. The work was originally located in the center of a highway and was later demolished due to damage caused by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The piece, designed as a fountain to hold 30,000 gallons of water, has been without running water since June 2024. It was quarantined in June and separated from the public due to safety and security concerns.
art news We contacted San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and the city’s Department of Public Works. Neither man immediately responded to a request for comment.
