Construction on the distinctive pool and waterfall fountain outside the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis is continuing this fall, following delays caused by one of the wettest Septembers on record.
Work on the $3.5 million renovation project, which began in May, was initially expected to be completed by September. Crews now expect to finish re-waterproofing the pool, replacing the oculus glass on the lower level and reinstalling fountains by mid-December, said Michael Sable, the county's director of facility services.
The ongoing construction meant that visitors and downtown workers couldn't sit on the pool's edge over the summer. But the area will reopen in the spring with double the outdoor seating.
"They are one of the few outdoor gathering places downtown, so it's important we keep it in good shape," Sable said of the Government Center's brick plaza on the north side and grassy park on the south.
The pool and fountain, the centerpiece of the north plaza, have caused problems for decades. Offices are located below the fountain, and leaks have sprung on the circular glass "curtain wall" around the oculus, which receives the waterfall.
Officials have said that the current repairs — the second time these specific repairs have been made in the Government Center's 42-year history — will last for 30 years.
The county had considered replacing the pool and waterfall instead of spending thousands on patchwork repairs. In 2012, a task force recommended removing the pool and waterfall and doing other improvements at a cost of $2.6 million. The panel also considered turning the pool into a planter for $500,000, but that option left open the possibility of leakage below.
Last year, officials discussed replacing or repurposing the pool, but opted for repairs because they're less expensive and preserved the architect's design.
