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80-680: Vaillancourt Fountain , sometimes called Québec libre! , is a large fountain in Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco , designed by the Québécois artist Armand Vaillancourt in collaboration with the plaza's landscape architect , Lawrence Halprin , and completed in 1971. It is about 40 feet (12 m) high and is constructed out of precast concrete square tubes. Long considered controversial because of its stark, modernist appearance, there have been several unsuccessful proposals to demolish

160-556: A "thermal bridge" that degrades thermal performance. Also, since steel does not have the same thermal expansion coefficient as concrete, as the wall heats and cools any steel that is not embedded in the concrete can create thermal stresses that cause cracking and spalling. To achieve better thermal performance, insulation was added in the void, and in many applications today the steel trusses have been replaced by composite (fibreglass, plastic, etc.) connection systems. These systems, which are specially developed for this purpose, also eliminate

240-482: A building facade or erect free-standing walls for landscaping, soundproofing , and security. In appropriate instances precast products – such as beams for bridges, highways, and parking structure decks – can be prestressed structural elements. Stormwater drainage, water and sewage pipes, and tunnels also make use of precast concrete units. Precast concrete molds can be made of timber, steel, plastic, rubber, fiberglass, or other synthetic materials, with each giving

320-668: A building's enclosure or "envelope," they can be designed to also serve as part of the building's structural system, eliminating the need for beams and columns on the building perimeter. Besides their energy efficiency and aesthetic versatility, they also provide excellent noise attenuation, outstanding durability (resistant to rot, mold, etc.), and rapid construction. In addition to the good insulation properties, sandwich panels require fewer work phases to complete. Compared to double-walls, for example, which have to be insulated and filled with concrete on site, sandwich panels require much less labor and scaffolding. The precast concrete industry

400-432: A controlled environment (typically referred to as a precast plant), the precast concrete is afforded the opportunity to properly cure and be closely monitored by plant employees. Using a precast concrete system offers many potential advantages over onsite casting. Precast concrete production can be performed on ground level, which maximizes safety in its casting. There is greater control over material quality and workmanship in

480-583: A free-admission concert that day in Justin Herman Plaza, with the stage set up in front of the fountain. Within a few hours, a crowd estimated at 20,000 people gathered in the plaza. The concert was jokingly called "Save the Yuppies", in reference to the 1987 stock market crash that had taken place three weeks earlier. The band closed their nine-song performance with their hit " Pride (In the Name of Love) ". During

560-587: A little thing." The sculptor spray-painted a slogan of his own on the band's stage, "Stop the Madness". The episode received further attention when it was featured in U2's 1988 documentary film Rattle and Hum . There, footage of it was shown over, and interspersed with, the band's opening number, " All Along the Watchtower ", a song by Bob Dylan that had been a big hit for Jimi Hendrix . This has led some people to misidentify

640-479: A loosely defined "monumental abstract sculpture". By December five had responded: Jacques Overhoff, Reuben Nakian , Alicia Penalba , James Melchert, and Vaillancourt. The committee chose 38-year-old Vaillancourt but his second model, meant to show development of the design, did not even resemble the first model. By November 1968 Hellyer had been replaced by Ruth Asawa , who rejected the design, saying in part, "I for one, am not willing to remain silent while we play

720-414: A precast plant compared to a construction site. The forms used in a precast plant can be reused hundreds to thousands of times before they have to be replaced, often making it cheaper than onsite casting in terms of cost per unit of formwork. Precast concrete forming systems for architectural applications differ in size, function, and cost. Precast architectural panels are also used to clad all or part of

800-413: A rock band played, and Armand Vaillancourt himself painted " Quebec Libre " on the fountain in as many places as he could reach. A redevelopment agency employee started to paint over the slogans during the ceremony, but Herman stopped him, saying it could be done later. When asked about why he defaced his own fountain with graffiti he responded, "No, no. It's a joy to make a free statement. This fountain

880-498: A rock star who is supposed to be a role model for young people chose to vandalize the work of another artist. The unfortunate incident marred an otherwise wonderful rock concert." Bono was issued a citation for misdemeanor malicious mischief. U2 manager Paul McGuinness said, "This is clearly not an act of vandalism. This act was clearly in the spirit of the artwork itself." The numerous callers to Ronn Owens ' radio talk show on KGO-AM were evenly split, with younger listeners defending

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960-405: A single new object to our civic art collection if we allow the virtual eradication, through neglect and obliviousness to its original intention, of our city's most visible public work. We are the heirs to a memorial that, encountered as it was designed to be, animates a moment in art and history that cannot be re-created. If our city agencies can understand that, their priorities should be as clear as

1040-432: A tingle up the spine of Market Street. Halprin, Carter, and Rockrise, What to do About Market Street (1962) The design of Embarcadero Plaza is credited to Don Carter (principal-in-charge) with help from Mario J. Ciampi and John Bolles . The original concept was devised by Lawrence Halprin , who described five distinct districts of Market Street in the 1962 report What to do About Market Street starting at

1120-459: A unique finish. In addition, many surface finishes for the four precast wall panel types – sandwich, plastered sandwich, inner layer and cladding panels – are available, including those creating the looks of horizontal boards and ashlar stone . Color may be added to the concrete mix, and the proportions and size aggregate also affect the appearance and texture of finished concrete surfaces. Ancient Roman builders made use of concrete and soon poured

1200-484: A work of art if it provokes dialogue and discussion. Art that engages the public has had a measure of success." Within a few months, the water was flowing again, and plans to tear down the fountain were abandoned. At the fountain's opening in 1971, both the water flow and human participation were considered integral to the work. Alfred Frankenstein , writing for the San Francisco Chronicle , noted "the heart of

1280-421: Is a construction product produced by casting concrete in a reusable mold or "form" which is then cured in a controlled environment, transported to the construction site and maneuvered into place; examples include precast beams , and wall panels, floors, roofs, and piles. In contrast, cast-in-place concrete is poured into site-specific forms and cured on site. Recently lightweight expanded polystyrene foam

1360-470: Is a huge energy consuming industry, and precast concrete products are and will continue to be more energy efficient than its counterparts. The wide range of designs, colours, and structural options that these products provide is also making it a favourable choice for its consumers. Many state and federal transportation projects in the United States require precast concrete suppliers to be certified by either

1440-453: Is a sprawling, lifeless skeleton in its current dry state, with a chain-link fence blocking the two sets of stairs that once allowed people to peer down into the roiling maelstrom below. The chain of island-like steppingstones that made visitors feel they were walking on water is now a gantlet of precarious pedestals several feet above a rock-hard floor. The site is littered with trash. ...   It makes little sense to spend money to add even

1520-426: Is also used for the roll ways of some rubber-tyred metros . Modular paving is available in a rainbow of colors, shapes, sizes, and textures. These versatile precast concrete pieces can be designed to mimic brick, stone or wood. Underground vaults or mausoleums require watertight structures that withstand natural forces for extended periods of time. Storage of hazardous material, whether short-term or long-term,

1600-407: Is an increasingly important environmental issue, calling for containers that not only seal in the materials, but are strong enough to stand up to natural disasters or terrorist attacks. Seawalls , floating docks, underwater infrastructure, decking, railings, and a host of amenities are among the uses of precast along the waterfront. When designed with heavy weight in mind, precast products counteract

1680-705: Is at the edge of the plaza, adjacent to the other four highrise towers of the Embarcadero Center . Across The Embarcadero is the Ferry Building , and the eastern end of the California Street cable car line is on the other side of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. When Vaillancourt designed the fountain, the elevated Embarcadero Freeway was still in existence along the Embarcadero. The fountain was designed with

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1760-501: Is being used as the cores of precast wall panels, saving weight and increasing thermal insulation . Precast stone is distinguished from precast concrete by the finer aggregate used in the mixture, so the result approaches the natural product. Precast concrete is employed in both interior and exterior applications, from highway, bridge, and high-rise projects to parking structures, K-12 schools, warehouses, mixed-use, and industrial building construction. By producing precast concrete in

1840-412: Is dedicated to all freedom. Free Quebec! Free East Pakistan ! Free Viet Nam ! Free the whole world!" Vaillancourt said his actions were "a powerful performance" intended to illustrate the notion of power to the people . " Quebec Libre " has been an alternate name for the fountain since. Flamin' Groovies performed there, on the 19th September, 1979, and the concert was broadcast on KSAN (FM) . On

1920-701: Is essential that each structural component be designed and tested to withstand both the tensile and compressive loads that the member will be subjected to over its lifespan. Expanded polystyrene cores are now in precast concrete panels for structural use, making them lighter and serving as thermal insulation. Multi-storey car parks are commonly constructed using precast concrete. The constructions involve putting together precast parking parts which are multi-storey structural wall panels, interior and exterior columns, structural floors, girders, wall panels, stairs, and slabs. These parts can be large; for example, double-tee structural floor modules need to be lifted into place with

2000-459: Is largely dominated by Government initiated projects for infrastructural development. However, these are also being extensively used for residential (low and high rise) and commercial constructions because of their various favourable attributes. The efficiency, durability, ease, cost effectiveness, and sustainable properties of these products have brought a revolutionary shift in the time consumed in construction of any structure. Construction industry

2080-415: Is positioned in a pool shaped like an irregular pentagon , and is designed to pump up to 30,000 US gallons (110,000 L) of water per minute. The fountain looks unfinished, like concrete that has not been completely mixed. Up close, it is very rough and textured. There are several square pillars or cubed tubes that form a semi circle inside the pool. The natural colored pillars jut out and crisscross from

2160-410: Is the most common form of concrete reinforcement. It is typically made from steel, manufactured with ribbing to bond with concrete as it cures. Rebar is versatile enough to be bent or assembled to support the shape of any concrete structure. Carbon steel is the most common rebar material. However, stainless steel, galvanized steel, and epoxy coatings can prevent corrosion. The following is a sampling of

2240-460: Is typically 8 inches, but their designs are often customized to the application. In a typical 8-inch wall panel the concrete wythes are each 2-3/8 inches thick), sandwiching 3-1/4 inches of high R-value insulating foam. The interior and exterior wythes of concrete are held together (through the insulation) with some form of connecting system that is able to provide the needed structural integrity. Sandwich wall panels can be fabricated to

2320-537: The Western Addition , Fillmore , Chinatown , and South of Market neighborhoods while presiding over the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the resolution unanimously on September 19, 2017. The name Embarcadero Plaza will be temporary until a new official name can be decided upon. The Board's resolution is nonbinding, as the authority to change

2400-561: The "least revered modernist work of art" in San Francisco. Due to its size, it has been said that it "dominates the landscape" of the north side of Justin Herman Plaza. It has also been said that the design intent was "to mock and mirror the clumsy, double-decked roadway", referring to the elevated Embarcadero Freeway which separated the fountain from the waterfront at the time of construction. Charles Birnbaum, noted Halprin expert, stated

2480-435: The Embarcadero and ending at Van Ness. In retrospect, Halprin's vision for Market was described as a "pedestrian-oriented series of linked civic spaces" which were later realized as the open spaces running from Embarcadero Plaza (in the northeast) to UN Plaza in the southwest. Halprin described an early concept for what he called Ferry Building Park in the 1962 Market Street report, proposing to bring San Francisco Bay and

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2560-621: The Jim Bridger Building in Williston, North Dakota, was precast in Minnesota with air, electrical, water, and fiber utilities preinstalled into the building panels. The panels were transported over 800 miles to the Bakken oilfields, and the commercial building was assembled by three workers in minimal time. The building houses over 40,000 square feet of shops and offices. Virtually the entire building

2640-458: The Justin Herman Plaza ice rink would not be splashed. It reopened on January 21, 2008. In reaction to the 2011–17 California drought , all of San Francisco's public fountains were shut off in order to conserve water. Vaillancourt Fountain was turned off in 2014 for the drought, but after that drought ended, the Recreation and Park department cited lack of funds to make repairs to the fountain as

2720-700: The UK for a variety of applications including agricultural buildings, grain stores, silage clamps, slurry stores, livestock walling and general retaining walls. Panels can be used horizontally and placed either inside the webbings of RSJs ( I-beam ) or in front of them. Alternatively panels can be cast into a concrete foundation and used as a cantilever retaining wall. Precast concrete building components and site amenities are used architecturally as fireplace mantels, cladding, trim products, accessories and curtain walls. Structural applications of precast concrete include foundations, beams, floors, walls and other structural components. It

2800-511: The architect "always wanted people to interact with his water features" and that Justin Herman Plaza "was intended as a total environment, a space animated by people as well as water", so the fountain was designed to attract the public to an area otherwise cut off from the waterfront by the Embarcadero Freeway. Embarcadero Plaza The Ferry Building Park could be a great open space with canals, lagoons, and fountains that would revive

2880-461: The buoyant forces of water significantly better than most materials. Prestressing is a technique of introducing stresses into a structural member during fabrication and/or construction to improve its strength and performance. This technique is often employed in concrete beams, columns, spandrels, single and double tees, wall panels, segmental bridge units, bulb-tee girders, I-beam girders, and others. Many projects find that prestressed concrete provides

2960-466: The commissioners (who had favored removal of the name) left the meeting before the vote was held. David Johnson , a photographer who documented life in the Western Addition prior to SFRA's redevelopment, is a leading candidate for the renaming of the plaza. The plaza is frequented by nearby office workers on lunch break and by families with small children. Free daytime concerts occur frequently in

3040-481: The construction, safety, and site protection of roads, airports, and railroad transportation systems. Products include: box culverts , 3-sided culverts, bridge systems, railroad crossings, railroad ties, sound walls /barriers, Jersey barriers , tunnel segments, concrete barriers, TVCBs, central reservation barriers, bollards, and other transportation products. Precast concrete can also be used to make underpasses, surface crossings, and pedestrian subways. Precast concrete

3120-471: The corner of the plaza "like the tentacles of some immense geometrical octopus. ... breaking open." There are two bridges, or walkways with stairs, that allow the public to stand between the tubes and have a view overlooking the plaza and city. A series of platforms at pool level permit pedestrian entry into the fountain and behind the falling water. The fountain and plaza are accessible to the public at all times and in all weather conditions. The fountain's budget

3200-408: The differential thermal expansion problem. The best thermal performance is achieved when the insulation is continuous throughout the wall section, i.e., the wythes are thermally separated completely to the ends of the panel. Using continuous insulation and modern composite connection systems, R-values up to R-28.2 can be achieved. The overall thickness of sandwich wall panels in commercial applications

3280-578: The first leg of The Joshua Tree Tour by the rock band U2 in 1987, they performed concerts at the Cow Palace just south of San Francisco on April 24 and April 25, 1987. On the third leg of the tour, concerts had been announced for November 14 and 15, 1987, across the San Francisco Bay, at the Oakland Coliseum . On the morning of November 11, 1987, local radio stations announced that U2 would hold

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3360-465: The fountain over the years. It was the site of a free concert by U2 in 1987, when lead singer Bono spray painted graffiti on the fountain and was both praised and criticized for the action. The fountain is in a highly visible spot on the downtown San Francisco waterfront, in Embarcadero Plaza (formerly Justin Herman Plaza), where Market Street meets The Embarcadero . The Hyatt Regency Hotel

3440-457: The fountain was intended to be participated in rather than just observed. An early comment by architecture critic Allan Temko , often repeated over the years, describes "technological excrescences" that had been "deposited by a giant concrete dog with square intestines". Another pithy remark that gained press attention, from critic Lloyd Skinner, was that the fountain was "Stonehenge, unhinged, with plumbing troubles". Artists have been critical of

3520-519: The fountain, but no decision was made. In 2004, San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin renewed the call to demolish the fountain. The water supply to the fountain had been turned off for several years, because of California's energy crisis of those years. Armand Vaillancourt immediately pledged that he would "fight like a devil to preserve that work". Debra Lahane, a member of the San Francisco Arts Commission , said that "it succeeds as

3600-419: The freeway environment in mind, but it was built to bring people to an expansive public space, as San Francisco Chronicle architecture critic John King called it "an act of defiant distraction until the freeway came down in 1991". Vaillancourt Fountain was a product of the redevelopment of San Francisco that took place in the 1950s and 1960s. The Transamerica Pyramid was constructed from 1969-1972. BART

3680-433: The help of precast concrete lifting anchor systems . Precast concrete is employed in a wide range of engineered earth retaining systems. Products include commercial and residential retaining walls , sea walls , mechanically stabilized earth panels, and other modular block systems. Sanitary and stormwater management products are structures designed for underground installation that have been specifically engineered for

3760-405: The idea is the unique one of public entry into and intimate exploration of the fountain's innards; in this it is unique and decidedly a success. It is not a great work of sculpture, which is like observing that an automobile is not much of a success as a horse." The water was turned off at the fountain from 2001 until 2004, reopening on August 2, 2004. San Francisco estimated the cost of electricity

3840-431: The instrumental portion in the middle of the song, Bono , lead singer of the band, climbed onto the sculpture and spray painted graffiti on it, reading "Rock N Roll Stops The Traffic". Mayor Dianne Feinstein , who had been waging a citywide campaign against graffiti that had resulted in over 300 citations during the year, was angry and criticized Bono for defacing a San Francisco landmark. She said, "I am disappointed that

3920-407: The length and width desired, within practical limits dictated by the fabrication system, the stresses of lifting and handling, and shipping constraints. Panels of 9-foot clear height are common, but heights up to 12 feet can be found. The fabrication process for precast concrete sandwich wall panels allows them to be produced with finished surfaces on both sides. Such finishes can be very smooth, with

4000-448: The lowest overall cost, considering production and lifetime maintenance. The precast concrete double-wall panel has been in use in Europe for decades. The original double-wall design consisted of two wythes of reinforced concrete separated by an interior void, held together with embedded steel trusses. With recent concerns about energy use, it is recognized that using steel trusses creates

4080-542: The marine flavor by actually bringing the Bay back into the area. The atmosphere of European ports could be injected with handsome paving, sidewalk cafes, and fine restaurants. The freeway should be painted dark, and large trees should be planted to suppress its sight and its sounds. Difficult as all this may be, establish the Ferry Building Park area as a vibrant, alive, colorful place, used by day and at night, and it will send

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4160-547: The material into moulds to build their complex network of aqueducts , culverts , and tunnels. Modern uses for pre-cast technology include a variety of architectural and structural applications – including individual parts, or even entire building systems. In the modern world, precast panelled buildings were pioneered in Liverpool , England , in 1905. The process was invented by city engineer John Alexander Brodie . The tram stables at Walton in Liverpool followed in 1906. The idea

4240-446: The mid-1970s. That 1962 analysis was written by planners Livingston and Blayney, landscape architect Lawrence Halprin , architects Rockrise & Watson, and Larry Smith Co. real estate consultants. Plans for the plaza were drawn up by Mario Ciampi , John Savage Bolles , and Halprin. In August 1966 a committee consisting of those three, plus sculptor and Art Commission member Sally Hellyer, invited six sculptors to submit models for

4320-568: The name rests with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission . Peskin stated he had received an unsolicited text from the owner, Boston Properties, which said they would cover the cost of replacing the plaque bearing Herman's name. The Recreation & Parks Commission voted 4–2 to remove Justin Herman's name on November 16, 2017. An earlier vote in October ended in a 3–3 tie after one of

4400-606: The numerous products that utilize precast/prestressed concrete. While this is not a complete list, the majority of precast/prestressed products typically fall under one or Since precast concrete products can withstand the most extreme weather conditions and will hold up for many decades of constant usage they have wide applications in agriculture. These include bunker silos, cattle feed bunks, cattle grid , agricultural fencing, H-bunks, J-bunks, livestock slats, livestock watering trough, feed troughs, concrete panels, slurry channels, and more. Prestressed concrete panels are widely used in

4480-416: The old game of the emperor's new clothes on the unsuspecting people of this city." For his part, Halprin was quoted as saying that if the fountain didn't prove to be among the "great works of civic art ... I am going to slit my throat". The fountain is about 40 feet (12 m) high, weighs approximately 700 short tons (640 t), and is constructed out of precast concrete square tubes. The fountain

4560-494: The original harbor closer to Market, as "the [Embarcadero] Freeway and the Ferry building have created an impenetrable barrier, at street level, to one of San Francisco's most priceless assets – its marine setting" and offering ways to minimize the visual and aural impact of the double-decked freeway. The controversial Vaillancourt Fountain dominates the northeast end of the plaza. The large plaza could accommodate large crowds, and

4640-575: The panels to reduce on-site construction time. The carpenters, electricians and plumbers do need to make some slight adjustments when first becoming familiar with some of the unique aspects of the wall panels. However, they still perform most of their job duties in the manner to which they are accustomed. Precast concrete sandwich wall panels have been used on virtually every type of building, including schools, office buildings, apartment buildings, townhouses, condominiums, hotels, motels, dormitories, and single-family homes. Although typically considered part of

4720-589: The plaza is also frequently used for political rallies, including the Occupy San Francisco protest which took over the plaza for several months in 2011. The monthly Critical Mass bicycle rides have started from the plaza since September 1992. Since 2006, on Valentine's Day , the plaza is the site of the Great San Francisco Pillow Fight , an unsponsored annual pillow fight flash mob . Precast concrete Precast concrete

4800-687: The precast concrete products industry produces utility, underground, and other non-prestressed products, and is represented primarily by the National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA). In Australia , The New South Wales Government Railways made extensive use of precast concrete construction for its stations and similar buildings. Between 1917 and 1932, it erected 145 such buildings. Beyond cladding panels and structural elements, entire buildings can be assembled from precast concrete. Precast assembly enables fast completion of commercial shops and offices with minimal labor. For example,

4880-405: The purpose of further processing into non-contaminating liquids and soil products. Products include: aeration systems , distribution boxes, dosing tanks, dry wells , grease interceptors , leaching pits, sand-oil/oil-water interceptors, septic tanks , water/sewage storage tanks, wet wells, fire cisterns, and other water and wastewater products. Precast concrete transportation products are used in

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4960-464: The reason it had not been reactivated. The estimated cost of rehabilitation to allow water to flow again was approximately US $ 500,000. Charles Desmarais , the current art critic of the San Francisco Chronicle , echoed Frankenstein's comments from 1971, calling for the water to return in an August 2017 opinion article: [T]he water is as essential to [ Vaillancourt Fountain ] as it was superfluous to [the nearby Mechanics Monument ]. Vaillancourt

5040-730: The roaring fountain was designed to drown out noise from the Embarcadero Freeway , which was completed in 1959 and ran along the east side of the plaza from its opening in 1972 until the freeway was torn down in 1991. La Chiffonnière is also installed in the plaza, closer to Market. A bocce ball court was built using private donations in 2010. During the debate over changing the name, San Francisco Chronicle urban spaces critic John King called it "a stark concrete landscape" and added "there's no earthly reason you would want to be there." In an earlier article published just after Halprin's death in 2009, King noted that Embarcadero Plaza

5120-576: The singer's action and older ones not. Bono soon apologized, saying "I really do regret it. It was dumb." The singer explained that he thought that he was honoring the artist's work and that the artist had agreed, but later Bono realized that the city owned the fountain. The group covered the cost of removal of the graffiti. Armand Vaillancourt flew from Quebec to California after the incident, and spoke in favor of Bono's actions at U2's Oakland performance several days later. Vaillancourt said, "Good for him. I want to shake his hand. People get excited about such

5200-405: The song being played when the spray painting occurred. The fountain and plaza are listed on one U2 fan site's list of recommended group-related places in the U.S. to visit. Following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake , the elevated Embarcadero Freeway was so badly damaged that it was torn down, and was replaced by a boulevard at ground level. An architect hired by the city also proposed demolition of

5280-482: The summer, and an ice skating rink is set up for winter months. In 1987, during The Joshua Tree Tour , U2 held a free concert in Justin Herman Plaza to "Save the Yuppies" following the Black Monday financial crisis in October. During the finale of the impromptu concert, Bono spray-painted graffiti on Vaillancourt Fountain , for which he was fined. During the early 1990s, the plaza was better known as EMB, one of

5360-446: The surfaces painted, stained, or left natural; for interior surfaces, the finish is comparable to drywall in smoothness and can be finished using the same prime and paint procedure as is common for conventional drywall construction. If desired, the concrete can be given an architectural finish, where the concrete itself is colored and/or textured. Colors and textures can provide the appearance of brick, stone, wood, or other patterns through

5440-795: The treatment and removal of pollutants from sanitary and stormwater run-off. These precast concrete products include stormwater detention vaults , catch basins , and manholes . For communications, electrical, gas or steam systems, precast concrete utility structures protect the vital connections and controls for utility distribution. Precast concrete is nontoxic and environmentally safe. Products include: hand holes, hollow-core products, light pole bases, meter boxes, panel vaults, pull boxes, telecommunications structures, transformer pads, transformer vaults, trenches, utility buildings, utility vaults , utility poles, controlled environment vaults (CEVs), and other utility structures. Precast water and wastewater products hold or contain water, oil or other liquids for

5520-504: The use of reusable formliners , or, in the most sophisticated applications, actual brick, stone, glass, or other materials can be cast into the concrete surface. Window and door openings are cast into the walls at the manufacturing plant as part of the fabrication process. In many applications, electrical and telecommunications conduit and boxes are cast directly into the panels in the specified locations. In some applications, utilities, plumbing and even heating components have been cast into

5600-521: The waters of a healthy Vaillancourt Fountain . On August 15, 2017, water was restored to the fountain as a test run, with the intention that it stay on until November, when the ice rink would reopen. The water has been dyed with the 'Blue Lagoon' aquatic dye to control the growth of algae and bacteria. The nontoxic aquatic dye attenuates the penetration of light into the water, and tints the water blue. The fountain has been considered controversial since its construction, and criticism of it has continued over

5680-404: The work as well. Sculptor Benny Bufano called it "a jumble of nothing", artist Willard Cox likened it to "dynamited debris", and sculptor Humphrey Diaquist said it had been created by "a figure of deranged talent". Ruth Asawa noted in 1989 that "In the attempt to provide a disguise and diversion from the freeway, the goal of the fountain as a work of art was lost." The fountain has been called

5760-473: The work handed out leaflets at the dedication of the fountain describing it as a "loathsome monstrosity", a "howling obscenity", an "obscene practical joke", "idiotic rubble", and a "pestiferous eyesore". Art critic Alfred Frankenstein of the San Francisco Chronicle responded that "its very outrageousness and extravagance are part of its challenge" and therefore, it "can't be all bad." He added that

5840-459: The world's premier street skateboarding sites. Formal athletic ceremonies and rallies have also occurred in the plaza, including the retirement of Joe Montana (1995), attended by an estimated 25,000 people; the commemoration of Barry Bonds becoming the all-time home run leader (2007); and as the site of Super Bowl City, a "fan village" for attendees of Super Bowl 50 (2016) at Levi's Stadium in distant Santa Clara . Because of its size,

5920-530: The years. Hoving, in his dedication speech, said of the fountain had some of the daring of Baroque sculpture and that "A work of art must be born in controversy." Herman himself said it was "one of the greatest artistic achievements in North America." At the time of its dedication, the San Francisco chapter of the National Safety Council said that the fountain "may be a safety hazard". Opponents of

6000-539: Was "oversize and stiff, unable to adjust to the changing urban scene on all sides." The plaza, located at the eastern end of Market Street, opened in 1972. It was originally named for M. Justin Herman , executive director of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency from 1959 to 1971. In 2017, County Supervisor Aaron Peskin introduced a resolution to rename the site Embarcadero Plaza, citing Herman's role in displacing poor and minority residents from

6080-460: Was US $ 310,000. It was dedicated on April 22, 1971. The Los Angeles Times reported that its cost was US $ 607,800. Just before the dedication, the slogan " Quebec Libre " (a reference to the Quebec sovereignty movement ) was painted on the fountain at night, and the graffiti was erased. During the dedication, attended by Thomas Hoving , director of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art ,

6160-483: Was also being constructed; Embarcadero station would eventually open in 1976, three years after the other stations along Market. Justin Herman , for whom the plaza was named, was a leading figure in this process and the executive director of the redevelopment agency in charge. The plaza was one of several plazas proposed in the 1962 redevelopment analysis What to do About Market Street , including Hallidie Plaza and United Nations Plaza , which were also completed in

6240-464: Was approximately US $ 200,000 per year to operate the fountain. Peskin negotiated a public-private partnership where the city would pay for the operating costs (at a revised estimate of US $ 76,000 per year) and Boston Properties would pay for maintenance (estimated at US $ 20,000 per year). The fountain was shut off again during the winter of 2007–08 starting in November 2007 so that skaters at

6320-492: Was fabricated in Minnesota. Reinforcing concrete with steel improves strength and durability. On its own, concrete has good compressive strength, but lacks tensile and shear strength and can be subject to cracking when bearing loads for long periods of time. Steel offers high tensile and shear strength to make up for what concrete lacks. Steel behaves similarly to concrete in changing environments, which means it will shrink and expand with concrete, helping avoid cracking. Rebar

6400-913: Was not taken up extensively in Britain. However, it was adopted all over the world, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Million Programme in Scandinavia. In the US, precast concrete has evolved as two sub-industries, each represented by a major association. The precast concrete structures industry, represented primarily by of the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI), focuses on prestressed concrete elements and on other precast concrete elements used in above-ground structures such as buildings, parking structures, and bridges, while

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