Alongside the arrival of robins and blooms of redbud trees, the startup of Broyhill Fountain is a signal that spring has officially arrived at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The flow of water through the fountain’s jets — which began this morning shortly before 9 a.m. — also signals the university’s frantic run to spring commencement exercises in early May. Here are 10 big facts about Broyhill Fountain, which has served as a focal point on UNL’s City Campus since its dedication in 1969.
1. Broyhill Fountain is a memorial
Broyhill Fountain is named after Lynn Diann Broyhill, a University of Nebraska student who died as the result of a car accident on Sept. 8, 1966. Her family gave a $15,000 donation to build the fountain. Her brother, Kent Broyhill, was featured in a Sept. 9, 2015 UNL Today story about the alumnus who paid his parking tickets 41 years after graduation.
2. There have been two Broyhill Fountains
The original Broyhill Fountain, which was dedicated in 1969, was removed during an expansion of the Nebraska Union in the late 1990s. Designed by Howard Strong, the first design was circular, measuring 48 feet in diameter and surrounded by concrete seating. It featured a center series of fountain jets that could shoot a cone of water 20 feet high and 12 feet in diameter, along with a series of 12 smaller water jets. If it was still operating today, the original Broyhill Fountain would be located just inside the north doors to the Nebraska Union, approximately by the stairs that go down to the University Bookstore.
3. Nearly a link to a national monument
A minor campus legend that claims artist Maya Lin, best known for her award-winning design of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., participated in the Broyhill redesign is not correct. Lin expressed an initial interest in the fountain update but did not participate in the final design. The project was led by Neil Dean of Sasaki Associates of Watertown, Massachusetts. The fountain is a contemporary design that features 10 jets (one primary and nine smaller jets) scattered among large chunks of granite from the Cold Spring Granite quarry in Milbank, South Dakota. Duplicating the feel of the original fountain, Dean designed the update to be inviting, allowing students, faculty, staff and campus visitors to walk up to and sit by the new fountain to study, rest or to dip their feet into the water. The redesigned Broyhill Fountain was rededicated on April 15, 1999. Granite pieces from the same South Dakota quarry were used to create a seating area by the University Hall memorial on the west side of City Campus (immediately northwest of Woods Hall). While the University Hall site does not include water, the placement of granite reflects the design of Broyhill Fountain.
4. Maintained by Nebraska Unions staff
Regular, day-to-day care of Broyhill Fountain is led by Nebraska Unions maintenance staff. Joe Schroedl, a building services technician, serves as the lead caretaker of the fountain.
5. By the numbers
Broyhill Fountain holds 30,000 gallons of water and takes about 12 hours to fill. To maintain cleanliness, the water is circulated through a filtration system 24 hours a day. The fountain operates primarily from mid-April (before the Huskers’ spring football game) to mid-October (before the first hard freeze). That schedule can vary depending on weather conditions and campus events. The 10 fountain jets run daily, 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and are controlled by an automatic timer. The jets can be switched on manually for special events.
6. On the level and wind driven
The fountain features an automatic leveler which maintains the depth of the water. The jets are also controlled by an anemometer, which measures wind speed. If winds become strong enough to blow water onto the Nebraska Union Plaza, the jets shut down automatically. The anemometer system helps keep wind-blown droplets from freezing on the plaza and causing a slipping hazard.
7. No need for a foghorn
The Broyhill Fountain redesign included a system that would create a layer of fog on the surface of the water. The fogger was used briefly after the fountain was rededicated in 1999. The mechanics of the fogger were problematic and it never did produce the desired effect. It has since been removed from the system.
8. Fish stories
If you are on City Campus early enough in the morning, you will see Schroedl using a specialized net to remove items — primarily leaves from nearby trees — from the fountain. He’s fished a wide variety of items from the fountain over the years, some of which he’s not willing to talk about. To date, the most entertaining find were two fish-shaped pillows someone left floating in the fountain overnight.
9. Dip, don’t wade
The fountain is designed for the campus community and visitors to dip their feet and legs into the water. However, wading is discouraged due to safety concerns and to protect the water jets, filtration equipment, pipes and fountain lights. Individuals are also asked not to climb on the fountain’s rocks.
10. Upgrade in the works
An upgrade of the lighting and related electrical system will take Broyhill Fountain offline for a few weeks after spring commencement exercises, which are May 6-7. The work includes the installation of energy-efficient LED lights that will allow the fountain to be lit in a variety of colors — an option that will be used for outdoor events, including things like the upcoming Red Memorial. The project is scheduled for completion in late May with the fountain starting back up on May 31.
For more information about UNL’s Broyhill Fountain, click here.
Editor’s Note — This version corrects source information that reported the current version of Broyhill Fountain was designed by Maya Lin. The artist expressed an interest in the project but did not work on Broyhill designs. The fountain was actually designed by Neil Dean of Sasaki Associates of Watertown, Mass.
