{{Short description|Fountain in Manhattan, New York, U.S.}} {{Infobox artwork | title = Revson Fountain | italic title = no | other_language_1 = | other_title_1 = | other_language_2 = | other_title_2 = | wikidata = | image = 150919 003 Lincoln Center - Revson Fountain, Koch Theater, Metropolitan Opera (21223352214).jpg | image_upright = | alt = | caption = The redesigned fountain in 2015 | artist = | completion_date = {{start date|1964|04|06|df=y}}<ref name=NYT-640407 /><br/>{{start date|2009|09|30|df=y}}<ref name=Lincoln-Score/> | catalogue = | medium = | movement = | subject = | height_metric = <!-- (i.e. in metric units) --> | width_metric = | length_metric = | diameter_metric = | height_imperial = <!-- (i.e. in imperial units) --> | width_imperial = | length_imperial = | diameter_imperial = | dimensions = | dimensions_ref = | metric_unit = cm <!-- Note: this parameter must either use the value given or not be included --> | imperial_unit = in <!-- Note: this parameter must either use the value given or not be included --> | weight = | designation = | condition = | museum = | city = Manhattan, New York City | coordinates = {{coord|40.772319|-73.983404|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-NY|display=ti}} | owner = | accession = | preceded_by = <!-- preceding work by the same artist --> | followed_by = <!-- next work by the same artist --> | module = | website = <!-- Official webpage/site only: {{URL|example.com}} --> }} '''Revson Fountain''' is a fountain installed in the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. The fountain was dedicated in 1964 and a redesign was completed in 2009.

==History== {{quotebox |width=20em |text=We conceived it as a lighted, glowing, moving feature for the plaza and gave it the focal point a fireplace gives a home. |author=Philip C. Johnson, architect |source=quoted in March 7, 1964 ''New York Times'' article.<ref name=NYT-640307/>}}Designed by Philip Johnson Associates, the fountain was dedicated on April 6, 1964.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/M232/monuments/1326|title=Lincoln Center Plaza Monuments - Revson Fountain : NYC Parks|website=Nycgovparks.org|accessdate=21 March 2019|archive-date=21 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321192440/https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/M232/monuments/1326|url-status=live}}</ref> It was originally called the '''Lincoln Center fountain''';<ref name=NYT-640407/> its namesake is Charles Revson. The fountain was funded by the Revlon Foundation in 1962.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/16/arts/lincoln-center-gets-gift-of-25-million.html|title=Lincoln Center Gets Gift of $25 Million|first=Ralph|last=Blumenthal|date=September 16, 1998|accessdate=March 21, 2019|website=The New York Times|archive-date=March 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321192443/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/16/arts/lincoln-center-gets-gift-of-25-million.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the lead architects of the 2006 renovation of Lincoln Center, made several proposals to redesign the fountain, eventually changing the perimeter bench to a floating granite disk; the fountain itself was rebuilt by WET Design from 2007 to 2009.<ref name=NYer-2010>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/01/11/water-music-2 |title=Water Music: The fountain architect who gave water a voice |author=Seabrook, John |date=January 3, 2010 |magazine=The New Yorker |accessdate=July 8, 2019 |archive-date=August 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811223632/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/01/11/water-music-2 |url-status=live }}</ref> Andrew Dolkart objected to the redesign: "It’s the thing that upsets me most of all about what's happened at Lincoln Center. They thought that they needed to spend a lot of money ripping out Philip Johnson's fountain and putting in something new instead of restoring something that worked well."<ref name=NYT-090826/> The rebuilt fountain debuted on September 30, 2009, at a ceremony attended by members of Charles Revson's family.<ref name=Lincoln-Score>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincolncenter.org/article/9-things-to-know-about-the-revson-fountain |title=9 Things to Know about the Revson Fountain |author=Howell, Nicole |date=August 14, 2017 |work=The Score |publisher=Lincoln Center |accessdate=9 July 2019 |archive-date=5 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705115702/http://www.lincolncenter.org/article/9-things-to-know-about-the-revson-fountain |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Design== {{Lincoln Center map|highlight=9}}As originally designed, the fountain employed 568 jets and 88 lights with a combined illumination power of 26&nbsp;kW. It was {{convert|38|ft}} in diameter and was computer controlled, capable of shooting water {{convert|150|ft}} in the air.<ref name="NYT-640407">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/04/07/archives/an-electronic-fountain-bows-at-lincoln-center.html |title=An Electronic Fountain Bows at Lincoln Center |date=April 7, 1964 |newspaper=The New York Times |accessdate=July 8, 2019 |archive-date=July 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708141940/https://www.nytimes.com/1964/04/07/archives/an-electronic-fountain-bows-at-lincoln-center.html |url-status=live }}</ref> J. S. Hamel of Hamel and Lancer was credited with engineering the fountain. The core of the fountain was an array of 40 jets arranged in a {{convert|6|ft|adj=on}} diameter circle around 16 lights capable of throwing water {{convert|30|ft|abbr=on}} in the air; there were two larger concentric rings with smaller jets outside the core. The total combined flowrate of all the nozzles was {{convert|9000|gal/min|abbr=on}}.<ref name="NYT-640307">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/03/07/archives/lincoln-plaza-fountain-to-dance-to-computer-tune.html |title=Lincoln Plaza Fountain to Dance to Computer Tune |date=March 7, 1964 |newspaper=The New York Times |accessdate=8 July 2019 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708141939/https://www.nytimes.com/1964/03/07/archives/lincoln-plaza-fountain-to-dance-to-computer-tune.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The water level of the fountain was elevated from the plaza level in the original design, which used a curb and bench around the perimeter of the retaining pool; during the redesign, the water level was lowered to the level of the plaza and the bench was reduced to a circular rim floating on slim supports. The redesigned fountain contains 353 jets arrayed in three concentric rings and 272 lights with a total illumination power of 27.2&nbsp;kW.<ref name=NYT-090826>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/arts/design/26fountain.html |title=The Lincoln Center Fountain Is Being Taught Some New Moves |author=Pogrebin, Robin |date=August 25, 2009 |newspaper=The New York Times |accessdate=July 8, 2019 |archive-date=July 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708142915/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/arts/design/26fountain.html |url-status=live }}</ref> After the redesign, the fountain is capable of shooting water as high as {{convert|60|ft}} in the air;<ref name=NYer-2010/> 24 pumps move up to {{convert|16500|gal/min|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Lincoln-Score/>

==In popular media== [[File:LINCOLN CENTER PLAZA IS ENCLOSED BY TWO THEATERS, AN OPERA HOUSE AND A CONCERT HALL. BOUNDING THE CENTER ARE 62ND AND... - NARA - 551636.jpg|thumb|Original fountain design; photographed by Suzanne Szasz for Documerica in August 1973.]] Revson Fountain has been featured in several notable films set in New York City, including: * ''The Producers'' (1967)<ref name=NYer-2010/> * ''Sweet Charity'' (1969)<ref name=Lincoln-Score/> * ''On a Clear Day You Can See Forever'' (1970)<ref name=Lincoln-film>{{cite web |url=https://www.lincolncenter.org/article/moviesfilmedatlincolncenter |title=Starring Lincoln Center: 11 Films That Cast the Center for the Performing Arts |author=Bowen, Peter |date=June 28, 2015 |work=The Score |publisher=Lincoln Center |accessdate=9 July 2019 |archive-date=9 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709194740/https://www.lincolncenter.org/article/moviesfilmedatlincolncenter |url-status=live }}</ref> * ''Godspell'' (1973)<ref name=Lincoln-Score/> * ''Manhattan'' (1979)<ref name=NYer-2010/> * ''Ghostbusters'' (1984)<ref name=NYer-2010/> * ''Moonstruck'' (1987)<ref name=Lincoln-Score/> * ''Sweet Home Alabama'' (2002)<ref name=NYer-2010/>

In 2017, the water in Revson Fountain was dyed bright yellow during a prank.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nypost.com/2017/11/04/pranksters-turn-lincoln-center-fountain-water-bright-yellow/ |title=Pranksters turn Lincoln Center fountain water bright yellow |author=Connelly, Eileen AJ |date=November 4, 2017 |newspaper=New York Post |accessdate=9 July 2019 |archive-date=9 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709181722/https://nypost.com/2017/11/04/pranksters-turn-lincoln-center-fountain-water-bright-yellow/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Portal|New York City}} * {{Commons category-inline|Revson Fountain}}

Category:1964 establishments in New York City Category:Fountains in New York City Category:Lincoln Center