Inside the Hidden Chamber That Controls Lincoln Center's Revson Fountain

A Gothamist feature published October 23 takes readers inside the underground control room that operates the iconic Revson Fountain at Lincoln Center on Manhattan's Upper West Side. The fountain, completed in 1964 and upgraded in 2009 by water-feature design firm WET Design, contains more than 350 nozzles arranged in concentric circles. Engineers in the subterranean chamber can control all effects — from gentle rings of water to jets firing 60 feet into the air — from a single iPad connected to the system. The facility operates year-round, even in temperatures as low as negative 10 degrees Fahrenheit, using steam-heat exchangers to prevent freezing. The engineers' personal favourite effect is called the 'shooters' programme. Once a year the fountain runs a special three-tiered 'wedding cake' configuration for Lincoln Center's annual mass wedding ceremony. The piece features chief engineer John Houlihan and senior engineering manager Matthew Johnson.