Dallas Cowboys - The Star in Frisco
General Contractor - Manhattan Construction Company
Architect - O'Brien Architects
Fountain Subcontractor - inCon-trol Water Systems
This was an interesting project. The hydraulics are difficult in a lot of respects simply because there 2(two) different effects on each side of the wall and both are supplied by the same discharges up top. Cascading waterwall on one side and scuppers on the opposing side.
Top of feature. Diverter plates are used at the each of the discharges in this 'supply trough' to relieve some kinetic energy and prevent any 'boiling' effects. They work quite well in practice if sized correctly. As you can see from this photo the upper trough looks relatively placid considering how much water is moving around.
This photo helps to show the dichotomy of this feature's opposing sides with their own differing water effects.
Scupper side, - water falling in unbroken 'sheets' to basin below.
Cascading waterwall side - water is a lot more energetic as it travels to the basin below.
This feature was redesigned more times than I can count to get the height just right. There was a ton of emphasis placed on sight-lines, particularity when it came to being able to see the sculpture in the center of the roundabout from the nearby patios and walkways.
