Vaillancourt no more?
Published August 21, 2025
The Facts
The Recreation and Parks Department has formally requested the removal of the Vaillancourt Fountain, according to Sam Whiting at The Chronicle.
Removing the much-maligned brutalist fountain would clear the way for a fully redesigned public plaza near the Ferry Building. The fountain has been broken for over a year, and fixing it would cost an estimated $29 million—a shocking sum. Removing it would cost "just" $2.5 million. The Arts Commission will make the final decision on the fountain's fate.
The Context
The move comes as the city proceeds with an ambitious project to redesign Embarcadero Plaza and the adjacent Sue Bierman Park into a seamless, 5-acre public space across from the Ferry Building. The 53-year-old fountain sits directly in the middle of the planned multi-use area.
City officials argue that the massive sculpture fragments the plaza, hinders circulation, and constrains event programming. While the artist, Armand Vaillancourt, has advocated for its restoration, engineers have determined the structure poses safety risks and is incompatible with the open, accessible park envisioned in the new design.
The GrowSF Take
The fountain is ugly and we should scrap it. Brutalism can be beautiful, but the Vaillancourt fountain is an example of how to do it wrong. No offense to the artist, but this piece has outlived its aesthetic moment.
We're hopeful the Arts Commission will embrace a changing city over preservation of an eyesore while saving taxpayers a bucket of money at the same time.