The Town of Gilbert Water Tower Plaza is a small but quaint city park beneath their historic water tower. The design of the plaza encompasses the dominating presence of the water tower against a backdrop of an existing and active commercial and arts district. A very large black granite sculptured ball is supported by a very thin film of water. Water flows beneath the very heavy, perfectly spherical rock from a spherical concave base with the exact same curvature. This review will discuss the impressive presence of the water feature at the Town of Gilbert Water Tower Plaza. The granite water feature serves as a catalyst connecting the historic past of this agricultural town with the revitalization of a developing modern community.\r
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The Town of Gilbert Water Tower Plaza is located in the heart of the Town’s historic Heritage District. The plaza site sits under a historic site water tower. There is also a historic adobe pump house on the site that served as the town’s first jail. The plaza is surrounded by restaurants and retail shops, where distinguished architecture and structures have been preserved and renovated. This plaza is part of a revitalization of the Heritage District and downtown Gilbert. The water tower holds a sentimental historical significance to the Town, the residents, and business owners in the Heritage District.\r
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The Water Tower Plaza is themed around celebrating the past and imagining the future. The plaza provides a vital link connecting the past to the future. One way this is accomplished is through mimicking the structural attributes of the tower in other site features. A steel runnel, reminiscent of conservation corps projects of the past, reflects the tower’s open box girder legs with matching structural cables. The steel runnel spans above a black granite sphere which floats on a cushion of water, to inspire the community of what the future holds. Water flows from the runnel and streams over the granite sphere once every half hour, creating the sound of a babbling brook. There are also three water walls which create the tranquil sound of rain. The numerous water features create both a cooling aspect and inviting nature associated with both the sound and sight of water. The water features remind you of the significant role of the immense water tower.\r
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The Water Tower Plaza has a different feel in the day time in contrast to its feel at night. During the day, the park is filled with the sound of laughing children and adults conversing. Families are coming to the plaza as a destination, putting umbrellas in the turf areas and laying out blankets for picnics. Photographers are holding photo shoots for graduations and prom pictures. The black granite sphere has a contemporary, modern feel. In contrast, at night, the space is designed to accommodate a sitting public that could enjoy the tranquil sound of water with a small town restful feel.\r
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The Water Tower Plaza demonstrates on multiple levels its response to social, economic and sustainable considerations. The sustainability of the site is echoed through the preservation and restoration efforts associated with the adobe pump house and historic water tower. The contrast of the conservation corps like architectural structures and the contemporary water features create a marriage of the past and future. The culmination of the architecture and features is indicative of how the Water Tower Plaza represents the celebration of the historic past along with the promise that the future holds.\r
Pros: Great Redevelopment Project - Place to see
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