Vaillancourt Fountain Removal Begins Next Week in San Francisco

Starting next week, San Francisco officials will begin removing the Vaillancourt Fountain, a Brutalist concrete sculpture at Embarcadero Plaza. The first phase involves removing grout and cataloging pieces for future reassembly, expected to take at least a week. In May, cranes will haul away the fountain's 10-ton cantilevered arms. The fountain, created by artist Armand Vaillancourt in 1971, has been a controversial landmark, often criticized for its appearance and maintenance issues. The removal follows years of debate over its fate.