Your concrete project may not be a historical monument, but Howard Concrete will treat it like one.
	Located in Grant Park on Lake Michigan, Chicago's historic Buckingham Fountain was donated to the city in 1927 and remains one of its most distinctive landmarks. The fountain is designed to hold over 1.5 million gallons of water; 130 jets propel 14,000 gallons of water into the air every minute to create a truly spectacular display. The restoration of the fountain in 1987 was a massive undertaking. Howard Concrete was chosen by the manager of the restoration for its experience and excellent track record with difficult concrete projects.
	The project began with the dismantling of the fountain's elaborate stonework. Once the carved stone blocks were removed, the underlying concrete structure was visible. Howard Concrete carefully measured and recorded the dimensions of the existing concrete base -- its irregular shape would pose a challenge later. The fountain's complex stonework would only fit into place if the new concrete base perfectly matched the original's shape and dimensions.
Once the shape of the fountain's existing concrete was recorded, it was torn down to make way for the new construction. Extra care was taken to prevent damage to the fountain's extensive plumbing and lighting. Each layer of the tiered fountain required a separate shaped form. When one level had been completed, the next level's form was built according to the original recorded dimensions of the fountain. Finally, when the fountain's structure had been recreated, the carved stonework was replaced.
	The completed work on Buckingham Fountain is designed to last for a century, far longer than the life of the fountain's original work! To return to examples of Howard Concrete's other jobs, click here.

Howard Concrete Co. Incorporated, 1N282 Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn IL 60137-3618
Voice: (630) 942-1800 Fax: (630) 942-1824 Email: info@howardconcrete.com