San Francisco’s most argued-over fountain appears to be entering its final days on the Embarcadero.
The city is preparing to begin dismantling the Vaillancourt Fountain at Embarcadero Plaza on Monday, April 27, setting in motion the removal of a hulking Brutalist landmark that has divided San Franciscans for more than 50 years.
The concrete fountain, installed in the early 1970s near the foot of Market Street, has been called everything from a masterpiece of public art to one of the city’s great eyesores.
Now, after years of decay, a legal fight, and an emotional preservation campaign, crews are expected to start the process of taking it apart.
The Fountain Has Been Dry Since 2024
The Vaillancourt Fountain was designed by Canadian artist Armand Vaillancourt and installed at Embarcadero Plaza in 1971-72, when the elevated Embarcadero Freeway still loomed nearby.
Its massive concrete forms once poured water through a maze of blocky, industrial-looking tubes, creating a piece that felt part fountain, part sculpture, and part urban provocation.
But the fountain has not functioned as a fountain for some time. KTVU reported that it has been dry since 2024, and city officials have cited corrosion, lead, asbestos, and structural concerns as reasons for removal.
According to recent reports, the removal process is expected to begin with documentation, labeling, and preparation work before heavier disassembly begins. SFist reported that crews are expected to start by removing grout around the fountain’s square concrete tubes, with the larger disassembly to follow.
Preservationists Say It Should Be Saved
The opposition has not been quiet.
Docomomo US/Northern California, a preservation group focused on modern architecture and design, has argued that Embarcadero Plaza and the Vaillancourt Fountain should be retained and reused rather than removed.
The group says the fountain is historically significant and has called for adaptive reuse, preservation alternatives, and a more transparent public process.
The group has also argued that the planned redesign threatens not only the fountain, but the historic character of Embarcadero Plaza itself. Docomomo says the renovation plan would remove the fountain and parts of the surrounding plaza design, replacing them with a new stage and lawn.
In November 2025, the San Francisco Arts Commission voted 8-5 to approve disassembly and storage of the fountain, according to The Cultural Landscape Foundation.
It May Be Removed Before Its Final Fate Is Decided
One wrinkle: the fountain may not be smashed into rubble immediately.
Recent reports say the city plans to dismantle and store the structure off-site for up to three years while officials determine whether it could be restored, relocated, or permanently removed.
So these are the fountain’s final days at the Embarcadero. But it could well show up in a museum or somewhere else if the city decides to take that route.
