OTL’s Role:
The Grand at Papago Park Center
LOCATION
Tempe, Arizona
GENERAL CONTRACTOR
JE Dunn Construction Company
FOUNTAIN DESIGNER
WET
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
GBtwo Landscape Architecture and Kendle Design Collaborative
PROJECT OVERVIEW
- Mechanical Systems
- Plumbing
- Fountain Equipment Installation
The Grand at Papago Park Center is the final phase of a 300-acre mixed-use business park in Tempe, Arizona. Its centerpiece is a legacy water feature designed by WET and inspired by Arizona’s Theodore Roosevelt Dam. General contractor JE Dunn Construction brought OTL on to install the fountain’s mechanical systems and plumbing.
PROJECT
CHALLENGE
OTL had to deliver the fountain’s equipment and plumbing on a tight timeframe while meeting the developer’s high expectations. The site sat below the water level of the adjacent Grand Canal, risking flooding during construction. The fountain’s large-scale water release effects also required equipment that had to stay completely hidden from view.
OTL’S
SOLUTION
Drawing on its experience with complex WET fountains, OTL anticipated the project’s risks early and coordinated with the team. As a safety measure, the team lowered the canal’s water level in step with construction to keep the site dry. OTL built the equipment room behind stone finishes from Sun Valley Masonry, hiding all mechanical infrastructure from view.
The completed fountain brings sudden cascading flows to life, simulating water releases from the Roosevelt Dam toward the Grand Canal. The feature now adds lasting value to the park while honoring a piece of Arizona history.
