1.0PARTISANShttps://partisans.compartisans-adminhttps://partisans.com/author/partisans-admin/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="LEQLsXA2Lp"><a href="https://partisans.com/project/peace-fountain/">Peace Fountain</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://partisans.com/project/peace-fountain/embed/#?secret=LEQLsXA2Lp" width="600" height="338" title="“Peace Fountain” — PARTISANS" data-secret="LEQLsXA2Lp" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://partisans.com/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js /* ]]> */ </script> https://partisans.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Arch_new2-1.jpg23001726PARTISANS lead a value-based design process to reimagine the aging Charles Brooks Memorial Peace Fountain in the Detroit River. The existing Peace Fountain is a highly respected landmark of the City of Windsor, and reimagining the fountain required reimaging the community engagement process. Having the community define shared values for the project was critical—knowing what is valued, and what opportunities the project presents to create value, allow design to take place. In its 40 years of operation, the Peace Fountain became a place of memory for generations of Windsorites—a place to spend time with family and friends, to escape and find calmness, to celebrate important life events, and to remember loved ones. The value-based design process started with collecting these memories. Windsorites were invited to share their stories and photographs of the Peace Fountain through a project-specific website and social media platforms. Based on the feedback received, we identified key values of the project, and launched a second phase of engagement seeking further input. In addition to the individual memories of Windsorites, the Peace Fountain is also a public memorial for the eponymous Charles Brooks—a highly respected union leader and civic activist from Windsor whose contributions to social progress and workers' rights and welfare had lasting impact locally, nationally, and internationally. The fountain has served as both a celebration of Mr. Brooks’ life and accomplishments, as well as a symbol of democracy and peace which is enhanced by its location on an international border. We worked closely with the Brooks Family, as well as representatives from union he was president of in the development of the designs. Three design options were developed as different strategic approaches to a new fountain—water-based, land-based, and land/water hybrid. While different in from, substrate, and cost, all three designs champion similar, community-informed values, such as all-season operation, use as a public arts platform, support for continuous temporary programming, and creating a monument to peace and democracy. All three options are designed to run on renewable energy generated by the currents of the Detroit River. Using a submersible turbine, the fountain will generate more energy than it consumes on a net-annual basis. This use of innovative clean-tech furthers the Peace Fountain’s symbolic role in the city by creating a very public marker of the innovative industrial economy of Windsor.