BRINGING FOG, LIGHT & MOVEMENT TO LIFE
BY ROBERT MIKULA OALA, CSLA (DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE DESIGN - CRYSTAL FOUNTAINS)
What began as a simple blue dot on a site plan in 2020 has evolved into one of Calgary’s most captivating destinations. The Eau Claire Plaza redevelopment set out to reimagine an aging downtown plaza as a public space that connects people through play, atmosphere, and experience. The City of Calgary and DIALOG envisioned a space that could adapt throughout the year, dynamic in summer, expressive in winter, and timeless in its appeal.
At the heart of this transformation is a signature water feature designed, choreographed, and manufactured by Crystal Fountains. The feature redefines how people experience public space by blending art, technology, and environmental design into one cohesive, interactive installation.
COLLABORATION & VISION
From the earliest concept discussions, the design vision centred on two primary goals. The first was to create a multi-generational public experience. The second was to enhance the microclimate through evaporative cooling. The intention was to craft an environment that encourages people of all ages to interact, explore, and connect through a shared sensory experience. Calgary’s climate presented both challenges and inspiration, guiding the team toward a solution that delivers year round engagement while remaining low maintenance, energy efficient, and visually striking.
The Eau Claire Plaza project was led by DIALOG as Prime Consultant, with the City of Calgary as Prime Stakeholder. Crystal Fountains was responsible for water feature design, choreography, and manufacturing of all water feature components.
To bring the system to life, we collaborated closely with AME Consulting Group as Specialist Mechanical Engineering Consultant and AES Engineering Ltd. as Specialist Electrical Engineering Consultant, who provided critical expertise in integration and performance. Ful Flo Industries Ltd. served as Water Feature Specialist Contractor, managing installation with precision and craftsmanship. Stuart Olson Construction Ltd. oversaw broader site construction as General Contractor, ensuring seamless coordination across all trades and disciplines.
THE DESIGN JOURNEY
The design process began with a 400 square metre area defined as a spray jet zone. From that starting point, our team explored multiple directions, each inspired by geometry, rhythm, and the way people move through public space. Three distinct concepts were developed. Lines, Pixel Gradient, and Pixel Pods. The final selection, based on the Pixel Pods concept, emphasized modularity, texture, and the ability to create immersive spatial compositions using fog and light.
Our concepts evolved from exploring a range of traditional sequencing jets and water expression combinations to a more refined approach using a single water expression, fog, paired with integrated LED lighting. Fog offered the most engaging and inclusive multi-generational experience, aligning with the project goals to enhance the microclimate through evaporative cooling while creating an interactive environment for all ages.
Once approved, the project entered a detailed design phase that required close coordination between architecture, landscape, and engineering. Every technical element, from manifold placement and water flow dynamics to lighting integration and control sequencing, was mapped to ensure the choreography would feel natural and intuitive. The concept evolved further following reviews from Alberta Health Services, resulting in a fully fog based design that replaced jets with custom fog emitters. This shift enhanced safety, minimized water use, and maintained the visual drama that the plaza needed.
DESIGN DETAILS
The completed installation spans 400 square metres and features 79 custom fog niches, with 43 equipped with integrated LED ring lights. The system is divided into 12 programmable activation zones. Four stainless steel bollards serve as user controls, enabling visitors to trigger sequences and interact directly with the space.
Each zone operates with its own timing and choreography, creating an ever changing atmosphere that transitions from subtle mist to dense fog and from gentle glows to bursts of light and shadow. The LEDs are fully addressable, allowing colour and intensity to shift in response to programmed shows or seasonal events. With the City of Calgary skyline as its urban backdrop, the feature creates a striking visual connection between people, architecture, and landscape. The result is an experience that feels alive, transforming the plaza from tranquil and reflective to bold and energetic within moments.
WINTERIZATION & YEAR-ROUND APPEAL
A defining feature of this project is its winter operation mode. Understanding Calgary’s climate, our team added decorative covers that ensure the installation remains active even when the water system is turned off. Stakeholders are often drawn to the idea of extending a fountain’s active life, as it offers greater value and impact for the investment. More importantly, it transforms the user experience by adding a new layer of engagement and creating a dynamic evolution of the space that people find highly appealing.
The winter system covers fog nozzles with illuminated decorative globes that attach to the deck level housings. The LED light source continues to function through the globes, creating a glowing winter display that brings warmth and visual interest to the plaza during colder months. This dual mode design extends the life of the feature, keeping it relevant and engaging through every season while ensuring that Eau Claire Plaza remains an animated destination year round.
TECHNICAL PRECISION, AESTHETIC HARMONY & IMPACT
Designing the Eau Claire feature required a balance between technical innovation and artistry. Coordination between control systems, mechanical engineering, and landscape design ensured seamless integration into the plaza’s architecture. Stainless steel components, precision fog manifolds, and integrated lighting provide durability without compromising visual quality.
From the beginning, the intent was not simply to build a water feature, but to craft a living installation that interacts with its environment and the people who inhabit it. Each mist cycle catches sunlight differently, while at night the illuminated fog produces an atmospheric glow that softens the surrounding architecture. Fog is highly influenced by its surrounding environment, and our team viewed that as an opportunity rather than a limitation. Changing wind, humidity, and lighting continually reshape the experience, creating a dynamic interaction that ensures no two moments at Eau Claire Plaza ever feel the same.
Eau Claire Plaza now stands as a renewed landmark for Calgary, inviting residents and visitors to pause, play, and reconnect with the city by reimagining water as light and mist. The design shows how public space can evoke emotion, foster creativity, and cultivate community.
This project reflects Crystal Fountains’ ongoing commitment to merging technology and artistry to elevate civic environments around the world. Eau Claire Plaza is not just a revitalized park. It is a testament to how thoughtful, innovative design can transform a city’s relationship with its public realm.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a fog or mist water feature, and how does it cool outdoor public spaces?
A fog or mist feature uses ultra-fine droplets that evaporate quickly in the air. As that evaporation happens, heat is absorbed from the surrounding environment, which can lower the felt temperature in the immediate area. In public spaces, this creates a cooler microclimate that feels refreshing without needing large volumes of water or deep basins.
When is fog a better choice than traditional jets or spray features in a plaza?
Fog is often the better choice when the goal is atmosphere, comfort, and broad accessibility rather than direct water play. It works well in plazas where designers want cooling and visual impact with a softer, more flexible experience, especially in high-heat regions or places where a low-profile deck-level solution fits the site better than vertical jets.
How do fog based water features create multi generational public experiences?
Fog creates an experience that is intuitive and welcoming for all ages. Kids engage with it as play and discovery, adults experience it as comfort and atmosphere, and older visitors can enjoy it without needing to enter an active splash zone. Because the effect is immersive but gentle, it supports shared public use rather than being limited to one user group.
What role does LED lighting play in fog and mist installations?
Lighting gives fog its full character. LEDs make the mist visible at night, define zones, and allow the feature to shift from subtle ambience to high-energy moments. When integrated properly, light and fog work together as a single visual layer, turning cooling infrastructure into a night-time public attraction.
How are fog and lighting sequences programmed and controlled for different moods or events?
Fog and lighting are typically programmed through show control systems that manage timing, intensity, and colour. Using DMX-based control, designers and operators can build scene libraries that run on schedules or respond to user input, so the space can change for daily rhythms, seasons, or special events without re-building the hardware.
How are fog or mist water features adapted for winter or cold climates?
In cold climates, water operation is usually shut down before freezing conditions to protect equipment. The public experience can still continue through design choices like integrated lighting, deck-level housings that remain visually clean, and optional winter presentation elements that keep the site active and intentional when water is off. The key is planning for a year-round story, not just a summer mode.
