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 Fountain complete for new CapFed pocket park in downtown Topeka - Topeka, Ks. Posted by:  iconions
N 39° 03.000 W 095° 40.430
15S E 268613 N 4325727
This replica of the Kansas State Capitol Dome, part of a fountain, is located in front of the Capitol Federal Building - 700 S Kansas Avenue in Topeka, Kansas.
Waymark Code: WMW6EH
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 07/16/2017
Views: 0
• The state legislature approved the dome in 1881 and construction began in 1885.
• There are 296 steps leading from the fifth floor to the cupola.
• The inner dome is composed of 256 glass panels. Each is a half inch thick.
• The copper on the dome would make 2,350,746 pennies.
• The outer copper dome extends approximately 75 feet above the inner dome.
• The bronze statue of the Kansa warrior, Ad Astra, was placed on the top of the dome in 2002. It is 22 feet and 2 inches tall and weighs 4,420 pounds.
- Capitol Dome Tour
The fountain at Capital Federal Pocket Park in Topeka, KS is one of eight pocket parks planned for downtown Topeka. The fountain features a replica of the Statehouse Dome as its centerpiece. Surrounding the sculpture are six cascade nozzles and six precision jets. The precision jets are adjustable and can be angled to spray in an arc be set to shoot vertically. Submersible lighting consists of an RGB ‘donut’ light at each cascade nozzle. Additionally, three freestanding RGB lights illuminate the Dome. The pump and filtration equipment, as well as, the electrical controls are housed in a nearby small fiberglass burial vault with a landscape access hatch. The fountain installation was completed by Midwest Custom Pools.
- Roman Fountains
A scaled-down replica of the Statehouse dome serves as the centerpiece of a fountain in S. Kansas Avenue’s newest pocket park.
The fountain is part of the CapFed Pocket Park located outside Capitol Federal’s building at 700 S. Kansas Avenue.
Its debut was a more casual event than other recent pocket park dedications. Instead of formal speeches or ribbon cuttings, eventgoers chowed down on free tacos provided by NOTO Burrito.
“We just wanted something casual and fun for people to come and enjoy not only our pocket park but all the pocket parks downtown,” said Tom Hagen, a marketing specialist for Capitol Federal.
Hagen said the event’s casual mood was inspired by the Metro Bike event the company sponsored in April.
“It was very fun, so we thought we’d try it again,” he said. “We like it better. People can talk to who they want to talk to.”
Though the Statehouse dome is made of copper, the fountain’s centerpiece was cast in bronze by regional artist John Forsythe, of Reading. It is supported by a limestone base carved by sculptor Alan Tollakson, of Emporia.
Limestone benches provide seating around the fountain’s edge. Small blue tiles line the inside of the fountain, reminiscent of Capitol Federal’s building before its renovation. The fountain itself is 7 feet tall and holds 2,000 gallons of water.
The dome was chosen because it represents both Capitol Federal, whose logo includes the symbol, and Topeka’s site as the state capital, said CEO Jon Dicus.
“It’s kind of a nice mixture of what is Capitol Federal but also what is Topeka,” he said.
The pocket park also boasts a 3-foot replica of an 1893 Barber Dime cast by artist Dan Ney, marking the year in which Capitol Federal was founded.
“We’ve been on Kansas Avenue since 1893, so we’re proud to be part of Topeka and proud that this is a great step forward to move Topeka in the right direction,” Hagen said.
Capitol Federal’s pocket park is one of eight installed along S. Kansas Avenue, each of which feature an art installation. The project is part of a greater effort to revitalize downtown Topeka. Dicus hopes the park will attract more visitors to the area after business hours.
“We were down here Saturday night, and it looks really neat with the water all lit up at night,” he said. “Hopefully people come down at night, too, and go to some of the restaurants and bars down here.”
- Topeka Capital-Journal
Type of publication: Newspaper
When was the article reported?: 07/13/2016
Publication: Topeka Capital-Journal
Article Url: [Web Link]
Is Registration Required?: no
How widespread was the article reported?: regional
News Category: Arts/Culture
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