The Inverted Fountain at UCLA: A Unique Landmark of Tradition and History
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is renowned for its academic excellence, vibrant campus life, and unique traditions. Among the many landmarks that contribute to the university's distinctive character, the Inverted Fountain stands out as a captivating blend of art, engineering, and student lore. This article delves into the history, design, and significance of the Inverted Fountain, exploring its origins, its role in UCLA traditions, and its place within the broader context of the campus landscape.
Conception and Design
Inserted into the eastern extreme of the southern campus in 1968, the Inverted Fountain is located in the middle of Pritzker Hall, Ostin Music Center and Knudsen Hall. The fountain was conceived by landscape architects Howard Troller and Jere Hazlett and commissioned by university Chancellor Franklin D. Murphy, who encouraged the designers to create something new and original. According to the UCLA Newsroom, former Chancellor Franklin Murphy tasked the architectural landscape team, with principal designer Howard Troller, to create a fountain that did not spray water upwards in Franz Hall Court. UCLA Alumni added that the nontraditional fountain design was set in place to avoid the wind tunnel in the court that would potentially spray water at the Bruin community walking past, so Troller designed an inverted fountain.
The fountain’s inversion was necessitated by its siting in the middle of Franz Plaza: wind passing through the open paved court would have carried a conventional fountain’s spray in all directions. UCLA’s Inverted Fountain was supposed to be your typical water-upward deal. But Chancellor Franklin D. Actually, Murphy’s challenge was, in fact, a necessity. A wind tunnel in Franz Hall Court would have sprayed the fountain’s water in all directions, potentially showering unsuspecting passers-by. The resulting design is a shallow, circular basin edged in a low brown-brick wall, with an interior rill. Water circulating in the rill spills over a circle of red bricks and flows inward across a bed of multi-colored rocks collected in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. The current converges at an off-centered well and creates a small waterfall as it tumbles into a 12-foot wide and five-foot deep crater that recirculates the water at 10,000 gallons per minute, according to The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF).
Inspiration and Construction
Both the UCLA Newsroom and UCLA Alumni webpages, linked above, describe how Howard Troller decided to design the fountain based on a childhood recollection of Yellowstone’s natural springs in the ground. This eddy creates the naturalistic sound and appearance of a mountain stream and was inspired by the bubbling springs and geysers at Yellowstone National Park, which Troller had seen in his youth.
On March 18, 1968, Troller’s vision became reality. UCLA’s most unconventional fountain started off in a most ordinary way: shooting water skyward. Soon after that, the team realized Murphy’s challenge was in fact a necessity. Troller then turned to a childhood memory - an image of Yellowstone’s bubbling mud pots and hot springs - which left a lasting impression. On March 18, 1968, Troller’s vision was complete. Unlike traditional fountains, the water of the Inverted Fountain flows inward across a bed of multi-colored rocks, handpicked by Troller in Claremont, Calif. The Inverted Fountain UCLA was officially completed on March 18, 1968, with Troller’s selection of rocks taken from Claremont, California, the UCLA Newsroom notes.
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UCLA Fountains
There are several UCLA fountains on campus, a few with particular importance to the Bruin community. The Shapiro Fountain, Inverted Fountain, Medical Plaza Fountain and Macgowan Fountain are the four fountains on campus. The Shapiro Fountain is the well-known UCLA fountain at the top of the Tongva steps (colloquially known as Janss steps) at the heart of campus. Now, located by Dickson Plaza between Royce Hall and Powell Library, this fountain is a renowned location for graduation photos overlooking the campus. According to a UCLA Newsroom press release, the fountain was named after family Ralph, Shirley and children Peter and Alison Shapiro for their generous donation to several chairs in the pediatric departments of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. The newsroom release continues that the family also gave an additional donation from the Shapiro Family Charitable Foundation, starting the Shapiro Family Endowed Chair in Development Disability Studies for the UCLA School of Nursing. To locate the Shapiro Fountain, visit 10745 Dickson Court Los Angeles, CA 90095.
In addition to the well-known Shapiro Fountain and Inverted Fountain, there is another UCLA fountain: the Medical Plaza Fountain. The fountain is located by the Goldberg Medical Building. To locate the Medical Plaza Fountain, go to 300 Medical Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90095. Apart from the more central and southern fountains on campus, the Macgowan Fountain is located in the northernmost corner of campus. The Macgowan Fountain is located above the Murphy Sculpture Garden and by Macgowan Hall. To locate the Macgowan Fountain, visit 245 Charles E.
Bruintized
Since its unveiling, the Inverted Fountain has become steeped in student tradition and lore. The fountain, initially inspired by Yellowstone, is now the location for a UCLA tradition: becoming Bruintized. During orientation, new students participate in a quiet but meaningful tradition called “Bruintizing.” You dip your hand into the water of the Inverted Fountain, officially marking your start as a UCLA student. The article continues that the new students at UCLA take an oath at the Inverted Fountain to join the Bruin community and then avoid touching the water until graduation. To locate the Inverted Fountain, visit 595 Charles E. Young Drive, East, Los Angeles, CA 90024.
Legend says breaking that rule means you won’t finish your degree on time. That’s why one just might see graduating seniors wading into the fountain to celebrate their last final exam, water guns in tow to blast nearby underclassmen. Although we’re a little skeptical of the one in which, during orientation, freshmen are “initiated” by being told to wade in or touch the water, and then forewarned that doing so again before graduation will tack on an extra quarter to their academic career.
Other UCLA Traditions
Becoming a student at UCLA means experiencing the customs that Bruins have bonded over for years, regardless of major or personal interests. Every year, students have the opportunity to create their own traditions and leave their mark on the student body.
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Academic success is a cornerstone of many Bruins’ lives, and this is evident during midterms and finals weeks when students can be seen rubbing the Bruin Bear’s paw for good luck. Located across from Ackerman Union, this 6-foot-tall bronze statue has seen more than 30 graduating classes since its installation. It is visible at all times of the year, except for when it’s boxed up to hibernate during rivalry week against USC to prevent vandalism.
There’s no excuse to not know the infamous 8-clap cheer, even if students aren’t planning on being on campus anytime soon. The chant is usually introduced at New Student Orientation, and Bruins show off their school pride by participating in The Den, the official student section of UCLA Athletics.
UCLA’s rivalry with USC intensifies annually at the crosstown football game. The annual Beat ’SC Rally on campus features student performances and appearances from the football team, and for many years, also held a bonfire. It’s organized by the Student Alumni Association in partnership with UCLA Alumni.
These alumni associations also organize Spring Sing, an annual showcase of vocal, musical, comedic and theatrical performances. In 2020, Spring Sing was conducted virtually and consisted of prerecorded videos rather than being held in Pauley Pavilion.
Grinding out problem sets and final papers in Powell Library is a staple for many UCLA students. To enter Night Powell, students must show their BruinCards at the front door before finding a comfortable spot for a long night of studying, often accompanied by coffee from Kerckhoff Coffeehouse.
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The 10-week quarter system is fast-paced, and finals are always just around the corner. When the clock strikes midnight every night of finals week, students around campus can be heard shouting away their frustrations in the Midnight Yell.
On more leisurely weeks of the quarter, the lawn of Sunset Canyon Recreation Center serves as an ideal location for relaxation. The field is made for lounging and picnicking, while the beach volleyball courts and lap pools are for those looking to exercise.
Nothing says Bruin life quite like late night junk food from De Neve Residential Restaurant. The UCLA dining halls are often ranked best in the country, and students with premium meal plans can swipe out extra boxes for their friends. Pro tip: If you get chicken tenders, don’t forget the ranch!
The up-and-down walk between dorms or apartments and classes on campus is a struggle familiar to many college students. Nonetheless, UCLA’s buildings and statues offer a wealth of information about the campus’ rich history that can make the daily trek more rewarding. Bruins often take selfies in front of the iconic architecture of Royce Hall, which dates back to the 1920s and features Italian influences.
The statue of John Wooden in front of Pauley Pavilion provides another sneak peek into the school’s athletic past. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame basketball player and coach was otherwise known as the “Wizard of Westwood” for winning seven straight national titles.
When classes are online and facilities are closed because of COVID-19 precautions, students can still experience some of UCLA’s iconic outdoor locations while social distancing. A stroll through the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden highlights more than 70 unique installations intertwined with concrete structures for sitting and doing work.
In addition, the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden offers a natural getaway right in the southeast corner of an otherwise urban campus. The “living museum” contains a vast collection of plants from all over the world, boasting a small ecosystem of squirrels and turtles.
When it’s time for dessert, ice cream sandwiches and cookies from Diddy Riese are a trusted Bruin favorite. Their red- and white-lettered storefront has been in Westwood since 1983, and students can order freshly baked boxes online to keep the tradition alive - even in uncertain times.
Traditions that Make UCLA Unique
Getting into the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) feels like a dream. With only 9% of applicants accepted, it’s the hardest UC to get into. But are you familiar with the campus traditions that make UCLA, well, UCLA? UCLA is known for many things. It’s home to top programs in economics, sociology, and psychology. It dominates in athletics. And it’s located near Hollywood. If you’ve been accepted, congratulations! But once you’re in, what’s next? What makes life at UCLA more than just classes and grades?
If one tradition defines UCLA pride, it’s the annual football rivalry with the University of Southern California (USC). Every year, students kick off Beat ‘SC Week with a huge bonfire. The winner of the game claims the Victory Bell, a 295-pound bell that once sat on a Southern Pacific freight train. UCLA got it in 1939 as a gift from the Alumni Association. The rivalry heated up in 1941 when USC students posing as Bruins stole the bell. They hid it for over a year, setting off a wave of pranks between the schools. In 1942, both sides agreed that the winner of the game would keep the bell. That year, UCLA won 14 to 7.
Every spring, UCLA hosts Spring Sing, a campus-wide talent show featuring student singers, musicians, and dancers. The event draws huge crowds and has become a major part of student life. The show also includes the Gershwin Awards, a lifetime achievement honor for artists in the music industry. Spring Sing began in 1945 when fraternities started serenading sororities just before the end of World War II. What began as a simple tradition grew fast, eventually filling the Hollywood Bowl with more than 15,000 people. After a short break in the 1970s, students revived the event.
Finals week at UCLA is brutal. You’re running on caffeine, short on sleep, and drowning in notes. At exactly midnight, students across campus stop what they’re doing, open their windows, and scream. It’s loud, chaotic, and weirdly comforting. For a few seconds, the whole campus lets out its stress together. That brief silence at 11:59 turns into a shared burst of frustration, energy, and noise.
One of UCLA’s most lighthearted traditions happens on the hill next to Janss Steps, formerly known as Tongva Steps. You grab a block of ice from the nearest grocery store, find a good patch of grass, sit on the block, and slide down the hill. Sounds simple, but staying balanced is harder than you’d think. Now, the tradition didn’t actually start at UCLA. Ice blocking first caught on in Orange County as a kind of dry-weather sledding alternative. Locals would slide down golf course hills after dark, especially when the grass was wet from rain or sprinklers.
Every finals week, right when the pressure hits its peak, thousands of UCLA students take a break. How? By running through campus in their underwear! Students strip down, take photos with friends, and run the loop around campus together. It’s loud, chaotic, and oddly therapeutic. UCLA started the tradition, and now it happens every quarter. Some do it just for a laugh. Others see it as a must-do before graduation.
For years, UCLA students found unexpected comfort in a black-and-white tuxedo cat known as Powell Cat. First spotted near Powell Library in 2015, he quickly became a campus favorite. Students stopped to pet him, left food, and snapped photos as he lounged in the sun. Powell Cat had his own Instagram account, appeared on stickers and t-shirts, and even made a cameo in a UCLA Library holiday card! Powell Cat sadly passed away in 2023, and students gathered near Powell Library to hold a memorial.
Bruin Walk has been part of UCLA life for decades. It runs through Bruin Plaza and is the main path students take to get to class. You’ll walk it almost every day, and that alone makes it a shared experience across generations of Bruins. One tradition tied to this path is flyering. Student orgs line the walkway, handing out flyers for events, protests, performances, and campaigns. Some people avoid eye contact. Others stop to talk.
UCLA has several fight songs, but the most popular might be “The Mighty Bruins.” It was introduced in 1984 during a football game against Stanford University.
This is the tradition that ties everything together. When you arrive on campus, you’re encouraged to participate in the whole UCLA experience through academics, athletics, leadership, service, and school spirit. As you complete various mini-traditions, you log your progress and get closer to earning the Traditions Keeper medal, awarded during graduation. Some traditions are big, like joining a student org or attending a game at the Rose Bowl.
Other Facts About UCLA
Did you know that UCLA wasn’t always called the Bruins? In 1923, they switched to the Grizzlies. But by 1928, there was a problem: the University of Montana already had the name, and both schools were in the same athletic conference! To avoid confusion, UCLA picked a new name: the Bruins.
UCLA’s official colors are blue and gold, just like the rest of the University of California system. Over the years, the shades have changed. UCLA’s blue has ranged from powder to sky to royal, but the meaning behind the colors has stayed the same.
UCLA’s mascot history started in the 1930s, when students demanded more school spirit. The solution? The first, Joe Bruin, was a Himalayan bear cub, but he quickly outgrew his handlers and was eventually sent to a circus. By the mid-1960s, UCLA had switched to costumed student mascots. Joe Bruin was brought to life by a rotation of male students. In 1967, Josephine joined him, becoming the first female mascot at UCLA.
UCLA has a long list of student traditions. One of the most popular is ice blocking, which means sliding down the grassy hill by Janss Steps on a block of ice.
Some of the most popular majors at UCLA include Psychology, Economics, Biology, and Computer Science.
UCLA is known for its top-tier academics, championship athletics, and vibrant campus life. UCLA’s major traditions include the Victory Bell and Spring Sing, both annual events that students look forward to and rarely miss. Need help with your UCLA application?
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