The Máquina fountain has been a popular topic among Wisconsin Engineer writers, but its recent demolition closes an important chapter for the College of Engineering.
“That’s supposed to be a fountain?”
“Does it actually work?”
“I heard that if you turn it on, Agricultural Hall will fall down.”
These rumors, exchanged amongst UW–Madison’s student population, all refer to Máquina, the fountain that, until this August, sat prominently in front of Engineering Hall. While newer generations of engineering students may not realize it’s a fountain, Máquina, whose name in Spanish means “machine,” is just that — an actual machine with an underground control room.
Máquina, also referred to as the Descendant’s Fountain, was completed and dedicated to the College of Engineering in 1994. Guided by the vision of former College of Engineering Dean John Bollinger, sculptor William Conrad Severson created this piece that walked the line between art and engineering.
However, Máquina has run dry since 2014, sparking rumors about why the fountain has sat stagnant for so long. Now, the fountain has been dismantled to make room for the Levy Engineering Center.
In a 2020 story published by the magazine, Sydney Heimer debunked common myths about why the fountain hadn’t worked in years, revealing the mundane truth: blocked pipage and an unsafe control room are culpable for Máquina’s interoperability.
When the fountain was operational, though, it proudly represented the innovation of UW–Madison’s engineering program — and became a popular subject for Wisconsin Engineer stories. In a 1995 issue of the magazine, Gina Wagner detailed Máquina’s dedication and innerworkings, calling it a “translation of dynamic forces into a piece of art.”
That same year, a glass booth was added to the Engineering Hall lobby, which was partially used to monitor Máquina’s activity. In April of 1996, Jen Hattan wrote about the new installment, highlighting its relationship to the fountain. From the booth, engineering students could control the water flow, lights, and even music emanating from the now silent Máquina.
About a year later, Máquina was the face of the 1997 Engineering Expo, eliciting another story from the magazine. The fountain’s image was used as the logo for the 2001 Engineering Expo, and was featured in the magazine yet again. In another article, author Jeannine Washkuhn emphasizes the significance of Máquina, referring to it as “beloved” and calling it a “grand machine [that] stands proudly as the symbol of the College of Engineering.”
By the February 2004 issue, the fountain was widely recognized as an icon, with author Caeli Rice putting it on a pedestal alongside Bucky Badger and the Statue of Liberty. By that time, Máquina had become one with the College of Engineering, “linking alumni, current and future students,” according to Rice.
“Maquina is a symbol of the College of Engineering, linking alumni, current and future students.”
Caeli Rice
Amanda Feest took a similar stance in a September 2009 issue, calling Máquina “an iconic structure for the College of Engineering” when writing about how the student organization Enlight took on the responsibility for maintaining the fountain.
Moving forward, the Descendant’s Fountain will only exist in our history, along with all of the past Wisconsin Engineer stories inspired by it. While it’s unclear if the College of Engineering will ever gain a new figurehead as popular as the fountain, one thing’s for certain: Máquina’s legacy will live on forever in the pages of the Wisconsin Engineer.