photo by: Kim Callahan/Journal-World

The site of the Chi Omega Fountain on the University of Kansas campus is shown on Oct. 21, 2024.

One of the University of Kansas’ most storied landmarks has been dismantled — temporarily.

The Chi Omega Fountain at the west end of Jayhawk Boulevard has been removed as part of a major project to renovate the 1955 fountain that has been the sight of countless graduation photos.

Now, a big question is whether the fountain will be back in place by KU’s commencement ceremonies in May. A spokeswoman with the university did not offer a timeline for the project, but said most of the information about the renovation project has been released by the Kansas Alumni Association, which detailed the project in an article this summer.

That article said university officials have the project on a “hard deadline” of May in order for the fountain to be operating in its full glory for visitors who come to campus for graduation.

photo by: Nick Krug

The Chi Omega fountain

The privatelyfunded project will include rebuilding the road — a roundabout — that surrounds the fountain. It also will involve new spray heads for the fountain, replacing limestone portions of the fountain with a more durable variety of limestone, a re-arranging of the flower beds around the fountain to make them more symmetrical, and a recasting of the metal basket that serves as a focal point for the fountain. That basket, which is part of the fountain’s top tier, will be recast to match the original, except this time the basket will be made from bronze rather than lead, according to the article.

The fountain has been a part of KU’s main campus since 1955 when KU sculpting student James L. Bass won a design contest tied to the 50th anniversary of the founding of the KU chapter of the Chi Omega sorority. The plaques on the fountain feature an owl, a figure of Hades, wheat, a pomegranate and carnations, among other items that have special significance in Greek mythology.

The fountain — which features a pool 12 feet wide, multiple spigots and a large bowl — was modeled after a fountain at a manor in Northumberland,England.

photo by: Shawn Valverde/Special to the Journal-World

The Chi Omega fountain is pictured near the western entrance to the University of Kansas campus in this aerial photo from September 2023.