UCLA fountain

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. To learn more about each fountain keep reading, or click the button below for interactive maps on where to locate each UCLA fountain. 

Shapiro Fountain 

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. The UCLA Instagram page, @UCLA, notes the fountain was built in 1995. 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. 

Inverted Fountain 

The Inverted Fountain is another UCLA fountain with some history, located in the middle of Pritzker Hall, Ostin Music Center and Knudsen Hall. Built more toward the south part of campus, the Inverted Fountain was built by designer Howard Troller in 1968. 

According to the UCLA Alumni Association history article, former Chancellor Franklin Murphy wanted the fountain to not spout into the air, as a wind tunnel in Franz Hall Court made the traditional design a challenge. The inward fountain is an off-centered, circular well that drops below the rocks. The fountain, initially inspired by Yellowstone, is now the location for a UCLA tradition: becoming Bruintized. 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. 

Medical Plaza Fountain

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. 

Macgowan Fountain 

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. Young Drive, East, Los Angeles, CA 90024.