Company Description – Crystal Fountains is a global leader in architectural water feature design and implementation. Since 1967, its international portfolio has included the Palace of Versailles (Paris), Crown Fountain (Chicago), Dubai Creek Harbour, Emirates Palace Hotel, 1967 and 2015 World Expos, plus numerous theme parks, museums, cruise ships, and other projects. Collaborating with architects and property owners, Crystal specializes in complex projects, offering design, consulting, and water physics simulation. Renowned for quality, customer service, and expertise in water dynamics, Crystal excels in turning artistic visions into functional, high-performance installations while minimizing post-commissioning redesign risks. 

Project Description– Crystal Fountains relies on its proprietary modeling software, WATERlab, to automate fountain commissioning, control, and diagnostics, key components of its operational infrastructure. However, the software’s complexity makes ongoing maintenance challenging. Through the Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan (DMAP), Crystal identified critical enhancements to its digital infrastructure to modernize its command-and-control system, unlocking new technical and artistic capabilities while strengthening its industry leadership. 

With DCC’s support, Crystal Fountains will transition from its proprietary control system to a commercially available solution, Pharos Controls, offering greater flexibility and advanced functionalities. By replacing its in-house system, Crystal will free up internal development resources for higher ROI initiatives, improving commissioning efficiency and expanding sales potential. Additionally, migrating its fountain visualization technology to Unreal Engine will enhance integration with Pharos systems while reducing maintenance and development efforts. 

Project Impact & Potential Outcomes – As a result of DCC’s support, Crystal Fountains has already secured 11 new customers in Canada and internationally, generating $150K in incremental sales in Canada and $500K internationally. The company has also created and retained five jobs. 

Through the Technology Demonstration Program (TDP), Crystal’s staff received training on Pharos software, leading to unexpected benefits from the migration away from the company’s proprietary system. This transition not only expanded staff expertise but also prompted a reassessment of internal workflows. As a result, Crystal optimized its processes, enhancing flexibility, reducing commissioning time, and improving both cost efficiency and customer satisfaction.