No business like flow business

Longwood Gardens' seasonal illuminated fountain performances return this week, offering guests 30-minute spectacles of soaring water and synchronized lights set to music. While the shows are carefully choreographed, variables like wind speed and water level require constant, quick adjustments to keep them running safely and seamlessly. Behind the scenes, fountain operations specialists like University of Delaware alumnus Evan Lewis monitor software dashboards and coordinate with facilities staff to address electrical or plumbing issues.

"It's very active monitoring whenever the fountains are running," said Lewis. "Even though we have robust computer systems in place, we have to be able to move quickly to address any errors that pop up. Shows with flame effects require extra monitoring."

Months of preparation go into these shows, and this was Lewis' first year seeing the full process unfold. He joined Longwood's fountain operations team full-time after graduating from UD in 2025 with a bachelor's degree in computer science and a theatre production minor, though he had worked there on a seasonal basis since 2022.