Chicago Park District and C3 Presents Launch the Debut of the Luxembourg Chairs at Buckingham Fountain!

Visitors are invited to “Take A Seat” and customize their view of Grant Park

CHICAGO – Tomorrow, May 30th at 10am, Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and Tim “Tuba’ Smith, Director of Festival Operations for C3 Presents will join representatives from the Consul General of France in Chicago, the City of Chicago and community stakeholders for the official debut of the Luxembourg chairs at Buckingham Fountain, 301 S. Columbus Drive in Grant Park. 

“We are excited to officially debut the Luxembourg chairs at the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain, one of Chicago’s most iconic destinations,” said Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa. “Celebrating its 99th season, this beloved fountain is where the entire city gathers to enjoy its breathtaking displays and the civic pride that grows when Chicagoans come together.  We invite Chicagoans and tourists to enjoy this new amenity and create their own view of Grant Park.”

Starting tomorrow morning, 100 chairs will be available on the Fountain table, featuring two styles: the Luxembourg Low Armchair and the Luxembourg Lounge Armchair, both in Willow Green. The subtle color was carefully chosen to blend in with the park and avoid competing with the striking structural elements of the fountain, including the bronze seahorse, cattail, and fish sculptures crafted by French sculptor Marcel Francois Loyau. The lightweight, metal chairs are designed to be easily moved around the fountain table, allowing visitors to be seated in groupings or alone to bask in the warm summer days ahead.  

“Bringing people together to relax and enjoy Grant Park is aligned with our mission of bringing culture, music and celebration through Lollapalooza and our sister festival, Sueños, to Chicago,” said Tim “Tuba” Smith, Director of Festival Operations for C3 Presents. “We work hard to be good stewards of Grant Park, from restoration efforts after each festival to our relationships with local organizations and our contributions toward projects such as this. We all know there is nothing better than summer in Chicago, and we look forward to this project making the city’s front yard even more welcoming for all."  

The Luxembourg chairs are produced by Fermob, the renowned French manufacturer of outdoor metal furniture. The chairs featured at Buckingham Fountain are inspired by the movable seats of a similar design at the Luxembourg Garden, Tuileries Garden and Palais-Royal Garden in Paris.

"From the gardens of the Tuileries and Luxembourg in Paris to Buckingham Fountain in Chicago, these Fermob chairs embody the spirit of our sister-city partnership. They bring French design and a shared culture of public space to life, inviting Chicagoans to experience a taste of Parisian conviviality by the lake." Charlotte Montel, Consul General of France in Chicago.

“We’re honored to see Fermob’s Luxembourg chairs become part of the experience at Buckingham Fountain,” said Fermob USA Director of Marketing Stephanie Albarran. “We’ve been fortunate to witness how our movable seating can inspire community in public spaces, from Paris to New York and destinations around the world. Bringing that same flexibility and sense of connection to Chicago’s lakefront gives visitors the freedom to gather, relax and experience the space in their own way, while helping create a more vibrant and people-centered public space.”

The chairs will be available daily, 8am to 11pm through October, except during major events hosted in Grant Park. To learn more about the Luxembourg chairs at Buckingham Fountain, visit the Chicago Park District website.