Leo Prezioso, Director of Design 4 Mar 2024, 2:08 am

Leo Prezioso is the newest GPSI member and is a water feature expert who brings to our Design Studio a rare combination of acute aesthetic sensitivity and technical proficiency. In an area of design that offers no formal training, Mr. Prezioso has learned by working side by side with some of the most recognized innovators in the world.  His extensive experience with the likes of WET Design and Fluidity Design over a period of 28 years has positioned him among a select handful of professionals that speak the language of water.

Today, Mr. Prezioso is GPSI’s Director of Design, taking GPSI’s Water Feature projects from inception to reality. He works closely with clients, architects, landscape architects, structural engineers, and MEP engineers to realize the design vision specific to every project site. Aside from his design role, Mr. Prezioso will be heavily involved in all aspects of the architectural and engineering development for all GPSI’s Water Feature projects. Mr. Prezioso will also be involved with GPSI’s branding for national and international reach. He rejoices in noting that he has worked on national and international projects, that brings joy to every passerby. One of Mr. Prezioso’s feather in his cap are the Water Features at the Burj Al Arab in U.A.E, which dates to when Dubai was an unknown destination to a great part of the world.

“Water, a compound designed before mankind, is a compound mankind gets to design with. It is our responsibility to use it wisely and creatively so that this practice of water architecture and engineering continues bringing pleasure to humanity throughout the ages. Our craft is the highlight between the architecture and landscape architecture it nestles within.”

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Spring Savings: 5 Ways a Spring Startup and Inspection Will Save You Money 10 Feb 2023, 9:29 pm

It’s that time of year again. The chilly days and freezing nights of winter are nearing an end, and Spring is just around the corner! With warmer temperatures ahead, now makes the perfect time for a Spring startup and inspection of your water feature.

Keeping your water feature maintained and clean plays a key role in its longevity, efficiency, and operation. Thankfully, you’re not on your own when it comes to Spring cleaning. Our team of experts at GPSI are here to help you avoid costly issues that can occur from starting up your water feature after winter dormancy. 

Here are 5 ways our free Spring startup and inspection saves you time, maximizes effectiveness, and frees up your valuable time, so that you can focus on your business while we focus on perfecting your water feature:

1. Repairing Winter Damages
   GPSI specialists will check for busted pipes and broken equipment that can often occur and go unnoticed while your feature is in winter dormancy. Although these issues seem like quick fixes, these risks should be taken care of to avoid future more costly damages. 
2. Clean Water Feature Equipment
   A clean water pump and filtration system means less build up of deposits and algae for better circulation and water flow of your water feature.
3. Balanced Water Chemistry
   Maintaining a balanced water chemistry and PH level in your water feature is crucial for saving money on unnecessary chemicals and future expenses. 
4. Consistency is Key
   Keeping your water feature clean and free of buildup is important for the overall longevity and beauty of your water feature. Sticking to a schedule when it comes to cleaning your feature will also save you time and money in the long run.
5. Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
   Waiting until your water feature is filthy and beyond repair can cause more harm than good. Regularly cleaning and maintaining your feature before it’s too late can prevent over-worked equipment and costly problems that can be avoided. 

By entrusting your water feature maintenance and cleaning to our GPSI professionals, you are ensuring that the job will be done with precision and quality. To book your free Spring cleanup and inspection, call our service team today. Contact us here. Ss always, remember that a well-maintained water feature is a sign of a well-managed property. We look forward to working with you and your team!

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Weathering Winter: How to ensure that your water feature survives winter 27 Oct 2022, 9:40 pm

The brisk autumn air means winter weather is just around the corner, making now the perfect time to winterize your water feature. Precautions to protect against dropping temperatures will save you and your team time and money while ensuring your water feature runs smoothly for years to come. 

The winterizing process is crucial to extending the life of your water feature as it prevents irreversible damage to equipment, and overall structure. If still water is allowed to freeze, it can cause cracking and breaking in the external materials of your water feature. You want to invest in the best possible care and maintenance to ensure the overall well-being of your property.

In order to help with these seasonal changes, our team of experts are here to help you prolong the life and beauty of your water feature. Here are ways we winterize to ensure your water feature is cleaned, cared for, and well-maintained before freezing weather settles in.

1. Inspect & Repair Any Deficiencies with the Pumps, Plumbing & Controls
   Equipment failures during freezing weather will result in freeze damage because the water is no longer moving. However, ensuring that all pumps, plumbing and controls are in good operating condition will keep your water moving and prevent freezing. This is the most important step in winterizing your water feature.
2. Clean the Water Feature
   Dirt and mineral deposits, along with debris are removed from the water feature, to ensure that the feature remains clean and ready for spring. If you aren’t already doing this on a regular basis, contact our Care & Service team to set up an ongoing service agreement for optimal performance of your feature. Our typical Care & Service visits include cleaning, balancing water chemistry and ensuring all equipment is running properly.
3. Program 24 Hour Circulation During Deep Freezes
   In an effort to keep your water feature running during deep freezes, you want to ensure that your water feature is circulating water 24 hours a day. If the equipment has a space heater, you will also want to make sure that the heater functions before the deep freeze hits. During the extreme freeze of 2021, all of the water features maintained by our Care & Service team were left running and survived the cold spell intact. We received numerous calls after the freeze from clients not in our routine maintenance program who had shut their water features down and all suffered severe damage from the harsh weather. If automatic freeze protection is something you would like added to your water feature, our Care & Service team can assist in adding this to your water feature.
4. Prevent Water From Escaping In Features With Fountain Elements
   If the water feature is of such a design, or is located in an area where there is a great propensity for water to blow out onto roadways or walkways, then that feature should be shut off and the water drained. This requires draining the fountain, and using compressed air to blow out all of the water left in the lines, and shutting off the water supply to the fountain so it will not auto fill.
5. Be Proactive About Power Outages
   If the water feature is located in an area that could potentially have erratic power, or experiences frequent power interruptions, then draining and evacuating the plumbing is highly recommended.  If the water feature is located in a corporate location that has back up generators, then draining should not be necessary.

The GPSI Care & Service team has extensive experience in winterizing water features and would be happy to provide you either a one-time service call proposal or an ongoing maintenance program proposal. Contact us here. Stay warm this winter!

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Carpenter Park: Interactive Features & Water Treatment Systems 9 May 2022, 6:09 pm

GPSI designs and builds our water features based on what we’ve learned in our years of construction and maintenance. We’ve been in business for 40 years and it’s because of our attention to detail and dedication to quality that some of the original features that we have built are still just as beautiful today as they were when they were first installed. It is due to this reputation that we have had the honor of working on four public parks in the Downtown Dallas area: Belo Garden, West End Square, Harwood Park (currently under construction) and most recently completed, Carpenter Park. 

Located on the east side of Downtown Dallas, Carpenter Park opened, May 3, 2022, after a 16-month restoration and renovation. Working closely with the landscape architect Hargreaves Jones, GPSI was able to accent the already incredible master-planned park with environmentally friendly features, an interactive splash pad for dogs and a best-in-class water treatment system. The entire park is anchored by a 117-jet interactive water feature that will really become the focal point of the park for years to come. 

Here are some highlights of the project for us: 

Wind Control System 

To help reduce water waste on windy days in Texas, GPSI was able to implement a wind monitoring system that turns the water feature down to avoid water waste. 

Fully Controllable from Afar

With Parks for Downtown Dallas offices managing multiple neighborhood parks in the Downtown Dallas area, it was important to the functionality of the features that the entire system be fully controllable. GPSI worked with the landscape architect to develop a control system that can turn the water features on, off or down remotely. 

Interactive Splash Pad Designed for Younger Kids and Pets 

In their effort to create community spaces for all members of the Downtown Dallas community, it was important to cater to pets and young children in the water feature design. GPSI created an interactive play feature for younger kids that uses less water pressure on the fountains and allows for puddling on the deck, making it safer for small kids. Additionally, in the dog park area, a similar setup was used for the interactive dog park feature–a fan favorite for our four-legged friends. 

Best in Class Water Treatment System 

Form meets function in the Carpenter Park features. Working closely with the city and landscape architect, GPSI was able to implement a top-of-the-line water treatment center to ensure that water in play areas remains the cleanest it can be to keep everyone safe and healthy. 

Carpenter Park will open as the largest park in the Downtown Dallas park system at almost 6 full acres on May 3, 2022, and GPSI is honored to have played a role in its renovation. Read more about the park amenities here. 

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Travis Riggs Achieves Professional Engineer Certification 19 Jan 2022, 1:22 am

Travis Riggs is now the newest Certified Professional Engineer on the GPSI team. The GPSI team is proud to have another Professional Engineer on our team to help further serve our clients in creating beautiful and functional water features. This marks the 2nd Professional Engineer on the GPSI team.

“I am proud to have finally achieved my P.E. Certification,” said Travis. “This has been a goal of mine for some time now. After a rigorous journey, I am excited to apply my knowledge as a Professional Engineer toward helping GPSI and our clients.”

To achieve the P.E. designation, engineers must complete a four-year college degree, work under a Professional Engineer for at least four years, pass two intensive competency exams and earn a license from the state licensure board.

Travis is a proud graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Architectural Engineering. After six years of experience as an Estimator and Preconstruction Manager for a masonry contractor, Travis joined GPSI as a Project Designer and Engineer in Training (EIT) utilizing his engineering knowledge to impact project design for GPSI clients. Since then, Travis has worked his way up to becoming an engineering Project Manager for GPSI.

During his last three years at GPSI, Travis has had the opportunity to work on several notable projects, including Globe Life Park (Texas Rangers), Carpenter Park, Williams Square, and Grand Hyatt.

“We all have a deep connection to water. It is a driving force in our lives”, said Travis. “I have the unique opportunity to move water in ways and places where it otherwise might not exist. I hope that my work can bring joy to people’s lives the same way that it does for me.”

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