The cylinder-shaped sculpture, which serves as the outer wall of the fountain basin, features bas-relief scenes of San Francisco, "whimsically interrelated".

[1] Writing in The Journal of Modern Craft, Sue Archer described the genesis of the fountain: (Asawa) became involved with the fountain project by chance: architect Chuck Bassett of the firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill happened to see an exhibition at the California Redwood Association that featured sculpture by Asawa as well as work by some of the children who attended the Alvarado Elementary School.

Charmed, Bassett suggested that Asawa work with children from different parts of the city to create a large, low-relief for the fountain's exterior.

The project included renovating the public space located between the new store and a hotel on the southwest corner of Sutter and Stockton Streets.

The renovated public open space now includes wooden tables, chairs, planters with trees, a "living wall," a new multi-color "LOVE" sculpture and Ruth Asawa's San Francisco Fountain.