Belltower at North Carolina State University 

The Memorial Belltower at North Carolina State University is a monument that honors alumni who lost their lives in World War I. Due to ongoing budgetary constraints, several components were never installed—including the bells! Decades of water intrusion had damaged the Shrine Room and the memorial plaque.

The Belltower renovation included the addition of 55 bells, made by Virginia-based Sunderlin, constructed of traditional loam material comprised of clay, sand, horsehair, and dung. 

Drone footage was used to evaluate the 115-foot-tall tower to determine the cleaning and restoring needs. With no existing means of vertical access, the team erected scaffolding systems throughout the hollow interior shaft and the exterior. Wall anchors were installed for the galvanized stair system using the same scaffold, and the remainder of the galvanized stair was erected from the bottom to the top after removing the scaffold. Once complete, workers had safe vertical access to install all other project components, including HVAC, electrical, the wooden instrument, bells, and associated carillon mechanisms.

The installation of the bell frame and the first 18 bells was the project's most complex and challenging event, with a crane hoisting the frame and bells (weighing 19,779 pounds!) as spectators watched and celebrated from nearby lawns. The Belltower includes new copper roofing, cast-iron windows and granite steps, and restored granite block and repointed mortar joints. Controlled LED lighting within bronze torchieres now illuminate the tower's exterior.

Most important to the project was the disassemble and reconstruction of the Shrine Room. Due to water intrusion, the marble was restored carefully, with some pieces requiring replacement with matching Bottocino and Serpentine marble. The memorial plaque received an epoxy injection with hand-gilded gold-leaf lettering. Every material and process were thoughtfully and intentionally completed so that the sacrifices of those who died for our freedoms could continue to be honored.

Congratulations to the New Atlantic team.