Kessler Campanile

The Kessler Campanile is an 80-foot tall campanile located at the Georgia Institute of Technology.cite web|url=http://www.tbook.org/index.php?id=21|title=TBook.org|accessdate=2007-06-05] Designed by artist Richard Hill,cite news|first=Hoyt|last=Coffee|url=http://gtalumni.org/news/ttopics/spr96/campanile.html|title=Technology and Tradition|work=Tech Topics|publisher=Georgia Tech Alumni Association|date=Spring 1996|accessdate=2007-06-05] it was originally constructed for the 1996 Olympic Games.cite web|url=http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/1995_96/leg/fulltext/hr919.htm|title=Georgia House of Representatives resolution|accessdate=2007-06-05] It is named after Richard Kessler, Tech graduate and former head of Days Inns. It is frequently referred to as "The Campanile" or "The Shaft" (a sometimes tongue-in-cheek reference to student opinion on the school's pedagogical methodology).

Location

The Kessler Campanile is located near the center of Georgia Tech's campus, in front of its student center and directly down Skiles Walkway from the recently-styled "Hill District," the campus' historical center. The campanile is surrounded by a 300-seat amphitheater, a gathering place for the Georgia Tech community. It is visible from many areas of central campus.

Design

The eighty foot tallcite web|url=http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Multimedia.jsp?id=m-3802|title=Georgia Encyclopedia|accessdate=2007-06-05] campanile has the rough appearance of a twisted obelisk, tapering towards the top and capped with a pyramidal piece. It is constructed of 244 stainless steel plates, with each rotated slightly to produce the swirling pattern as height increases.cite web|url=http://assi-cad.com/gatech.html|title=ASSI: Georgia Tech Kessler Campanile|accessdate=2007-06-05] The distinctive peaks intentionally recall the design of Tech Tower, the school's traditional symbol and oldest building. Following its completion, the structure's peak design was incorporated into the university's branding as a new symbol for the school.

Music

The campanile is able to play several songs, including Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech, the university's fight song through specially designed speakers that reproduce the carillon "chime" sound of bells.cite news|first=Josh|last=Boutwell|url=http://www.nique.net/issues/2001-08-24/focus/10|work=The Technique|title=Spotlight on the Campanile: For whom does the bell toll?|date=2001-08-24|accessdate=2007-02-17] After its erection the campanile regularly played music, but it was later silenced in response to student feedback.Fact|date=February 2007 It currently plays the Westminster Quarters to mark the passing of time.

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