Kessler Campanile

For The Shaft (horror film), see Down (film).

The Kessler Campanile illuminated at night.

The Kessler Campanile is an 80-foot-tall (24 m) campanile located at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Designed by artist Richard Hill, it was originally constructed for the 1996 Olympic Games. It is named after Richard C. 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). The amphitheater and the Campanile recently reopened after a two year long reconstruction as part of the ongoing Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons construction.^{[citation needed]}

Location

The Kessler Campanile is located near the center of Georgia Tech's campus, in front of its student center and directly down Tech Walkway (commonly/formerly known as 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 80-foot-tall (24 m) 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. 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. While it used to play the Westminster Quarters to mark the passing of time, it has been silent since 2009.