Edwards Bell Tower (Birmingham, Alabama)

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The Edwards Bell Tower stands 85 feet high, and with its nighttime illumination, is visible from many parts of the city. Located on the academic quadrangle, it serves as a centerpiece of the Birmingham-Southern campus.

The Edwards Bell Tower and its landscaping at Birmingham-Southern College were made possible by a contribution from William James and Julia Stacey Edwards of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Harbor Springs, Mich. The Edwards are Birmingham natives and Birmingham-Southern alumni.

Mr. Edwards is a retired broadcast executive, having worked at radio and television stations in several states.

Constructed of brick and limestone with copper roof, the Edwards Bell Tower encapsulates four bronze bells that were cast by Paccard Bell Foundry in Annecy, France. The bells provide traditional Westminster clock chimes on the hour. The 23-foot-high cupola, together with its four bells, weighs more than 5 tons.

A touch screen computer system controls the carillon instrument with 61-bell range, as well as four tower clock movements. The electronic carillon and clock movements were designed and built by the van Bergen Co. of Charleston, S.C. The carillon can play 150 musical selections.