Ann and Robert H. Lurie Tower
Lurie Bell Tower. Photo courtesy: map.umich.edu
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Lurie Bell Tower: What's the secret in the tower?
by Quentin Ho
The University of Michigan is home to two of the world’s few grand carillon towers, one of which is The Ann and Robert H. Lurie Tower on North Campus. (Read about the other one here.) The Ann and Robert H. Lurie Tower is 167-feet tall, was designed by alumnus Charles Moore (Vlasic 2), and was completed in 1996. People describe the “beautiful workmanship” of this tower because the layout procedure was complicated (SNIPS Magazine). One of the most challenging parts of the building process was that there are no corners in the tower (SNIPS Magazine).
Lurie Bell Tower. Photo courtesy: engin.umich.edu
Bell. Photo countesy:umich.edu
Bells. Photo courtesy: umich.edu
Carillon. Photo courtesy: carillon.umich.edu
Lurie Tower houses a 60-bell grand carillon, which is one of the only 23 in the world (SNIPS Magazine). According to the National Bell Festival, “a carillon is a musical instrument of bells. Typically housed in a purpose-built bell tower or belfry, a carillon consists of at least 23 harmonically-tuned bells.” According to Vena & Choi, “Every single carillon in the world is … unique.” The Lurie's a historic English carillon (“Carillon Studio”) is played by Assistant Professor of Carillon Tiffany Ng every weekday at 1:30 p.m. and sometimes at 5:00 p.m. (“Carillon Studio”). (You can find the schedule on the its website, including what songs are going to be played.) During the 30 minute recitals, students can go to either level 2 to view the largest bells or level 3 to see the carillonists performing by taking the elevator (“Ann and Robert H. Lurie Carillon”).
Lurie Tower houses a 60-bell grand carillon, which is one of the only 23 in the world (SNIPS Magazine). According to the National Bell Festival, “a carillon is a musical instrument of bells. Typically housed in a purpose-built bell tower or belfry, a carillon consists of at least 23 harmonically-tuned bells.” According to Vena & Choi, “Every single carillon in the world is … unique.” The Lurie's a historic English carillon (“Carillon Studio”) is played by Assistant Professor of Carillon Tiffany Ng every weekday at 1:30 p.m. and sometimes at 5:00 p.m. (“Carillon Studio”). (You can find the schedule on the its website, including what songs are going to be played.) During the 30 minute recitals, students can go to either level 2 to view the largest bells or level 3 to see the carillonists performing by taking the elevator (“Ann and Robert H. Lurie Carillon”).
Lurie Tower was a gift to the University of Michigan from the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Foundation. The name of the Lurie Tower was approved by U-M Regents and it recognizes “the meaningful commitment and long-term relationship between the Lurie family and the U-M” (“Luries Bequest $12 Million”). Ann donated $12 million to build Lurie Tower as a memorial for her husband Robert H. Lurie, who was a real estate and investment magnate. He was a distinguished UM alumnus, earning his master’s degree in engineering here, which is why she also funded UM's Robert H. Lurie Engineering Center, "endowed a faculty chair at the College of Engineering and contributed the major funding for the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Biomedical Engineering Building and the Robert H. Lurie Nanofabrication Facility" ("Ann Lurie"). Ann is president of both Lurie Investments and the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Foundation. "With Chicago businessman Sam Zell, she established the Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Michigan Business School," according to the Zell Lurie UM website, which also says "in tribute to her mother, also a nurse, she endowed the Marion Elizabeth Blue Professorship in Children and Families in the School of Social Work along with a matching challenge grant program to encourage the establishment of fellowships."
The surname Lurie has two meanings. Accoring to Ancestry.com, it comes from Middle English ewerye, which is a "servant who supplied guests at the table with water to wash their hands." The website also says it is an Ashkenazic Jewish variant of the Italian town name Loria.
Works Cited
“Ann and Robert H. Lurie Carillon: U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance.” University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, 2022, https://smtd.umich.edu/about/facilities/lurie-carillon/.
“About Robert H. Lurie.” Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University : Feinberg School of Medicine: Northwestern University, https://www.cancer.northwestern.edu/about/robert-h-lurie.html.
“Carillon Studio: U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance.” University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, 2022, https://smtd.umich.edu/current-students-3/carillon-studio/.
“Carillons & Chimes.” National Bell Festival, https://www.bells.org/carillons-chimes.
“Hear the Bells! Old World Craftsmanship Used in Modern Memorial Tower.” SNIPS Magazine, Oct. 1997, http://casssheetmetal.com/architectural-sheet-metal-lurie-bell-tower-ann-arbor/.
“Luries Bequest $12 Million for New Campus Buildings, Including Bell Tower.” University of Michigan News, 16 June 1995, https://news.umich.edu/luries-bequest-12-million-for-new-campus-buildings-including-bell-tower/.
Vlasic, Bill, et al. “Michigan Today (Vol.29 No. 01).” (1997). https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/61143/2901.pdf?sequence=1
Vena, Alexandra, and Ji Hoon Choi. “B(Ringing) People Together: What It’s like to Play the Carillon in the Burton Memorial Tower.” The Michigan Daily, 13 Oct. 2022, https://www.michigandaily.com/campus-life/bringing-people-together-what-its-like-to-play-the-carillon-in-the-burton-memorial-tower/.
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