Lowell Tower Renovation to End Soon

After five months of painstaking construction work, completion of the Lowell House bell tower renovation is projected for the end of this month--nearly four weeks after its original deadline.

The bell tower restoration--the first since the structure was erected in 1929--was begun last summer as part of a broader plan to refurbish Lowell House.

The renovation encompassed the house's plumbing, floors, walls and junior common room. The bell tower is the only project yet to be completed.

House Master William H. Bossert '59, who is Arnold professor of the sciences, and Co-master Mary Lee Bossert said they are enthusiastic about the project.

But Bossert said he wished the bell tower had been finished by the initial deadline of September 27.

"We are not at the stage of the project that we'd like to be in at this time. However, our main concern is that everything is done right," he said.

"It's good that it's being done now because it's long overdue," William Bossert said. "It has been put off for five years now, mainly because it's so expensive."

Exact costs for the bell tower project have not been released.

"I'd rather not publish a number without a context," said Michael N. Lichten, director of physical resources for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, "but I will say that the renovation has cost over half a million dollars."

Much of the work for the project was completed during the summer school session when Lowell House was unoccupied.

Plans for the project, however, have been in the works for about five years.

The actual construction work has been entrusted to the husband-and-wife team of Muckle and Associates, who specialize in historical renovation.

"This project has been real exciting, a real special job," said Susan G. Muckle, president of the firm.

Muckle said the bulk of the work that remains consists of putting the pieces back together.

"We wanted to make sure that we saved as much of the architectural fabric as possible," she said. "Now it's getting to be almost like a jigsaw puzzle. But, weather permitting, we'll be done by the end of the month."

The couple's past projects have included the tower masonry and clock restoration of Cambridge City Hall.

Although the construction on the Lowell bell tower has extended into the academic year, house resident Marcia M. Turner '97 said she has not been inconvenienced.

"Noise has not been an issue at all," said Turner. "It's not attractive right now but I think everyone understands that it's going to be beautiful in the end."