Timeline
Year | Event |
1995 | Ron Vaughn becomes president Jan. 1, 1995. A Wingspread Group report indicates the importance of character and values at U.S. colleges. |
1996 | A chapel is added to UT's campus master plan to help elevate the importance of character and values. The building is intended to provide room for numerous programs and activities on character and values as well as enhanced understanding of diverse world cultures and religions. |
1997 | John Sykes indicates desire to help with UT’s chapel project and Center for Faith and Values. John Sykes expresses interest in adding some bells to the chapel project, and research on bells and carillons begins. |
1999 | Development of design guidelines for the chapel begins. Ongoing refinement over subsequent years. The Paccard Bell Foundry constructs the first Ars Sonora in Saint-Etienne, France. |
2004 | R.K. Bailey Arts Studio is completed and the old Scarfone/Hartley Gallery facility is demolished, which makes the site available for the future Sykes Chapel and Ars Sonora. |
2004-2008 | The University researches and tours bell foundries and carillons to evaluate options. |
2007 | Competitive selection process for chapel architect — tvsdesign selected. Development of Sykes Chapel design begins with research into the world’s best chapels. |
2008 | McNichols family agrees to help support the chapel project. “Praying Hands” design theme selected for the chapel; plans also include early design work for the plaza and Ars Sonora. |
2010 | Tour of Paccard Bell Foundry and meeting with Satil about building the stainless steel structure. Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values is completed and dedicated. Finished chapel structure includes rooms for the Ars Sonora keyboard and vertical windows to view future Ars Sonora. |
2008-2012 | Work with Paccard on Ars Sonora design and dynamic strikers technology. |
2012-2014 | Work continues on certain Ars Sonora design elements. |
2016 | The initial Ars Sonora construction team is selected. |
2017-2018 | Full scale launch of Ars Sonora planning and design. |
2019 | UT and Sykes bells were designed. Trip to Paccard Foundry for UT bell pouring and meeting with Satil on the structure. |
2019-2021 | Finalization of all construction elements and drawings. |
2020 | Trip to Paccard Foundry for pouring of Sykes bell and to Satil for structure briefing. |
2021 | Meetings to evaluate progress and prepare for shipping. |
2022 | Ars Sonora and Sykes Plaza completion and celebration. |