New photos by Robert Hubner, WSU Photo Services
Historic photos courtesy of WSU Library’s Manuscripts, Archives, & Special Collections
Article by Robert Frank, WSU Today
LOOK CLOSELY at the fourth photo. You will see a student shimmying up the flagpole on top of Bryan Hall. The notation says: “Freshman removing sophomore pennant from new flag pole.” In the 18th photo in this series are three students
“Painting Bryan Hall Clock Tower, Sigma Tau Fraternity, 1922.” Sigma Tau was not a fraternity in the traditional sense, but an student engineering association.
“Painting Bryan Hall Clock Tower, Sigma Tau Fraternity, 1922.” Sigma Tau was not a fraternity in the traditional sense, but an student engineering association.
 Bryan Hall
There is very little information or photos chronicling the construction of Bryan Hall. Based on photos and cutlines from the Chinook and from WSU Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections, it appears the building was constructed between 1907 and 1909.
However, the clocks were not installed in the clock tower until approximately 1910 or 1911.
Bryan Hall’s first function, as noted on the photo above, was as a library and assembly building.
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PULLMAN – Bryan Clock Tower, WSU’s most notable and visible landmark, is about to get a facelift, as well as a replacement of its clockworks. Unlike facelifts pursued by some of its admirers, if all goes well, no one will be able to tell the difference when the operation is complete.
The project has been under discussion many years, with more serious consideration given starting in 2006. Finally, the nod was given to Richard Kizer, an architect with Facilities Operations, to tackle the project in earnest in 2008.
To say the project is necessary and a bit overdue probably would be an understatement. Here are a few reasons why.
The clock’s familiar red glow, visible from miles out of town, is generated by 32 curved neon light bulbs that wrap their way around the rims of the four clock faces, each 10 feet in diameter. Usually, two to three times year, Kizer said, a few of the bulbs burn out. No big deal, until someone has to be contracted to lower himself from the roof on a rope-supported platform and switch the bulbs out by hand. Hopefully, on a day with little or no wind. (Height: About 113 feet above Hello Walk, and 104 feet above Library Road.)
“Being it’s an obvious landmark,” Kizer said, “people around town and on campus notice when lights go out, and we definitely hear about it.”
Second, the clock mechanism — motor, gears, driverods, etc. — were installed in about 1909-1910. As a result, the manufacturer is no longer around and it’s virtually impossible to find compatible parts. So, FacOps has to fabricate them or find a contractor who can.
Third, the clock face is made of wood, and at 100+ years and counting, the panels “definitely show the wear,” Kizer said.
The project, estimated to cost about $200,000, has been bid on by three contractors around the state. It will include:
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Manufacturing four aluminum honeycomb clock faces, reinforced with steel and painted white, to replace the current wood clock panels. The clock faces will be hinged so they can pivot and swing inside the clock tower for easy maintenance.
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Refurbishing of the lighting system. Each of the clock’s four faces currently features eight curved neon tubes — four on the inner dial ring and four on the outer dial ring. That configuration will continue.
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Refinishing and refurbishing the existing clock dial rim and hands.
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Installing of four new electric clock movements that will be synchronized by a central computerized controller that is updated regularly via a global positioning satellite system.
At the same time, the Bryan Hall roof will also be replaced. Doug Lopes, will be the construction coordinator on both projects.
“Our goal is to have it so people won’t know or even notice the clock has been modernized,” said Kizer. “Before any of the faces are replaced, a full-sized mockup of one clock face will be constructed and assembled at ground level, so we can compare the design, make sure it is exact and that it all operates as intended. If everything checks out that new face will be installed in the east face of the tower. Then the remaining three systems will be constructed and installed.”
Kizer said he is hopeful that the contract will be awarded sometime in the next few weeks, and that work on the project will begin by the first of May. Completion of the project is slated for August, “at latest, before the first home football game,” Kizer said.