BLACKARD GROUP > ADRIATICA > NEWS FROM THE VILLAGE > BELL TOWER

This web page is your source of information on progress of the Bell Tower in Adriatica at Stonebridge Ranch. Designed by Warren S. Wilke and Associates, Inc. Email your questions to info@blackard.net then check back regularly to the "Residents Questions" for your answer. Visit our newest page listing links to the Friends and Partners of Adriatica. Please visit their web pages and learn about them.

May 17th, 2008 - The Steeple is added to the Bell Tower today. It was a long process to get to this point and raising the steeple is a hard, long process. The steeple weighs over 20,000 pounds and was very tricky to get it to its final resting place.

March 27, 2008 - Today we had a wonderful sky to take these pictures.

March 27, 2008 - The stone on the base of the Bell Tower is almost complete. This is looks so awesome, you have to drive out here just to see how good this looks.

March 25, 2008 - Work on the Bell Tower is moving forward.

November 8, 2007 - Work on the Bell Tower continues. We have received many questions as to the perceived delay in construction. This structure has always been planned as a project to keep the crews busy when other projects are slow. What that means is there will be periods when the tower will seemingly creep along and then it will seem to jump into the air. That said, it will probably be slow until the first of the year.

September 18, 2007 - The tower continues to climb. The cement block installation has been completed and Bobby Easter, our lead carpenter, has installed locking doors limiting access to the stairs. The rough excavation has been completed to accommodate the installation of the planned stone walls. When Jack and his crew finish a couple of other projects, they will do the installation.

August 9, 2007 - Jack and his crew are installing cement block (CMU) around the perimeter of the first floor. This will serve two purposes, 1) it will limit the access of people that have decided it is a 'cool' idea to climb the tower while under construction, 2) the base of the Bell Tower has 'battered' or angled walls. By installing the CMU three 'layers' wide, the stone will be supported as they are being laid at an angle.

August 8, 2007 -

August 7, 2007 - As the Bell Tower continues to grow in height, the very top of the Tower is taking shape also. For the past two days, stone mason's have been attaching the Tuscany Beige Travertine to the outside of the steeple. Once the travertine is in place, the mount for the cross at the top will be installed keeping cross straight.

May 15, 2007 - Today the tireless workers of the Bell Tower poured the fourth (4th) floor. Tomorrow they will start installing the steel reinforcements for the columns to support the fifth (5th) floor.

May 11, 2007 - Today we are posting pictures of Adriatica of the structure and several taken from the fourth floor. The view is incredible and we are only about 1/2 way to the top.

April 21, 2007 - The frame of the Bell Tower continues its climb skyward. The picture below shows the framing of the 3rd floor. The concrete will be poured either the 25th or 26th of April. We are hoping to construct an average of a floor each week. It will not be long before the Bell Tower will stand as a monument to seen for miles.

March 30, 2007 - Fighting wind and threatening rain, Jeff Blackard personally supervised as the team at Adriatica raised the two stone ornamental pieces adorning the very top of the Bell Tower. "It is easier and safer to complete the top while it is on the ground" says Jeff Blackard. "When all of the stone is applied, we will use a crane and lift it 100 feet to the intended location at the top of the Bell Tower." Blackard says.

March 12, 2007 - The first pillars of the 128' tall Bell Tower were poured today. The tower will grow in stages, first the structural pillars and then a floor, pillars, floor, etc. Concrete block will be added to fill the spaces between the structural concrete.

January 10, 2007 - It has been a long time coming, but we have begun construction on the Bell Tower. After the height increase was approved by the McKinney City Council, we completed the structural redesign and work began yesterday. The pictures below show Victor and his guys constructing the very top of the tower. It is critical that this piece be constructed on a flat surface so the foundation seemed like a perfect place. The eventual height of this piece is in excess of 20' so building it offsite was not an option. It will be lifted by a crane to its final resting place. Once this is built, it will be set aside and the tower structure will be started.

November 4, 2006 - The City of McKinney has approved the increase in the height of the Bell Tower. We are currently negotiating the price of the steel it requires. When we get the prices finalized, we will resume construction.

August 6, 2006 - Update on the approval to raise the height of the Bell Tower. The request set to be decided on 8/15/2006 by the City Council was tabled until the September 5, 2006 meeting.

July 31, 2006 - It has been a long while since we have uploaded anything to this page. To quickly update you, the Bell Tower was completely designed and permits were pulled for construction. The foundation was poured and we then realized that the tower was too short and have asked the City of McKinney to allow it to be raised an additional two floors to 128'. The Planning and Zoning Commissioners approved the request and now the City Council must approve it on August 15, 2006. Below are pictures of the four statues that will stand near the top of the tower. These statues are carved from White Carrera Marble. As of this posting, I am unsure how old they are. regardless, they are beautiful pieces.

February 6 , 2006 - Blackard Group, Inc., has agreed to the engineering specifications for the Bell Tower that will be built in the Harbor District of Adriatica. The Bell Tower will house two bells, custom designed by Claudio Solano, Adriatica's Master Artisan and then forged by a Bell manufacturer in Croatia. Below is a sketch of the proposed Bell Tower. The foundation is planned to be poured this week.