(C) 2009 NCSU Student Media
Photo by Tim O'Brien
Lightning struck the Belltower Tuesday night during a severe thunderstorm that passed over campus. The iconic N.C. State tower sustained damage to the clock, facade and stairs at ground level.
James Semple, director of insurance and risk management for the NCSU Environmental Health and Safety Center, assessed damage at the site Wednesday morning. Semple said thunderstorm damage to the Belltower is not a new occurrence, but he had never seen architectural damage like this.
“Since 1999, the only damage we’ve had happen is the sound system was damaged in a thunderstorm.”
Matt Robbins, a graduate student in architecture and the organizer of the Finish the Belltower project, lives within sight of the tower and said he witnessed the event.
“We heard a big crash of thunder and it smelled like an electrical fire,” Robbins said. “It was just before the rain started and the sirens went off. There was granite all over the place. The biggest piece was larger than a football.”
The exterior was visibly damaged and Robbins said he suspected the roof was as well.
“They will not be able to fix that stone, it will need to be replaced. They should get it from Mt. Airy where they got it from originally, otherwise it won’t match.”