University of Nebraska officials say a major renovation is underway on Mueller Tower. The 84-foot limestone landmark that has stood at the heart of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln campus since 1949.
The goal of the project is to preserve the bell tower’s structural integrity and historic character while improving its durability for future generations of Huskers. “The stone in the tower has been chipping and spalling due to years of wear and weather damage,” says Jennifer Pleake, a project manager with Facilities Planning and Capital Programs. “It was definitely time to give Mueller Tower a tune-up.”
The project is funded through state maintenance dollars allocated by the Nebraska Legislature under Legislative Bill 384. The work will include replacing deteriorating limestone, reinforcing structural anchors and upgrading waterproofing systems.
Crews are removing and cataloging each of the tower’s approximately 1,700 stones, identifying those that need replacement. Pleake says preliminary surveys show that 78 stones will be replaced with new ones cut from the same material, Indiana limestone from the Salem deposit, to ensure consistency in appearance.
Each stone is unique in size, requiring workers to reinstall them in their original positions. “The replacement stones have to match exactly, size, shape, everything,” Pleake says. “It’s like a puzzle where every piece matters.”
Work began May 19 and is expected to be completed in the fall.
(Photo: Troy Fedderson University Communication and Marketing)