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Dedication ceremony for Friendship Bell Peace Pavilion is Thursday

Posted at 12:16 pm September 19, 2018
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

The new Peace Pavilion for the Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell will be dedicated Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018, in A.K. Bissell Park. This architect’s rendering shows the large cantilever structure, crossed by a series of beams, that will support the Bell in its new location. (Image courtesy of demianwilburarchitects)

The new Peace Pavilion for the Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell will be dedicated Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018, in A.K. Bissell Park. This architect’s rendering shows the large cantilever structure, crossed by a series of beams, that will support the Bell in its new location. (Image courtesy of demianwilburarchitects)

 

The new Peace Pavilion for the Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell will be dedicated in a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, September 20, at the bell’s new site in A.K. Bissell Park. The bell’s sound will resonate for the first time from its new location that evening, from a pavilion designed to project harmony, stability, innovation, and peace, a press release said.

“We would not be where we are today without the passion of Shigeko Uppuluri and her son, Ram Uppuluri, who initiated the project by connecting us with a visionary architect, Ziad Demian, who embraced not only the challenge of an innovative design but an entire city,” said Alan Tatum, who co-chaired the International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee with Pat Postma.

In the press release, Postma said that the architect’s first elegant and contemporary designs introduced a different way of thinking about what was possible for the new bell housing. That, and the decision to move the bell to a new location will make it more visible and accessible to the community, with added benefits of gardens and gathering spaces on benches around the bell, she said.

“This accomplishment and the fundraising it required was not just ambitious,” Postma said. “It was probably audacious, but Oak Ridge has a way of stepping up. Oak Ridgers are willing to support exceptional projects that speak for who we are as a city.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Community, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: A.K. Bissell Park, Alan Tatum, Demian\Wilbur\Architects, International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee, Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell, Pat Postma, Peace Pavilion, Ram Uppuluri, Shigeko Uppuluri, Ziad Demian

Groundbreaking for Friendship Bell Peace Pavilion is Thursday

Posted at 9:15 pm September 18, 2017
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

The new Peace Pavilion for the International Friendship Bell at Alvin K. Bissell Park will feature a cantilever design. (Submitted image)

The new Peace Pavilion for the International Friendship Bell at Alvin K. Bissell Park will feature a cantilever design. (Submitted image)

 

Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new International Friendship Bell Peace Pavilion will take place at 5 p.m. Thursday, September 21, at the bell’s new location in Alvin K. Bissell Park, just west of the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch will be master of ceremonies for the groundbreaking. The Oak Valley Baptist Church Choir will present a music program relating to the friendship and peace theme of the event. Pat Postma and Alan Tatum, co-chairs of the International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee, will take part in the ceremonies.

Major donors—including UT Battelle/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and CNS-Y-12—will participate in breaking ground for the new pavilion, a press release said.

The bell, created for Oak Ridge’s 50th birthday, is expected to bring its message of peace and friendship to the thousands of visitors expected at the Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Oak Ridge, the press release said.. The new pavilion for the bell came about after city officials discovered that structural beams in the original bell house had severely deteriorated. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Alan Tatum, Alvin K. Bissell Park, City of Oak Ridge, CNS Y-12, Demian\Wilbur\Architects, groundbreaking, International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee, International Friendship Bell Peace Pavilion, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Mayor Warren Gooch, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge Girl Scouts, Oak Ridge High School Ensemble, Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell, Oak Valley Baptist Church Choir, Pat Postma, The Sorta Singers, UT-Battelle/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Ziad Demian

Anderson County Commission allocates $10,000 to Friendship Bell fund drive

Posted at 8:24 pm April 3, 2017
By Kay Brookshire 1 Comment

Anderson County Commissioners present a $10,000 check for the new Peace Pavilion to house the International Friendship Bell to Shigeko Uppuluri, left, and Pat Postma, right. Commissioners are Theresa Scott and Steve Emert, Commission chair, front; and in back from left, Jerry Creasey, Myron Iwanski, Phil Yager, Whitey Hitchcock, and Steve Mead. (Submitted photo)

Anderson County Commissioners present a $10,000 check for the new Peace Pavilion to house the International Friendship Bell to Shigeko Uppuluri, left, and Pat Postma, right. Commissioners are Theresa Scott and Steve Emert, Commission chair, front center; and in back from left, Jerry Creasey, Myron Iwanski, Phil Yager, Whitey Hitchcock, and Steve Mead. (Submitted photo)

 

Several Anderson County Commissioners recently gathered at the International Friendship Bell in Oak Ridge to present a $10,000 check for the new Peace Pavilion that will become the Bell’s new home in Bissell Park.

The Commission voted unanimously earlier this year to allocate $10,000 to help replace the pavilion housing the Bell after structural beams in the original pavilion deteriorated and the structure had to be demolished in 2014.

“We have to preserve the Bell,” said County Commission Chair Steve Emert. “It is important for tourism, for history, and especially for its message of friendship.”

“The Bell will be a key part of the story that the Manhattan Project National Historical Park is going to tell. This benefits the whole county, not just Oak Ridge,” added County Commissioner Myron Iwanski. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Community, Front Page News, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Commission, International Friendship Bell, International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee, Jerry Creasey, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Myron Iwanski, Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell, Pat Postma, Peace Pavilion, Phil Yager, Shigeko Uppuluri, Steve Emert, Steve Mead, Theresa Scott, Whitey Hitchcock, Ziad Demian

Oak Ridge Rotary Clubs donate $10,000 to Friendship Bell project

Posted at 7:19 pm November 20, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-rotary-clubs-donate-to-oak-ridge-friendship-bell-nov-17-2016

Oak Ridge Rotary Clubs announced on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, a $10,000 donation to the project to rebuild the pavilion for the International Friendship Bell and relocate it at Alvin K. Bissell Park. From left are Devrin Kuipers, president of Oak Ridge Sunset Rotary Club; Jennifer Campbell, president of Oak Ridge Rotary Club; Emily Jernigan, president of Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club; and Pat Postma and Alan Tatum, co-chairs of the International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee. (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

 

Oak Ridge Rotary Clubs announced Thursday that they are donating $10,000 to the project to build a new Peace Pavilion to house the International Friendship Bell at a new location in Oak Ridge’s Alvin K. Bissell Park.

The donation was announced by Devrin Kuipers, president of Oak Ridge Sunset Rotary Club; Jennifer Campbell, president of Oak Ridge Rotary Club; and Emily Jernigan, president of Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club. It was accepted by Pat Postma and Alan Tatum, co-chairs of the International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee.

The check presentation was the start of a public campaign to raise $750,000 for the project. A total of $416,000, or more than half the money, has either already been raised or pledged.

Also Thursday, UT-Battelle announced a $150,000 donation to the project. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Nonprofits Tagged With: A.K. Bissell Park, Alan Tatum, Alvin K. Bissell Park, atomic bomb, D. Ray Smith, Devrin Kuipers, donation, East Tennessee Technology Park, Emily Jernigan, International Friendship Bell, International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee, Jennifer Campbell, Jon Hetrick, K-25 site, Kay Brookshire, Manhattan Project, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Rotary Club, Oak Ridge Rotary Clubs, Oak Ridge Sunset Rotary Club, Pat Postma, Peace Pavilion, Ram and Shigeko Uppuluri, Tom Beehan, UT-Battelle, Y-12 National Security Complex

UT-Battelle donates $150,000 for new Friendship Bell pavilion

Posted at 12:29 pm November 20, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

ut-battelle-donates-to-international-friendship-bell

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thom Mason, center, presented a check to Pat Postma, right, and Alan Tatum, co-chairs of the International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee, during a ceremony at Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ Pollard Auditorium on Thursday, Nov 17, 2016. (Photo by ORNL)

 

UT-Battelle has announced a $150,000 gift toward construction of a new Peace Pavilion to house the International Friendship Bell located in Oak Ridge’s Alvin K. Bissell Park.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thom Mason presented a check to Pat Postma and Alan Tatum, co-chairs of the International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee, during a Thursday evening ceremony at Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ Pollard Auditorium.

The check presentation was the start of a public campaign to raise $750,000 for the project. A total of $416,000 has either already been raised or pledged.

“The International Friendship Bell is an important symbol of the heritage and future of Oak Ridge,” Mason said. “UT-Battelle is proud to support the construction of a new Peace Pavilion that will make the bell a focal point for the city and for the new Manhattan Project National Historical Park.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Alan Tatum, Alvin K. Bissell Park, Alvin Weinberg, Friendship Bell, International Friendship Bell, International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee, Japan, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pat Postma, Peace Pavilion, Pollard Auditorium, Ram and Shigeko Uppuluri, Thom Mason, United States, UT-Battelle

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