Susan and John Sykes Ars Sonora

Standing at the center of the University of Tampa campus is a uniquely sophisticated, 105-foot-tall musical instrument called the Ars Sonora.

The Paccard Bell Foundry, based in Annecy, France, invented the Ars Sonora concept in 1999, but their model in Tampa—constructed in 2022—uses first-of-its-kind software to play the bells like never before.

Musicians can play the 61 bells fast or slow, soft or loud, which is impossible with the traditional method, where bells are played through a cumbersome keyboard with wooden levers. This one connects to an electronic piano keyboard through underground wires to translate the notes from the keyboard to the bells in an instant. The Paccards’ method includes a long, precise crafting process to adjust the bells’ shapes and harmonics to achieve the best musical quality.

The Ars Sonora is located in the Sykes Plaza, next to the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values on the campus. A flowing water fountain sits at its base, surrounded by a lawn and walkways in the shape of a lotus blossom.