Elliott Tower

Elliott Tower is a carillon tower on the Oakland University campus featuring 49 cast bronze bells of varying sizes that ring throughout the day. A landscaped plaza with programmable water features sits at its base, surrounded by campus buildings that frame the structure on multiple sides.

Construction was completed and the tower opened to the public in 2014 after a generous donation from Hugh and Nancy Elliott funded the entire project. This addition represented a significant expansion of the university's arts programming and marked an important moment in the campus's development.

Weekly concerts performed on the bells every Friday create moments when students and visitors gather in the plaza below to listen together. The daily chimes mark time throughout the day and give the campus a shared musical identity that residents recognize and look forward to.

The structure sits in the central campus area and is easily accessible on foot from nearby paths and parking areas surrounding the academic buildings. Visits are best enjoyed on Friday afternoons when the concert performance draws crowds to the plaza, though the tower bells play throughout the day at any time.

The largest bell weighs over 2 metric tons and required specialized engineering during casting, while the smallest bell is less than 12 kilograms. This vast difference in size means the bells can produce a wide range of musical notes and complex harmonic combinations.

Location: Auburn Hills

Inception: 2014

Website: http://oakland.edu/elliott-tower

GPS coordinates: 42.67360,-83.21580

Latest update: December 14, 2025 15:02