To celebrate its 150th anniversary, the Colorado School of Mines restored a historic bronze bell and installed it as a new campus landmark. The original bell, cast around 1890, required a new yoke system that could safely support the bell while honoring its historical significance.
ProtoBear collaborated with Mines staff and local foundries to recreate and improve the original yoke. The existing component was scanned to capture its geometry, then updated to incorporate structural improvements and commemorative branding for the university’s sesquicentennial. The final design was used to create a 3D-printed sand mold and cast at Western Foundries.
The finished yoke was machined, cleaned, and assembled with the restored bell before installation in front of Guggenheim Hall. Today the bell serves as a new tradition on campus, allowing graduating students to ring it in celebration of their achievement.
