Miami Trinity Cathedral tower
The tower was dedicated in 1984 and structurally renovated around 2006. It is attached to the main body of the sanctuary by a side chapel. In the photo at right:
- The ringing chamber is the room with the round-topped glass windows, at the third-story level.
- The fourth story is the windowless intermediate chamber, which moderates the sound of the bells for the ringers.
- The bell chamber is at the fifth-story level of the gabled extensions on each side, which were included to provide room for the bells.
- Above the gables are louvers that can be electrically opened to let out the sound of the bells.
The tower’s narrow cross-section meant that the bell chamber had to be extended on each side to give room for the bells, giving the tower a cruciform silhouette. A radial bellframe was a necessity in order to reduce the horizontal forces generated by the swinging of the bells to a level that the narrow tower could withstand.
