Bell to ring in start of arts center

Belle of the ball? That's later.

Bell to kick off a three-year haul? That was Sunday, when creation of a commemorative carillon bell in a buildup to Tuesday's groundbreaking began at the downtown construction site of the Smith Center for the Performing Arts, which aims to become the queen of the city's cultural scene.

The center will be home to the Las Vegas Philharmonic and Nevada Ballet Theatre and host to additional concerts and plays.

In the first of three ceremonies preceding the invitation-only groundbreaking at the site at Bonneville Avenue and Grand Central Parkway, 16 local kids, several of them children of Smith Center employees, lined up Sunday morning to toss small bronze ingots into a furnace, where they were heated to 2,200 degrees. Later, the molten metal was poured into a custom-inscripted mold.

This morning, the mold is scheduled to be shattered, revealing the bell that will be rung at Tuesday's groundbreaking, featuring dignitaries including Rep. Shelley Berkley and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.

"It's a multipart opening because we wanted to engage many parts of the community," said Smith Center President Myron Martin, who attended with center Chairman Donald Snyder, both of whom addressed approximately 40 onlookers before the ingot pass-along began.

"We're building for future generations," Martin said, "and we're including a generation or two from us who are working on it as part of the ceremony."

The brass bell will be one of 36 in the planned carillon bell tower, ringing in three octaves for an effect Martin said is particularly appropriate.

"We decided it should be its own musical instrument," Martin said. "It will symbolize what it will sound like when we get the building built."

With downtown landmarks such as the Plaza, Main Street Station and the Golden Nugget overlooking the site with the World Market Center and Lou Ruvo Brain Institute -- and near a sign marking the 61-acre Symphony Park, formerly known as Union Park -- the ceremony commenced.

Kids, some looking amused, some confused, stood beside the truck that was a mobile foundry carrying workers from Cincinnati-based bell manufacturers The Verdin Company, which is overseeing creation of the bell, the first the company is making on site in Nevada.

To the applause of the adults, the children dutifully handed the ingots down.

"My whole family is so excited about the project," said Smith Center office manager Emma Dunant, whose 6-year-old daughter, Brianna, participated. "My daughter is just finishing kindergarten, and it's great to have something in the community that will benefit her. I wanted her to see it right from construction."

Ellen Alvord, who works in the center's education department, brought her daughters, 9-year-old Anabelle and 7-year-old Julia. "We love the idea that we're making a musical instrument as part of the architecture for the building." Alvord said.

Both daughters appeared excited to be included in the event. "I thought it would be a good experience because I love doing things other kids don't usually get to do," Anabelle said, while Julia added: "It's a part of history, and it sounded real fun."

Expected to open in early 2012, the $485 million Smith Center will be anchored by a 2,050-seat main theater, an education facility, a cabaret building and space for children's theater and community events. It's named for Fred W. Smith, former Review-Journal executive and chairman of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, and for his wife, Mary. B. Smith. The foundation provided $150 million for the center's construction.

"For generations," Martin said, "when we hear those bells toll, people will remember this day when children from our community helped cast the first bell."

Contact reporter Steve Bornfeld at sbornfeld @reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0256.