The Salt Lake Temple has been closed for renovation since December 2019. The Church Office Building plaza closed for an upgrade in February 2021. The following is the latest in a series of regular updates about these projects.
Construction on the north addition of the Salt Lake Temple continues. Crews have laid concrete over more than half of the area. This provides a clean and level working surface for the foundation of the new floors. This week, the largest concrete pour to date will form the first quarter of the bottom 42-inch-thick floor of the temple addition. Some 1,800 cubic yards will be poured over a period of about 8–10 hours. Three concrete pump machines will be used simultaneously for this continuous pour.
In the photos below, workers lay a steel mat to hold the concrete.
Temple Square Renovation December 2021
Workers lay a steel mat in preparation for the largest concrete pour of the Temple Square renovation project, Salt Lake City, December 1, 2021.© 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Temple Square Renovation December 2021
A steel mat is laid in position to hold 1,800 cubic yards of concrete that will be poured during the Temple Square renovation project, Salt Lake City, December 1, 2021.© 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Temple Square Renovation December 2021
Crews prepare a clean and level working surface before pouring new concrete over a period of about 8–10 hours during the Temple Square renovation project, Salt Lake City, December 2021.© 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Temple Square Renovation December 2021
Preparation of the steel mat for the concrete pour that will form the foundation of the new floors of the temple during the Temple Square renovation project, Salt Lake City, December 6, 2021.© 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Workers recently began vertical drilling inside the temple’s tower and wall columns. The first drilling commenced in the north wall near the northwest tower. Once the drilling reaches through the entire structure, post tension cables will be inserted, tensioned into the cavity and anchored into the foundation (about 80 feet or 24 meters below). The machine pictured is one of two drills positioned on the roof of the temple.
Temple Square Renovation December 2021
One of two drills positioned on the roof of the Salt Lake Temple used to drill inside the tower and wall columns where post-tension cables are inserted and anchored into the foundation (80 feet or 24 meters below), Salt Lake City, December 2021.© 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The demolition of the North Visitors’ Center, which was first announced in June 2021, is on track for completion by January 2022. Debris, such as concrete and steel, is carefully sorted for recycling purposes. The replica of the Christus statue was carefully removed from the facility this summer for preservation. The statue will be reinstalled on Temple Square at the end of the renovation.
The area where the North Visitors’ Center previously stood will become a contemplative garden space with clear views of the temple. It will also include additional restrooms to support events in the Tabernacle and Assembly Hall. At the start of the Temple Square renovation project in January 2020, the main arrival center and primary venue for guests shifted to the Conference Center.
Temple Square Renovation December 2021
Progress of the demolition of the North Visitors' Center on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, December 1, 2021.© 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Temple Square Renovation December 2021
Progress of the demolition of the North Visitors' Center on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, December 6, 2021.© 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The jack and bore process continues. To seismically strengthen the temple, large pipes are inserted under the existing footings of the building. These pipes are heavily reinforced with steel and filled with structural concrete to act as supporting beams beneath the existing foundation. The soil inside the pipes is initially removed by hand to ensure the pipes are precisely installed. About half of the pipes will be dug by hand and half will be drilled with a machine using the large green augers shown below.
Temple Square Renovation December 2021
Crew members move large pipes through the seismic strengthening process of jack and bore under the existing footings of the Salt Lake Temple during the Temple Square renovation project, Salt Lake City, December 2021.© 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Temple Square Renovation December 2021
Large pipes are inserted under the existing footings of the building (a process called jack and bore) and the dirt within the pipes is drilled out with a machine using the large green augers during the Temple Square renovation project, Salt Lake City, December 2021.© 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Temple Square Renovation December 2021
During the jack and bore seismic strengthening process, pipes are reinforced with steel and filled with structural concrete to act as supporting beams beneath the existing temple foundation, Salt Lake City, December 2021.© 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Workers on the Church Office Building plaza project are preparing for the future placement of flags to represent the nations of the world. Styrofoam blocks are used as spacers to reduce the weight of the soil on the repaired deck. The Styrofoam blocks will be covered with topsoil for landscaping.
Temple Square Renovation December 2021
The Church Office Building plaza is prepared to display flags representing the nations of the world and Styrofoam blocks are used as spacers to reduce the weight of the soil on the repaired deck as part of the Temple Square renovation project, Salt Lake City, December 2021.© 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The meticulous process of removing and cataloging stone for repair and restoration on the eastern towers and walls of the temple can be seen from the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.
Temple Square Renovation December 2021
The process of removing and cataloging stone for repair and restoration from the eastern towers and walls of the temple is viewed from the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Salt Lake City, December 2021.© 2021 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The First Presidency has released a statement on the new estimated completion date for the Temple renovation project:
The seismic strengthening of the Salt Lake Temple and the extensive remodel of the Temple and surrounding area are sacred and significant undertakings. As the project has progressed, we have learned a great deal about the condition of the temple and its surroundings. The work is truly remarkable and is being guided by the First Presidency. Inspired modifications and additions to the project and scope have been made so the temple and Temple Square can serve many generations yet to come. It is anticipated that the temple and its surroundings will be completed in 2025. We look forward to welcoming the world at that time to visit, tour and learn about this sacred temple and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.