As 2022 begins, the Salt Lake Temple renovation project begins its third year.
Over the past two years, two tower cranes were erected on the north and south sides of the temple. These cranes have been used for various purposes, such as removing stones from the walls and towers. These stones will be cleaned and repaired, and then replaced in their original locations. The cranes have also been used to lift materials for workers into and around the temple. An additional crane with greater lifting capacity was used to lift the new roof trusses. The following video shares the experience of crane operators and their rigging crews.
Current work on the Church Office Building plaza involves waterproofing the repaired concrete surface and installing large Styrofoam blocks under the landscaped areas. The blocks help reduce the load on the existing concrete deck. When completed near the end of 2022, the plaza will also host flags from various nations around the world and new landscaping.
Temple Square Renovation February 2022
A hydroblaster, or “concrete lawnmower,” removes damaged concrete to a depth of 2 to 2.5 inches from the Church Office Building plaza on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah, January 2022.© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.This machine removes the damaged concrete to a depth of about 2 to 2.5 inches at the plaza top deck. It is known on site as the “concrete lawnmower,” but its proper name is a hydro blaster machine. The blaster shoots an oscillating, high-pressured water stream through a tiny nozzle that removes the damaged concrete (seen in front of the machine).
The “broom” machine then removes the concrete. This machine has a large rotating brush that cleans debris from the concrete surface so that it can be repaired with new concrete.
Temple Square Renovation February 2022
A large rotating brush attached to the “broom” machine cleans debris from the surface of the Church Office Building plaza so that it can be repaired with new concrete, Salt Lake City, Utah, January 2022. © 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The surface is also being filled with soil and tamped down to provide a stable and even surface for future paved areas.
Temple Square Renovation February 2022
A crew member fills the surface of the Church Office Building plaza with soil and tamps it down to ensure an even surface for the pavement, Salt Lake City, Utah, January 2022.© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Temple Square Renovation February 2022
White Styrofoam blocks used to reduce the weight of the soil on the concrete deck of the Church Office Building plaza are visible from the east side of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Salt Lake City, Utah, January 2022.© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The photo above shows a view from the Joseph Smith Memorial Building of the work on the Church Office Building plaza. The white blocks are the Styrofoam being placed to reduce the load of the soil on the concrete deck.
As the excavation on the north side of the temple nears completion, excavation on other sides of the temple will continue as workers prepare for further stabilization work. This picture is taken in front of the east towers of the temple. The excavation is in preparation for a concrete pad. The stable surface will support the heavy equipment used in the jack and bore process.
Temple Square Renovation February 2022
Renovation crews excavate in front of the east towers of the Salt Lake Temple in preparation for a concrete pad that will support equipment necessary in the jack and bore process, Salt Lake City, Utah, January 2022.© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The North Visitors’ Center demolition is nearly complete. However, some work remains, such as removing the basement walls and sorting rubble for recycling.
Temple Square Renovation February 2022
Little remains of the North Visitors’ Center after its demolition during the Temple Square renovation project, Salt Lake City, Utah, January 2022.© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.A second large concrete pour was completed two weeks ago in the area shown below. It created the bottom foundation for the temple’s new three-level north addition.
Temple-Square-Renovation-February-2022
Workers prepare for a large concrete pour to create the foundation for the temple’s new three-level north addition, Salt Lake City, Utah, January 2022.© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.In this photo, workers are preparing the extensive steel reinforcement needed for the concrete pour.
The red sensors monitor temperature before and after the pour to ensure proper curing and strengthening of the concrete.
Temple Square Renovation February 2022
Sensors track the temperature before and after a concrete pour at the Temple Square renovation project to make sure it strengthens and cures properly, Salt Lake City, Utah, January 2022.© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.View of the area where the second large concrete pour was recently completed.
