Salt Lake Temple renovation update: Roof upgrades, stone removal and tunnel drilling

February 23, 2021

By blazedigitalsolutions

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Salt Lake Temple renovation update: Roof upgrades, stone removal and tunnel drilling

February 23, 2021

By blazedigitalsolutions

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Salt Lake Temple renovation update: Roof upgrades, stone removal and tunnel drilling

February 23, 2021

By blazedigitalsolutions

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Stones from the top of the Salt Lake Temple are being removed with a crane before being cleaned, repaired and stored as part of the Salt Lake Temple renovation project in February 2021. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — Stones from the top of the Salt Lake Temple are being removed with a crane before being cleaned, repaired and stored as part of the Salt Lake Temple renovation project in February 2021. ***Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints***

By Christine Rappleye

This month, work on the Salt Lake Temple renovation project includes work on stones on top of the temple walls, continuing to work on an underground tunnel, and roof upgrades, according to an update Feb. 19 on Newsroom.

The stones on top of the temple walls are being removed with a crane and labeled for cleaning, preservation and storage before being returned to their original spots.

The renovation plans include a tunnel under North Temple to the Conference Center parking structure. And workers are continuing to drill under North Temple and also installing supports on both sides of the tunnel.

Stones from the top of the Salt Lake Temple are being labeled before being cleaned, repaired and stored as part of the Salt Lake Temple renovation project in February 2021. The labels are so they can be returned to their original places. Credit: The… — Stones from the top of the Salt Lake Temple are being labeled before being cleaned, repaired and stored as part of the Salt Lake Temple renovation project in February 2021. The labels are so they can be returned to their original places. ***Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints***

Upgrading the current roof on the temple is part of the seismic updates to the building. The roof will be removed and have a temporary covering, similar to a heavy-duty tarp, until the new roof is installed, according to Newsroom.

The Salt Lake Temple renovation project was announced in April 2019 and began at the end of December 2019. It is expected to take four years. It includes multiple elements, including replacing the temple’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, seismic upgrades, along with restoring and refreshing the temple interior and grounds.

Workers install a temporary covering that is similar to a heavy-duty tarp in February 2021 in preparation for an upgraded roof as part of the Salt Lake Temple renovation project. Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — Workers install a temporary covering that is similar to a heavy-duty tarp in February 2021 in preparation for an upgraded roof as part of the Salt Lake Temple renovation project. ***Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints***

The renovation to the Church Office Building Plaza was announced in January and has started. The area between the Church Administration Building and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building has been converted to a temporary road to move materials in and out of the site.

The plaza renovation, which includes a new waterproofing system, removing the circular fountain and creating green space and gardens, is expected to last about 18 months.