The following report may be the last installment on the progress of the rennovation of Temple Square. From here on almost all of the work is indoors, out of sight to all but the workers.

Every building on temple square (except the Tabernacle, which was upgraded in 2007) are being affected. Additionally every building on office square (Church Administration Building, Joseph Smith Memorial Building, Lion House and Behive House are all being renovated). Only the Church Office building and the Relief Society building are not being touched. The Church Office Building was renovated in 1997 and the Relief Society Building was renovated in 2019.

Some work has been done on the Assembly Hall itself particularly the west foundation.

The restoration of the priesthood statues formerly located on the east side of temple square have found a new home on the west side. They are now located between the Tabernacle and the Assembly Hall, near the west wall of temple square.

One these tunnels are complete, the area around the temple will backfilled.

Many patrons will enter the temple through the underground connection to the conference center parking structure on the north side of North Temple Street. The northern extension of the temple has three full floors below ground. Among the items in the northern extension of the temple are administration, locker rooms, and two baptismal fonts. The buildings that rise above ground will probably house the sealing rooms and I suspect a ground-level recommend desk as well. Note the top floor underground will have some natural light through skylights at ground level as show in this diagram.

If the baptistry is built on the third level underground,it will set a new record for the depth below ground of temple baptismal fonts.

• The original temple.
• The new northern extension of the temple - most of the building is underground, with smaller buildings rising above on the east and west sides.
• The new Temple Experience Center,

Main Street which runs along the East Side of Temple Square and the West Side of Office Square had automobile traffic until 2003. It was then converted to a walkway, with a large reflecting pool. It then became know as Main Street Plaza. The Plaza was closed for restoration work in 2020 and was re-opened in early 2024. With Main Street Plaza open, people can now see the contruction progress on the east side of the temple.

The new west foundation of the temple. It is about six feet in depth and fifteen feet in height. It is the new foundation walls that sit on the base isolators so that all of the temple will move as a single unit during an earth quake. The temple is tied to the foundation walls by the steel cables you see protrududing through the foundation.	Here is a wide view of east foundation wall. It looks similar r to what we see on the west side. The steel cables that hold up the temple run between the east and west sides of the temple.
A brand new statue of the Angel Moroni was hoisted onto the center spire on the East side of the temple on April 2, 2024.	A viwe of Angel Moroni from the northwest side of the temple. In order to make sure that crowds would not gather to see the angel Moroni hoisted to the top of the central spire, it was not announced publically. The workers on temple square all stopped what they were doing to watch. Television stations were notified of the event so they could show it on their news programs.
Exterior tower elevators are a common method to allow workers to access scaffolding or enter various floors of a building from the outside. This method is often useful when brining large items into a building. This is the southwest elevator. This elevator has been visible throughtout construction.	The southeast elevator was largely hidden until Main Street Plaza was reopened. Scaffolding on the exterior of the temple is bolted into the foundation walls below. This allows exterior access at all levels of the old structure. The scoffolding still reaches upward to the level of the spires.
This view of the temple is from the Church Office Building Plaza, looking west toward the temple. This view was made possible by the opening of Main Street Plaza.	This view is from northeast of the temple taken from Main Street Plaza. Just right of center is scaffolding that allows workers to ascend from or descend to the ground. This would be exceptionally useful if both exteriors elevators were inoperable.
As you walk down Main Street Plaza you see this steel structure than runs out of the temple and a box on the plaza that adjoins the construction wall. In this photo you see a pipe under the structure that comes from the temple. On top of this structure there are metal plates that a worker can walk on, but that surface is not flat and it takes some care to do that.	Once that pipe goes through the construction wall at the edge of Main Street Plaza you find this wooden box. It is clear that the pipe comes into this box and goes underground. I have no idea what this pipe is for. This box is not permanent.
Over the past six months two buildings that are part of the north temple extension have risen out of the ground. One is in the northwest corner of the extension and the other which appears to be identical is in the northeast section. This is the northeast building.	These two cranes service the building of the north extension of the temple. The one to the west is just beyond the construction wall that borders the garden area.

This is the only lawn area in the Northwest garden.	This is a viw of the northwest corner of the garden area just north of the restroom building.
There is a new gate on North Temple (west side) that is now complete. It opens to the garden area. The only other entrance to temple square at this time is the old west gate adjacent to the tabernacle.	This is the wide sidewalk along North Temple (west side).The former sold wall around temple square is being replaced by decorative iron in many places. You can see the new iron wall in this photo.
This is the northwest corner of the garden area. Along the left side is the current construction wall. Just on the other side of that wall is one of the tower cranes that services the northern construction of the temple.	The garden area looking northwest from the north side of the tabernacle. The tower crane on the left had the costruction walled moved so that it was inside the construction area.
The west temple wall looking northward from the west temple entrance. While the wall looks like the original it was built with new bricks to match the old wall. You can see the new iron wall in the distance.	A planter box typical of the area. This view shows the south wall of the restroom building and looks eastward toward the temple.
This is the restroom building. It is the only building in the northwest part of temple square.	This restroom facility has a very nice lobby.
The restroom sinks. Something must not be quite right in the plumbing below.	South of the Restroom building is a nice patio. The blackstone is the right height for small children to sit on.
The northeast corner of the garden area and the construction wall. This view looks south to the Tabernacle.	A small seating area. This area and others like it have pea gravel as the floor.
In the sourthwest part of the garden, the seating is provided by large stones. This is the kids seating stone.	This is the adults seating stone.

Near the north-south center walkway of Temple Square and just south of the tabernacle, we found forms are inplace to create a large planter box.	A wide shot of the area between the tabernacle and the Assembly Hall from the northeast corner of the garden area being installed to make the garden on the north side of the tabernacle.
Near the west gate to temple square looking southward you can see where the old west wall of temple squre has been removed. In its place will be a mixture of new brick wall and new iron fencing.	The west end of the Assembly Hall as seen from West Temple Street. New Waterproofing can be seen around the foundation wall.

Main Street Plaza Looking South. The Brigham Young momument can be seen against the blue sky.	Main Street Plaza looking North. The Conference Center is seen on the left behind the trees and the Relief Society Building and the Church History Library can be seen on the right side.

The building located in the Northwest corner of Temple Square. It sits next to the west wall.	The garden area in the Northwest corner of Temple Square

A Pavillion located in the garden area.	Large trees were planted in the garden.

A single tower crane remains in the Garden Area. This may prevent the use of the area for Christmas	The west side of the Salt Lake Temple

New Foundation Wall - West Side	The lower portion of the tower elevators (Southwest Corner)

Large rebar inside the new Foundation Wall	West Tower of the Temple Experience Center

Temple View from the Southwest	The alleyway along side of the Assembly Hall. Public porta-potties were placed in the corner.

Church Administration Building on Office Square	Pioneer Eara Homes on Office Square (Beehive House and Lion House) Undergoing Renovation

The Plaze on Office Square sits between the Church Administration Building and the Church Office Tower. From the East it offers a view of the East Side of the SL Temple	Back side of the Church Administration Building on Office Square. Over ninety flag poles are placead around the inside.

Construction continues on temple square and at other locataions near Temple Square.

For those who are not familiar with church properties in downtown Salt Lake City, I made the following diagram. Adjacent to temple square are other blocks (also square) that are owned by the church. I decided to give the other blocks a 'square' name (no one else uses these names). East of Temple Square is "Office Square" where many church offices are located. North of Temple Square is the Conference Center, which I have named "Conference Square." West of Temple Square is another square, with two important buildings. The first is the Church History Museum (where historical artifacts (other than books are kept), and the Family Search Library (formerly known as the "Family History Library")

Temple Square Construction

Decorative precast concete panels. Purpose: Unknown. The panels are lying on the new temple foundation.	Workmen arrive at the top floor of the exterior elevator near the southwest corner of the temple.
North View of the Temple from the Conference Center	South View of the Temple

The north extension of the temple reaches ground level. Only skylights will be above ground level. The extension is three stories tall and will house offices, baptismal fonts etc.	Like the north extension of the temple, the Temple Experience Visitor Center (just beyond the workmen) is mostly underground with some extension beyond ground level. The steep hill to the left goes down to the temple foundation.
The northwest garden area designed for peaceful meditation is progressing. The building show here is a part of that area. It is not clear to me what is planned for in interior beyond, temple views and restrooms.	Planter boxes with water lines and ligting are under construction.

Temple Square

The Assembly Hall - A large and ornate Chapel. The building is used when the tabernacle is simply too big.

The original meeting place built after the Saints came to Utah. It was finished in 1867. It is the home of the "Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra and Bells on Temple Square." The building was etensively renovated in 2003-2004. Before the remodeling many thousands were baptized in the tabernacle (including myself). My father documented how the roof was constructed as his thesis in Civil Engineering in the 1940s.

Office Square

Joseph Smith Memorial Building - Once this was the Hotel Utah, but was remodeled for offices, banquet areas, and other uses, while retaining the Roof Restaurant with the best views of Temple Square.

The Church Office Building tower was opened in 1972 and dedicated in 1975. At 420 feet tall it was the tallest building in Salt Lake City for many years. It contains most, but not all of the church offices in the Salt Lake City area.

Church Administration Building - Offices for the First Presidency and the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.	The Lion House and Beehive House are pioneer residences which remain on Office Square. Both are now being renovated.

View of the construction entrance between the Relief Society Building and the Church Office Building Tower	The largest part of the Office Building Plaza is 100% complete. The only areas to finish are the construction entrances from South and North Temple streets. This should be complete this summer.

Conference Square

The Conference Center. Construction begain on July 24, 1997 and was completed in 2000.	City Creek which runs trough the area is partially surfaced along the south side of th Conference Center.

Other Nearby Buildings

The Church History Museum - The museum houses historical artifacts excluding books.	Family Search Library - The wold's largest collection of geneological records.

Story 2023-04-11 - From the Deseret News:The Salt Lake Temple Renovation Project reaches the halfway point?

On April 11, the Deseret News reported that the renovation project for the Salt Lake Temple had reached the half-way point as the final concrete was placed for the new footings on which the base-isolators will sit which will support the temple. Concrete deliver trucks brought in 1600 cubic yards of concrete (that requires about 160 truck loads.) The pour was difficult because lots of re-bar had been placed before the concrete was poured. Rebar is used because while concrete had tremendous compressive strength, it has poor tensil strength. You can't compress it much but if you can get a hold of it you can tear it appart. The rebar provides greater tensil strength.

The author once helped his father pour 4 feet of concrete through holes that had been drilled in the floor above to provide extra protection from a high energy radiation system that was being instsalled a the University of Utah Medical center. We could not see through the floor or observe the conctrate from below as forms were there holding the concrete in place. Large cuts had been made in the concrete walls to allow the concrete to flow out into the wall so that the new concrete could be held in place as the new ceiling above the radiation machine. It was a blind pour and we could not be certain that the concrete had flowed into the walls properly. We had to wait 28 days before we could remove the forms from the outside walls to see how well the concrete had dlowed into the walls. The pour had not gone smoothly because of continuous clogging of the concrete pumper. We had reasons to be worried. Thankfully the concrete had flowed well enough into the walls that we did not have to start over 9a financial disaster).

At the temple, the CONCRETE pour flowed in under the temple walls and extended many feet outward from the walls. The depth of the footing was six feet. A typical home had footings of about 2 feet tall and 4 feet wide.

Photo from the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (JSMB) looking northwest shows the huge new fountain which is replacing the old one, just east of the temple. The new temple north of the original building is laying out the second floor (of three floors) mostly below ground level. This is the area for administration, baptistry, and sealing rooms.	This photo also from the JSMB looking mostly west and a little north clearly shows the new "Visitor Experience Center" on the left side.

Photo looking east from perhaps the temple, shows the new main street fouintain (lower center) and the Church Administration plaza (which is mostly complete.)	Photo from the Conference Center looking mostly south and a little east shows much of temple square. A lot of snow sits in the northwest quadrant where a new garden area is built to allow peacful meditation on temple sduare. This garden area is largely where the former North Visitor Center once stood.

President Hinckley liked to visit the selected sites before approval when possible. For instance he traveled to Vancouver B.C. Canada to view the site for the temple. The group stopped at a church to use the restroom and there were some sisters in the building and could not believe the President of the Church had stopped by. They correctly comcluded a temple was on the way for their city.

The temple department formerly had this responsibility, but now their function is focused on supporting the needs of Temple Presidencies.

With the speed of new temples being announced this change makes sense, not to mention that the Presidiing Biishopric has offices all around the world.

View from South Temple	A six-foot pipe runs out the west side, below the 'jack and bore' holes
The newly constructed addition to the temple will include offices, locker rooms, and two baptismal fonts, among other things	North Side of the Temple
View of west end of the temple near the Tabernacle	Second floor above ground for the North Temple Addition
Just to the left of the center, you can see the tunnel under North Temple. Note the second floor bisects the tunnel near the center point	Workers near the top of the temple foundation above the 'jack and bore' holes.

Progress on the new underground portion of the temple is proceeding north of the temple. The basement floor is in place, and concrete walls have risen beyond the bottom. Three concrete pumping assist devices are permanently located here, as I've never seen before.

The old North Visitor Center has wholly disappeared. The north wall of Temple Square is gone except for a 20-foot section. A construction truck entry now exists on the north side. The entry is near West Temple extending to the middle of the block. Construction in the northwest corner of Temple Square has started. This area north of the Tabernacle has been designed for gardens, but some building construction has creeped into the site formerly occupied by the North Visitors Center. I also spotted a pile driver at the west end of the area formerly occupied by the visitor's center. Generally, these machines are used to prepare for a tall building or object, but can be used to strengthen weak ground.

Surrprisingly, the plaza that fills the space between the Church Office Building, Church Administration Building, and the Joseph Smith Memorial building is not yet complete. It is still an active construction zone. New landscaping is being installed on the north and east sides of the Church Office Building tower.

Excavation is now starting south of the temple for a new Visitor Center.

Can the Salt Lake Temple be rededicated in 2025, perhaps, but there is a tremendous amount of work yet to complete.

The main street plaza is now closed. Small walkways are provided from the north to the Relief Society building and from the south to the Joseph Smith memorial building. If this lasts through Christmas, there won't be much to "the lights on Temple Square" in 2022.

View from the Northwest Corner of the Temple	The new section north of the temple rises. You can see the tunnel to the conference center on the left side of the photo
Pictured is one of three concrete pump booms on the temple's north side. These help trasport concrete to the desired location. There are three of these on the north side of the temple.	Construction is now taking place where the old North Visitor Center was located.
This is a view of the lower portion of the west end of the temple. The circular holes at the bottom will have steal strands placed through them from side to side. These steel ropes will hold the temple in the air while the base isolators (that guard agaist earthquake dammage) are installed.	The north wall of the temple
The North Visitor’s Center once stood here. Note the new sheet of concrete that has been placed here. The Conference Center is in the background.	Excavation is starting on the south side of the temple for the new Visitor's Center.
Spring Flowers on Temple Square - Only found between the Tabernacle and the Assembly Hall and around the Assembly Hall	Temple Square from the Conference Center
Temple Square Tours are now at the Conference Center	Work on the Plaza is ongoing.