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Steel reinforcement cages are assembled to support base isolators on the west side of the temple in Salt Lake City.

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

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A concrete slab is laid around the perimeter of the Salt Lake Temple to create a clean and level working surface during the multiyear renovation of the structure.

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

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Construction, renovation and seismic retrofitting on older buildings can take a long time but is necessary to prevent disaster. Such is the case with the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The retrofit of the iconic Salt Lake Temple continues at a deliberate and measured pace. However, when working with historic structures such as this pioneer-era temple, unexpected challenges are inevitable, a church statement said.

Regarding the previously announced 2025 completion date, Church leadership — in connection with project consultants and the general contractor working on the project — currently estimate completion of the project in 2026, according to a church press release.

The original date was to be sometime in 2024, then it was moved to 2025 and now the church expects a 2026 opening date.

Construction milestones will continue to be shared periodically, the church said, with a final completion date and temple open house schedule to be determined and shared at a later time.

A new milestone was reached with the seismic upgrade for the temple on March 7. According to the church, crews poured concrete for the footing of the first base isolator underneath the temple, an important step for the base isolation system. The installation of the first base isolator is anticipated in April.

A working concrete slab now surrounds the entire perimeter of the temple to provide a clean and level surface for crews. Iron workers will use this surface to assemble reinforced steel cages, which will eventually be encased in concrete to become new footings along the existing foundations of the temple both inside and outside. Once completed, base isolators will rest on this new foundation, the church explained.

The depth of the excavation from the former sidewalk around the Salt Lake Temple to the newly laid working slab is 35 feet.

Projects continue on the northwest corner of Temple Square where the North Visitors’ Center previously stood. This area is expected to be complete in early fall of this year.

When this project is complete, work will then begin on the southwest corner of Temple Square. The Assembly Hall and surrounding gardens and facilities will be closed as crews remove the restroom buildings and portions of the wall. Crews will also update the landscaping. It is anticipated this area will be closed for a year.

Until construction is completed on all of Temple Square, parking will be limited, and that means few tickets will be released for sessions of general conference held across the street in the Conference Center, as well as for other productions and activities held in the center.

Additional information on how to access Temple Square with this closure will be updated as the northwest corner opens.

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