January 2023 - The Church releases new photos of Temple Square

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released new photos from elevated locations around temple square. These photos now offer a look into what is being done on main street.
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. It clearly shows the new "Visitor Experience Center" on the left side. They are working on the foundation walls which provide a basement for the building.
Photo looking northeast from perhaps the temple. It shows the new main street plaza (lower center) and the Church Administration plaza beyond that.
Photo looking southeast from the Conference Center. The north temple expansion on the left and the new garden area on the right.

April 11, 2023 - From the Deseret News:The Salt Lake Temple Renovation Project reaches the halfway point. [ Are you sure? Such a prediction is unlikely to match reality ]

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, but 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.

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.

May 2023 Status Update on the Renovation of Temple Square

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 extensions 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. The buildind is most likely a deluxe restroom facility.
Planter boxes with water lines and lighting are under construction.
©2023 Reed B. Haslam All rights reserved