Renovation project for outside Church Office Building announced - Deseret News

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Announced the first phase of a major project that will upgrade the landscaping and improve the sightlines around the Salt Lake Temple

The fountain in front of the church building at Temple Square in the center of Salt Lake City has been leaking for years and will be demolished and replaced by dozens of national flags from all over the world.

These changes are the first phase of a large-scale project, which will upgrade the landscape and improve sightlines around the Salt Lake Temple, while continuing the four-year renovation project.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a rendering showing the planned changes and a floor plan showing the work on Monday.

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The first phase will last for 18 months and will improve the landscape of the church office building square.

The square extends from West to East from Main Street to State Street, with the Relief Society Building and Church Office Building on the north side, and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and Church Administration Building on the south side.

It also heralded the end of the fountain, which was planned as part of a major project at least as early as 1960, including

It opened in 1972 and built a 28-story church office building.

Fountain already

, But the water circulation system used for fountains and landscaping has been leaking. Leaks in the water system and concrete deck threatened the underground church staff parking garage below the square.

The new square will include a new waterproof system. It will also have some changes that will open up the space and increase the view of the temple from the east.

After the landscaping work between the church office building and the church administration building is completed, workers will begin new landscaping work on the Main Street Plaza. The goal is to simplify the two blocks that now make up Temple Square.

The Temple Square originally consisted of a single block of 10 acres, and the Salt Lake Temple and Tabernacle stood between the main street and the West Temple. church

In 1999, it extended from the city to the main street between South and North Temple Street and turned it into a square. Now, the church believes that Temple Square is spread over two large plots from West Temple to State Street (including Main Street Square).

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"Our landscape design around the square and the temple will broaden the passage and vision of the temple and make people more susceptible to the welcome of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Andy Kirby, the church’s historic temple renovation director ( Andy Kirby) issued a statement.

He said that after the decoration is completed, the landscape of the entire temple square will be seamless.

Church leader first

When passing through Temple Square during renovation

April 2019. Decoration project

It is planned to be completed in 2024.

President Nelson said: "We promise you will like the results."

Kirby said that the redesigned church office building plaza will recognize the church’s 16.5 million members in 196 countries and regions.

He said: "We will dismantle this fountain. In many countries around the world, we will fly a large flag to celebrate the internationality of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Workers have opened the walls around the Temple Square to increase the visibility of the Temple. New visitors and visitor pavilions will be constructed.

The formal entrance of the temple, called the "recommendation counter", will be in the underground hall. As previously announced, a new visitor passage will be constructed under Beimiao Street to allow access to the lobby from the parking lot of the conference center. Pedestrians will walk down the stairs to reach the lobby and the recommendation desk. The recommendation desk is located under a large skylight, providing natural light and sight to the towering temple.

Learn about the latest situation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members.

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