The directors of the staggering seismic upgrade and renovation of the iconic Salt Lake Temple fully expected the unexpected when they started to excavate the pioneer landmark’s foundation.
So when one of them said in spring 2019 that “This is the largest and most historic (temple project) we have ever tackled,” they knew it would be bigger than they knew.
That’s why, four years later, they are comfortable with being right, even though the projected finish date first moved back from 2024 to 2026.
One reality?
“We keep adding to it,” said a relaxed and chuckling Andy Kirby, director of historic temple renovations for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kirby sat on a metal bench outside the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Tuesday to talk with me.
“So for example, this year, we’ve added the renovation of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and we will begin renovation of the Beehive House and Lion House later this summer,” he said.
Work on the Joseph Smith Memorial Building is starting now.
The temple renovation is surging ahead with a daily complement of 600 construction workers. Kirby said this week that the work on the temple is about 50% complete, pivoting from the tearing down and excavating phase to building back up, a process that eventually will bring as many as 1,000 workers a day on the site.
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