Excavation begins for a new visitors center that will provide additional guest services for Temple Square visitors, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2022.
Excavation begins for a new visitors center that will provide additional guest services for Temple Square visitors, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2022. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

By Trent Toone

The major renovation of Temple Square and the Salt Lake Temple continues to move forward in May with crews focusing on new additions to the temple, the Church Office Building plaza, excavation for a new visitors’ center and the Main Street Plaza.

The multiyear project’s latest update was provided in a news release with photos on the church’s newsroom.

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Why the Main Street Plaza is closed

Temple Square’s Main Street Plaza is now closed to the public to allow for renovations to enhance the landscaping and fountain areas. Crews will remove the planter areas and reflecting pools as part of redesigning the area’s landscaping.

Crews tear out existing planter areas and reflecting pool on the Main Street Plaza to redesign the landscape.
Crews tear out existing planter areas and reflecting pool on the Main Street Plaza to redesign the landscape during the Temple Square renovation project, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2022. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Main Street Plaza is closed to allow for renovations, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2022.
The Main Street Plaza is closed to allow for renovations, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2022. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Church Office Building plaza

East of the Main Street Plaza, bright orange snow-melting conduit is being installed under newly poured sidewalks on the Church Office Building plaza to provide snow-free walkways during the winter.

New stonework is also being placed in some of the walls near State Street.

Bright orange conduit is installed before the concrete is poured for a new sidewalk.
Bright orange conduit is installed before the concrete is poured for a new sidewalk. The heated conduit will provide snow-free walkways in the winter on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2022. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A view of the Church Office Building plaza on the east side of Temple Square.
A view of the Church Office Building plaza on the east side of Temple Square. In the bottom left, orange, snow-melting conduit is installed before new sidewalks are poured, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2022. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
This photo shows the view east from the Salt Lake Temple towards the Wasatch Mountains.
This photo shows the view east from the Salt Lake Temple towards the Wasatch Mountains. The Church Office Building tower and Relief Society Building can be seen on the left with the Joseph Smith Memorial Building on the right. The round flat space at the bottom marks where the reflecting pool once stood on the Main Street Plaza, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2022. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Progress is made on fountain and garden renovations in the Church Office Building plaza during the Temple Square renovation project.
Progress is made on fountain and garden renovations in the Church Office Building plaza during the Temple Square renovation project, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2022. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Excavation for new visitors’ center

Crews have started excavation on the south side of the Salt Lake Temple in preparation for two new buildings to provide guest experiences and services for Temple Square visitors.

Excavation begins for a new visitor’s center that will provide additional guest services for Temple Square visitors, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2022.
Excavation begins for a new visitors’ center that will provide additional guest services for Temple Square visitors, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2022. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Salt Lake Temple three-floor addition

Workers continue to build a three-floor addition to the north side of the Salt Lake Temple. The three floors will accommodate baptistries, sealing rooms, dressing rooms and administrative offices.

Crews are beginning construction of the second floor by building sheer walls around the new addition’s perimeter.

Three basement floors for offices, baptistries and other sacred spaces begin to be framed as part of the Salt Lake Temple renovation project.
Three additional basement floors for offices, baptistries and other sacred spaces begin to be framed as part of the Salt Lake Temple renovation project, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2022. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Crews pour a portion of the second floor of the new temple addition.
Crews pour a portion of the second floor of the new temple addition which will accommodate baptistries, sealing rooms, dressing rooms and administrative offices, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2022. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The addition of three floors of new temple space begins to take shape during the Salt Lake Temple renovation project.
The addition of three floors of new temple space begins to take shape during the Salt Lake Temple renovation project, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2022. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Learn more about the Salt Lake Temple renovation by visiting templesquare.org or ChurchofJesusChrist.org.