Salt Lake Temple ready for seismic activity

SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took a massive step towards completing its renovation of the Salt Lake Temple as installation of an earthquake stabilization system was completed.

The temple now rests on its new base isolation system after crews removed more than 1,500 bolts connecting 392 plates to the base isolators, the church announced on Tuesday. These plates kept the 98 base isolators, located 20 feet under the temple, stabilized during their installation and weight transfer.

“This is a milestone moment for this whole project,” said Brad Bohne, general superintendent with Jacobsen Construction, which is overseeing the lengthy renovation process.

The Salt Lake Temple renovation has been planned for two decades and has been under construction for more than six years.

“The temple is set free,” Bohne said. “Free to move now during an earthquake, so a big deal for us.”

According to the church, the base isolators allow the ground to move up to 5 feet in any direction if the earth shakes, stabilizing the foundation of the temple. Elder Dale G. Renlund said this system will make earthquakes measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale feel like a 5.2 instead.

“The system is unlike anywhere else in the world,” said Nathan Espinoza, assistant project manager with Jacobsen Construction.

While the isolators were installed underground, work continued on the surface. Crews are now installing snowmelt tubing under the stone paving immediately outside the temple, which will help with snow removal during the winter months.

Both sets of oak doors have been reinstalled on the exterior of the temple. The west doors returned in early June, while the east doors were reinstalled between June 23 and June 25.