Salt Lake Tabernacle Restoration

Historic 140-Year-Old Building Receives Much-Needed Upgrades

Seismic and system upgrades bring iconic LDS building into the 21st Century; appearance both inside and out remains virtually unchanged.

by Brad Fullmer

As an architect who worked on the design of an important historical renovation project like the Nauvoo Temple, Roger Jackson knows what it’s like to be under close scrutiny.

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So when his firm, FFKR Architects of Salt Lake City, was invited by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to work on the Salt Lake Tabernacle restoration project, Jackson felt his design team was up for the challenge.

 “I think my experience with past high-profile church projects gave (the LDS Church) an ability to trust us with this high-trust project,” says Jackson, a principal and 23-year veteran at his firm. “We were in the microscope. A big portion of this project was to understand its size and scope.”

David B. Hall, director of the Temple and Special Projects division for the LDS Church, says the Tabernacle renovation was extremely important. “It had the constant attention of the presiding bishop of the church (David Burton) and was reported on frequently to the First Presidency,” Hall adds.” I recall President (Gordon B.) Hinckley’s comments in October 2004 with regard to the closing of the Tabernacle. He spoke of the two venerable parents (the Salt Lake Temple and the Salt Lake Tabernacle) as being the two notable landmark buildings that are identified by members of the church and people around the world. It is definitely an iconic structure.”

John Emery, project manager for Jacobsen Construction of Salt Lake City, calls the Tabernacle project the most rewarding he’s ever done and adds, “It was a complicated structure.”

Seismic Upgrades Essential

Originally built between 1864 and 1867 on the west center-line axis of the Salt Lake Temple, the Tabernacle was a construction marvel considering the time it was built. The most critically important aspects of its restoration included upgrading the overall seismic strength and integrity of the building, replacing the aluminum roof panels and updating entire electrical and mechanical systems with high-tech, state-of-the-art equipment and features.

In addition, the appearance of the iconic structure had to remain virtually unchanged, a mandate delivered from Hinckley himself.

“The key was to try and strike a balance – it was delicate,” Jackson says. “This is an important icon within the church – it mirrors half of the history of the church. But it’s also a functioning building with a TV studio and a concert and performing hall. It had to be a living, breathing, functioning facility that kept its historical feel and character. That was our charge.”

Hall adds: “The overall direction given to us was to accomplish those things without changing the historical character of the Tabernacle. Structural and mechanical improvements were done to where they are ultimately invisible. We were able to integrate the newer systems into the historic fabric without loss of program space or changing visual configurations inside or out.”

Emery says one of the initial aspects of the seismic reinforcement was installing steel rods into the unreinforced stone piers and then placing them on micropiles that were drilled about 30 ft into the ground. A-Core, a concrete drilling contractor from Salt Lake City, did the drilling through the piers, which Emery says had to be done perfectly straight in order not to compromise structural integrity. A 7,000-psi porous grout mix filled the piers to make them even more reinforced.

Jacobsen’s crews also installed a belt-truss system that  tied the piers to the roof structure. Emery says that during the original construction, the roof truss system was gravity set onto the piers with no mechanical fastening of any kind.

He adds that the new belt truss “tied the attic truss system onto the piers so it couldn’t move.”

In addition, Jacobsen added two sister trusses, one on each end where the dome radius comes together.

“The analysis of the Tabernacle indicated that the structural integrity was good in regards to gravity loads,” Hall says. “Strengthening was necessary with (potential) lateral loads of seismic activity – structurally, that was the main issue.”

High-Tech Systems Installed

Because the building is used as a broadcast facility for performances by the likes of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, old, outdated electrical and mechanical systems were ripped out and installed with new high-tech systems, including new plumbing, HVAC, stage lighting, broadcast and sound systems and theatrical rigging systems.

Temperature and humidity control for the Tabernacle’s renowned pipe organ was also a critical issue because air conditioning had never been installed in the building, Hall says.

Jack Jensen, president of operations for J&S Mechanical of Draper, Utah, says fitting new systems into such an old building wasn’t easy.

“Trying to get a new system into an old building was tough,” he adds. “The structure was very low and it was really tough to make everything fit.” Jensen says that air handlers were delivered in smaller pieces and then assembled onsite, due to the limited space conditions.

“Out of the hundreds of jobs we’ve done, only two or three are like it,” Jensen says. “It was neat to be a part of it and to see how much hard work went into it. It will always hold a special place in our hearts.”

The electrical system was equally as challenging, according to Jim Overright, project executive for Cache Valley Electric of Salt Lake City. Overright has worked all over the world on unique projects like a 4,000 MW power plant on the Anatolia plateau in Turkey. He says the Tabernacle ranks up there as one of the most interesting projects he’s ever seen.

“It was an incredible experience,” Overright says. “I don’t think any of us really knew how unique of a project it was until we were into it.”

CVE upgraded the overall electrical service running into the building, replacing a 750-kva service with one 2,500-kva service and another-1,500 kva service. “We effectively quadrupled the size of the electrical service,” Overright says.

The amount of wiring required for these high-tech electrical systems, and where that wiring would run throughout the building, required careful planning and execution by the design team, Overright adds.

“Some of the largest issues were trying to fit all of these systems into an existing structure that had really no provisions whatsoever for the amount of wiring and raceway that had to be put throughout the building,” he says. “These are incredibly complicated and large systems.” As an example of the amount of wiring involved with new systems, Overright says  there is approximately 800,000 ft of circuit wire in just the production lighting dimming systems alone. “That’s a lot of miles,” he says.

All systems are controlled with high-tech software and user interfaces and touch screens. Microphones, cameras and lighting are all interfaced together, making the facility a high-tech marvel.

“When you get into a building like the Tabernacle, where every place is an issue because of the original construction of the building, that’s when you have an appreciation for the amount of wiring in a building of this sophistication,” Overright adds. “The architects did a fantastic job in retrofitting this building to retain its flavor and ambiance.”

Roof Panels Replaced

The Tabernacle’s signature metal roof system was also replaced, another prominent aspects of the project.

According to Jim Ritchie of Utah Tile & Roofing of Salt Lake City, the owner wanted to retain the roof’s notable appearance. Since it was originally built, the roof has been updated through the years with various systems, from wood shingles to copper to aluminum by about 1950.

All aluminum roof panels were custom fabricated and include concave, convex and tapered panels all in a single plane, a unique application, Ritchie says.

Utah Tile & Roofing removed all existing panels down to a rubberized asphalt membrane.

Jacobsen crews then cut openings into the roof in order to install new king trusses, which Utah Tile had to then cover at night with a temporary roof system made from visqueen with wood slates.

The new aluminum panels ranged in size from 11 in. wide to 44 in. wide and taper to an apex about two-third up the roof. The center section between the two skylights has straight panels.

Ritchie says safety was also a major consideration throughout the project.

“We did all our work with full body harnesses, lanyards, lifelines and descenders,” he adds. “Keeping the building watertight while all the structural elements went into the building was a long duration and a big challenge to make it happen.”

Jackson says he’ll never tire of working on projects with such historical significance.
“I’m spoiled to have worked on some of the coolest architectural projects in the state,” he says. “Much of my career has been with these great old buildings. This will impact so many people’s lives.”

Hall calls the construction team the best he’s ever worked with. “The combination of Jacobsen, the subs and FFKR and their consultants working with my team at church headquarters was the best,” he adds. “There was a great spirit of camaraderie and the contribution to a common goal.”

Tabernacle Project Team

Owner: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

GC: Jacobsen Construction Co., Salt Lake City

Architect: FFKR Architects, Salt Lake City

Engineers: Reaveley (Structural); BNA (Electrical), VBFA (Mechanical)

Subcontractors: Adams & Smith, A-Core, Becho, Boswell-Olsen,
Cache Valley Electric, Child Enterprises, Caffall Tile, Evergreen Painting Studios, F.S. Armitage & Sons, Fetzer’s, J&S Mechanical, Kepco +, JB Parson Cos.,
Burbidge Concrete Pumping, Jones Excavating, Laser Excavating,
Perry Olsen Drywall, Superior Insulation, Utah Tile and Roofing.

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