Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 5

[Makid]

Originally Posted by Hatman

The LDS church will announce on April 19th (a Friday) how they plan to renovate Temple Square:
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to build 8 new temples, renovate Temple Square, Salt Lake Temple, Church Office Building plaza
https://gephardtdaily.com/local/chur...uilding-plaza/



I wonder if this is a infrastructure refresh (like fixing sidewalks and lighting and whatever else) or if there will be major changes, like rebuilding visitors' centers and the like.

The Southern Visitors Center has been planned to be expanded and updated for a few years. The North Visitors Center will be updated but nothing major.

Some of the sidewalks and water features will be updated as well.

I don't know if this also includes updates to other properties nearby or just the 2 block area. There are plans for additional buildings on top of the COB2 that is still in the long range plans.

[Stenar]

I think both visitors centers need to have natural stone exteriors applied, like many of the church's newer buildings, instead of that prefab crap on the north one now.

[SLCdude]

Thanks to everyone for the updates and photo dumps! I moved away 2.5 years ago and have been lurking more and more here as of late.

I was just in SLC for the weekend. It's incredible how quickly the city and region are developing. Visiting friends and family was priority was priority but with more time I would've gone to see all these projects.

[Blah_Amazing]

Originally Posted by JMK

Some eco box renderings and elevations of 'projects in the works'
https://ecoboxfab.com/projects-in-the-works/

Wait, so are any of these real projects for Salt Lake?

[Utah_Dave]

The article about tech driving a huge percentage of leases is somewhat of a cause for concern. I’m all for high tech jobs but with percentages of leases focused around one particular industry will leave our market susceptible to the ups and downs of the tech industry. It also is further compounded by the majority of the tech activity based in a small area around Lehi. I’m glad to hear tower 8 will focus on tech and spread more of the tech office space around the valley more. I think the tech industry is great but I would like to see more balance. Perhaps the inland port can provide that balance to a degree. Very exciting times to watch our city take the next step.

[Blah_Amazing]

Originally Posted by Utah_Dave

The article about tech driving a huge percentage of leases is somewhat of a cause for concern. I’m all for high tech jobs but with percentages of leases focused around one particular industry will leave our market susceptible to the ups and downs of the tech industry. It also is further compounded by the majority of the tech activity based in a small area around Lehi. I’m glad to hear tower 8 will focus on tech and spread more of the tech office space around the valley more. I think the tech industry is great but I would like to see more balance. Perhaps the inland port can provide that balance to a degree. Very exciting times to watch our city take the next step.

Normally I would agree, but I recently saw a Bloomberg news article discussing how Salt Lake's economy is one of the most diverse in the US. Based on that, I think we can handle an increase in technology jobs.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...p-report-shows

[RC14]

Originally Posted by Hatman

The LDS church will announce on April 19th (a Friday) how they plan to renovate Temple Square:
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to build 8 new temples, renovate Temple Square, Salt Lake Temple, Church Office Building plaza
https://gephardtdaily.com/local/chur...uilding-plaza/



I wonder if this is a infrastructure refresh (like fixing sidewalks and lighting and whatever else) or if there will be major changes, like rebuilding visitors' centers and the like.

I know this is a long shot but I wonder if this renovation will include any redevelopment of the blocks between the triad center and temple square or even plans for a COB2?

I am dreaming here but it seems like this would be a good opportunity to announce such projects.

[taboubak]

If the church decided to build a CO2 where do you think the best site would be? My personal favorite would actually be across North Temple from the current office building next to the library. There are two lots on the slope of the hill there that could be combined into one site, I think a tower there would probably look amazing in the skyline and help bridge a little of the gap to the capitol building. That is probably just a pipe dream though.

[RC14]

^
That is the first location that comes to mind. They could probably construct an underground tunnel connecting the two buildings.

[airhero]

That's where I'd want something built. It would help hide the hideous north facade of the COB. But in the past I think there were early plans to build on the parking lot west of the conference center (NW corner of N Temple and W Temple).

In any case it certainly sounds as if the announcement will be for changes limited to the contiguous two block temple square area.

[Makid]

Last I heard, the planned location for the COB2 was on the NW corner of North Temple and State Street, across from the COB and next to the library.

The parking lot on the NW corner of West Temple and North Temple is planned be redeveloped in conjunction with the former State building to the west. Parking will again be underground and it will link to the Conference Center parking. The North Temple underground parking exit may be eliminated.

There aren't any definitive timelines for these projects as they will only be built when needed.

[RC14]

What are the chances that a reclad of the COB will be part of this upcoming announcement?

[Orlando]

I'm not sure why you guys want a reclad of the COB. It's a nicely designed mid 20th century modern office tower with decent durable materials (stone? or granite?). I know it's a little austere, but not worth the cost of a reclad.

[airhero]

I don't really mind the COB other than the north facade. Base is pretty ugly in areas as well.

[SL,UT]

I don't know why you would want to reclad the COB. Sure it is not the most beautiful building, but it is a prime example of international style architecture and it should be preserved. Our skyline needs diversity in it's buildings. Not a bunch of cold glass boxes.

[Ironweed]

Originally Posted by SL,UT

I don't know why you would want to reclad the COB. Sure it is not the most beautiful building, but it is a prime example of international style architecture and it should be preserved. Our skyline needs diversity in it's buildings. Not a bunch of cold glass boxes.

Sounds like we may be starting to see some traction with the slated projects. Hopefully, most will be built prior to the next recession, which many see as imminent.

The vast and vacant church parking lots need to be eliminated. Even if they were replaced with open space, flowers, shrubs, etc. The church does a great job in that respect.

With the Exchange going up next to the library, do any of you know if there is a possibility of redeveloping the corner lots of Presto Print and the Seven Eleven?

Also, the entire block directly west of the aforementioned area above needs a complete do-over, with maybe a couple of exceptions.

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7617.../data=!3m1!1e3

Around 1/2 of the block is a parking lot.

[berger4]

I was driving past the Centro Civico sight and that project is well underway.

[Sasawest]

Originally Posted by Hatman

The LDS church will announce on April 19th (a Friday) how they plan to renovate Temple Square:
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to build 8 new temples, renovate Temple Square, Salt Lake Temple, Church Office Building plaza
https://gephardtdaily.com/local/chur...uilding-plaza/



I wonder if this is a infrastructure refresh (like fixing sidewalks and lighting and whatever else) or if there will be major changes, like rebuilding visitors' centers and the like.

Long time lurker here on this forum but decided to jump in on this one. I wonder if the renovations on the church office building plaza would include a re-cladding of the COB similar to what they did with the old Kennecott tower/Zions bank building. That would be awesome to see that building become more modernized.

[bob rulz]

I never thought I would see so much defense of the ugly, dated Church Office Building.

Personally I think the mid-century, International-style era was a cold, dark history in skyscraper architecture. It's alright on a smaller scale, or if surrounded by taller, better-looking buildings, but I cannot think of a single International-style skyscraper off the top of my head that I like on its own outside of the OGs (PSFS Building in Philadelphia and the Seagram Building in New York), and the Sears Tower. They're mostly just bland, boring copycat boxes that infested skylines all over the world.

The post-modernism era of the late 1970s-early 1990s wasn't significantly better either, but at least those skyscrapers had shape.

Re-cladding of the COB would be a benefit to the city. It wouldn't have to be shiny, modern blue glass, but just adding a little bit of variation would do wonders.

[ajiuO]

Originally Posted by bob rulz

I never thought I would see so much defense of the ugly, dated Church Office Building.

Personally I think the mid-century, International-style era was a cold, dark history in skyscraper architecture. It's alright on a smaller scale, or if surrounded by taller, better-looking buildings, but I cannot think of a single International-style skyscraper off the top of my head that I like on its own outside of the OGs (PSFS Building in Philadelphia and the Seagram Building in New York), and the Sears Tower. They're mostly just bland, boring copycat boxes that infested skylines all over the world.

The post-modernism era of the late 1970s-early 1990s wasn't significantly better either, but at least those skyscrapers had shape.

Re-cladding of the COB would be a benefit to the city. It wouldn't have to be shiny, modern blue glass, but just adding a little bit of variation would do wonders.

That building is ugly-AF. I am all for preserving classic architectural styles that look good... that one doesn’t. I don’t necessarily think that that building needs to be demolished but I would definitely like to see it undergo a reclad.

I think a while back ago (Over 10 years) there was something said about the church actually having plans to eventually reclad that building and possibly build a second tower next to it. The specific material that they used on that building was only used on a few others. It was found to deteriorate and fall apart causing dangers... I’m not sure if they have seen the problem on that building yet.

I can remember where I read this. It was quite a while ago.

If that building was in the middle of a bunch of other buildings it probably wouldn’t bother me. But it kind of stands out on its own like a sore thumb... so yeah... they should strip it down and make it look decent.