Columbus Ohio Temple
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Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
President Ballard Rededicates the Columbus Ohio Temple
On Sunday, June 4, President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, rededicated the Columbus Ohio Temple, which had been closed for three years for extensive renovations. "I testify that the temples are the houses of the Lord," said President Ballard. "It is here where Heavenly Father instructs His children and helps us prepare to return to His presence. It is here where we receive personal revelation, make covenants with Heavenly Father, the Savior, and participate in eternal ordinances."
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Open House Begins for the Columbus Ohio Temple
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine joined Elder Allen D. Haynie and Elder Vaiangina Sikahema of the Church's North America Northeast Area Presidency for media day at the Columbus Ohio Temple today. The event kicks off the public open house, beginning with tours for invited guests today through Friday and tours for the general public from Saturday, April 29 through Saturday, May 13, except for Sundays. Those interested in touring the temple may make a reservation online for the free event or take a virtual tour. The temple will be rededicated on Sunday, June 4, 2023, in three sessions by President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. All sessions will be broadcast to the units in the temple district.
Photo: Latter-day Saints in Central Ohio
Columbus Ohio Temple Open House and Rededication Announced
An open house has been announced for the newly renovated Columbus Ohio Temple, beginning with a media day on Monday, April 24, followed by tours for invited guests from April 25–28, 2023. Public tours will be held from Saturday, April 29 through Saturday, May 13, 2023 with no tours held on Sundays. President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve of the Apostles will preside at the rededication on Sunday, June 4, 2023. Dedicatory sessions will be broadcast to all units in the temple district at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 3:00 p.m.
Photo: MGRauckis
Fall Leaves Frame the Columbus Ohio Temple
Beautiful fall colors are dressing the grounds around the marble-clad Columbus Ohio Temple. The temple closed for renovation over two years ago and has been virtually rebuilt. The final touches are being added to the project including the last rolls of sod and a recently installed address plate. The temple is anticipated to be rededicated next year when it will resume as the only operating temple in the state. A second Ohio temple has been announced for Cleveland.
Photo: MGRauckis
Front Gates Installed at the Columbus Ohio Temple
Gates have been installed over the entrance walkway to the Columbus Ohio Temple as part of the west fence that runs along the driveway coming off of Gateway Boulevard. The old driveway apron has been removed and will be repoured. The walkways surrounding the temple are nearing completion, and new curbing has been installed. Heavy planting continues in the garden spaces on the grounds.
Photo: Latter-day Saints in Central Ohio Facebook page
Rock-Faced Retaining Wall Installed at the Columbus Ohio Temple
At the southeast corner of the Columbus Ohio Temple site, a beautiful ledge rock retaining wall has been installed near a drainage catch basin. In front of the temple entry, the circular walkway being created has nearly doubled in diameter following an additional concrete pour. Planters are being capped in granite block, and more trees and shrubs are being planted on the grounds. The fence is nearing completion, as gates are hung and columns are faced with marble.
Photo: MGRauckis
Inscription Stone Installed at the Columbus Ohio Temple
A beautiful marble stone inscribed with the words Holiness to the Lord—The House of the Lord has been installed over the entrance doors to the Columbus Ohio Temple. In ancient times, Holiness to the Lord was engraved on a gold plate (or frontlet) that was worn by the high priest when ministering in the tabernacle. Paul counsels us, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1).
Photo: MGRauckis
Hardscaping the Entrance Side of the Columbus Ohio Temple
On the entrance side of the Columbus Ohio Temple, the old hardscape has been removed and new concrete is being poured for the planters and walkways that patrons will enjoy. The concrete posts for the southeast gate are being clad in stone, and heavy planting is occurring in the garden spaces around the building. Cladding of the steeple base and parapet has been completed while stained glass installation is nearly finished.
Photo: MGRauckis
Gold Accents Added to the Columbus Ohio Temple
Gold-colored panels embossed with the magnolia flower are being installed above the stained-glass windows of the Columbus Ohio Temple, matching the color of the front entrance door frames. Coping stones are being installed along the parapet of the temple, and the concrete base for the monument sign is curing. The majority of the east fence is in place, and forms have been removed from the concrete columns that stand at the southeast corner of the surrounding walkway.
Photo: MGRauckis
Fence Installation at the Columbus Ohio Temple
On the south side of the Columbus Ohio Temple, crews are dropping line posts for the black ornamental fence that will enclose the landscaped grounds. Grey coping stones are being readied at a staging location for installation on the temple parapets, and stone panels of various shapes and sizes are also being prepared for installation around the steeple base. A second temple for the state of Ohio was announced earlier this month for the city of Cleveland.
Photo: MGRauckis
Renovation Progress on the Columbus Ohio Temple
Precisely poured concrete cures on the south lawn of the Columbus Ohio Temple where crews are fine grading the ground and placing fresh topsoil. Bundled fence posts await integration into the black fencing being installed. Stainless steel brackets have been attached to the steeple pedestal in preparation for the final stone cladding. The entrance doorway has been cased in ornamented stone, and inside, painting is nearing completion and carpet installation has begun.
Photo: MGRauckis
Framing the Columbus Ohio Temple Entrance Doorway
Framing is underway for the entrance doorway to the Columbus Ohio Temple, which will feature double doors, sidelights, and transom windows. Plastic sheeting has been attached to scaffolding to protect against the winter weather that has left large amounts of melting snow on the grounds. Temporary concrete staging pads are being removed, and stone sealing continues. Crews are awaiting delivery of stone cladding for the steeple pedestal.
Photo: MGRauckis
Exterior Cladding of Columbus Ohio Temple Nearly Completed
The masonry crew at the Columbus Ohio Temple has finished cladding the entrance vestibule, leaving only the steeple pedestal to be clad. Stained-glass windows with transparent glass covers continue to be installed, and landscaping efforts are progressing. On the east of the temple, fresh topsoil has been spread and a concrete base has been poured for the fence posts.
Photo: Spencer Knowles
Moroni Returns to the Steeple of the Columbus Ohio Temple
On Thursday, December 9, a gold-leafed statue of the angel Moroni was installed atop the Columbus Ohio Temple—the day after the steeple was installed. Cladding of the temple exterior in a high-quality stone from Spain is nearly finished with the mechanical level and portions of the west face remaining. Columbus is the capital and most populous city in the Buckeye State. It sits on the Scioto River, which boasts an impressive collection of parks and trails known as the Scioto Mile.
Photo: Latter-day Saints in Central Ohio Facebook page
Columbus Ohio Temple Steeple Takes Flight
The steeple for the Columbus Ohio Temple was lifted by crane today and installed atop the roof of the building. It had previously stood on a staging pad in front of the temple for several months where it was assembled, sheathed, and clad in stone. Stained glass installation was recently completed, allowing the structure to take its place of prominence. Renovation of the temple began 16 months ago and is expected to be completed next year.
Photo: MGRauckis
Installing Stained Glass in the Columbus Ohio Temple Steeple
The first panes of stained glass have been installed in the steeple of the Columbus Ohio Temple. The elegant design features a string of pink magnolia blossoms against a dotted diamond background that is framed in a dark blue border. The steeple is being assembled on a staging pad on the ground before it is hoisted by crane and secured to the roof.
Photo: MGRauckis
Steeple Assembly Completed for the Columbus Ohio Temple
Following the delivery of more stone for the exterior of the Columbus Ohio Temple, cladding of the steeple assembly has been completed and cladding of the temple exterior is nearly so. Much of the scaffolding has been removed, and posts have been installed for the ornamental fencing along the east side of the grounds. The temple closed for renovation 15 months ago and is expected to be completed next year.
Photo: MGRauckis
Decorative Stone Lintels Installed at the Columbus Ohio Temple
Stone installers at the Columbus Ohio Temple are attaching decorative stone lintels above the window groupings on the building's exterior. The stones feature a dotted diamond pattern with magnolia blossoms in the corners. Cladding of the temple entrance has reached just below the parapet level, and cladding of the steeple has been completed—allowing crew members to remove the scaffolding. New doors have been installed in the storage building north of the temple.
Photo: MGRauckis
Preaparing to Clad the West Face of the Columbus Ohio Temple
A lot of scaffolding has moved over the past few weeks at the Columbus Ohio Temple with cladding on three of the four sides of the building nearing completion, leaving the west face and steeple to be covered in stone. Damp proofing of the sheathing has been carried out on most of the west-facing surfaces, and hanging brackets are being attached in straight even rows. Highly qualified craftsmen are setting the stone including one who worked on the beautiful archways at the Nauvoo Illinois Temple and most recently set stone at the newly completed Pocatello Idaho Temple.
Photo: MGRauckis
Grouting and Sealing Stone at the Columbus Ohio Temple
Although shipping delays have held up the delivery of more stone cladding, crews are making progress on the renovation of the Columbus Ohio Temple. Good weather has allowed grouting and sealing of the stones to progress, using boom lifts to position the skilled workers where needed. Inside the temple, mechanisms are being installed for lowering and lifting curtains and chandeliers. The stone tiles being laid around the baptismal font are absolutely beautiful, and the majority of the drywall has been hung now that the roof has been sealed. The temporary concrete pads on the grounds may be removed as early as October to begin grading and landscaping.
Photo: MGRauckis
Cladding, Interior Framing Continues for the Columbus Ohio Temple
Wooden crates hold stone panels in a staging area near the entrance to the Columbus Ohio Temple. The cladding crew has been affixing stone to the exterior walls around the Celestial Room windows, using hanging brackets and epoxy to form a strong bond. Metal framing, ductwork, and fire suppression is nearly finished on the interior, but a tight seal on the roof must be achieved before dry wall installation begins. Window mounts that are designed to protect against moisture damage will soon be delivered, and the steeple is expected to be placed on the temple around the end of summer.
Photo: MGRauckis
Steeple Assembly and Cladding at the Columbus Ohio Temple
The steeple for the Columbus Ohio Temple is bolted to a concrete pad on the grounds where it is being assembled over the next few months before installation. More shipments of stone have arrived, allowing cladding of the exterior to continue with the east face essentially finished and work moving to the north and south sides. Star-like magnolia blossoms are featured in the corners of new stone insets. Interior framing has been completed, and the baptismal font is ready to be tiled. The installation of plumbing, electrical, and fire suppression systems is well underway.
Photo: MGRauckis
Turning a Corner at the Columbus Ohio Temple
Stone cladding has been installed across the majority of the east face of the Columbus Ohio Temple, and it is now wrapping around to the south end. The window openings have been covered in plastic sheeting to protect the interior. A Daikin chiller has been installed in a mechanical enclosure next to the maintenance building. The temple district currently covers 13 of the 14 stakes headquartered in Ohio.
Photo: MGRauckis
Cladding Progress at the Columbus Ohio Temple
Precisely molded stone panels are turning the gray exterior of the Columbus Ohio Temple to a fresh white with subtle gray marble veining. Work began at the base of the northeast corner and is moving up and east along the rear face of the building. All of the window openings have been framed, and a temporary weather barrier has been attached to the wood sheathing that has not yet been coated with a waterproofing compound.
Photo: MGRauckis
Stone Cladding Begins at the Columbus Ohio Temple
The installation of stone cladding has begun at the northeast corner of the Columbus Ohio Temple. A dark granite course runs along the base of the building while a light stone will cover the rest of the exterior. Plywood sheathing has been attached to the rebuilt vestibule at the entrance to the temple, and the window openings have been framed. The concrete block walls for the on-site maintenance building are in place with interior framing yet to be done.
Photo: MGRauckis
Waterproofing the Exterior Walls of the Columbus Ohio Temple
Renovation of the Columbus Ohio Temple has been moving forward at a steady pace during the seven months that it has been closed. On the exterior, joints between the sheets of plywood sheathing are being filled, and a waterproofing product is being rolled over the top. Deliveries of stone are being made including a beautiful Spanish stone from Marmoles Gutierrez Mena, S.A. Some trees have been temporarily relocated for replanting during a later stage of construction. Worker facilities are being upgraded in anticipation of additional crews arriving.
Photo: Latter-day Saints in Central Ohio
Preparing Exterior Walls of Columbus Ohio Temple for Cladding
The attachment of wood sheathing to the exterior of the Columbus Ohio Temple has been completed, and a combination of wood and steel framing is visible for the pilasters that will add dimension and decoration to this House of the Lord. Scaffolding and tenting has been erected on the east side of the temple in anticipation of the marble cladding that will be arriving in the near future. Inside, the concrete floor slabs have been renewed and framing is underway. The monument sign has now been removed, which will be replaced with a new sign matching the stone facing on the temple.
Photo: Ralph Kenneth Henricks
Visitors Welcomed at the Columbus Ohio Temple
Visitors to the Columbus Ohio Temple renovation project are welcomed to stop by the information center, located inside the west door of the adjacent meetinghouse, where the serving missionary couple will provide information on the renovation and answer questions. (Please wear a mask or face covering.) The marble cladding has now been completely removed from the temple, and the framing crew is forming the pilasters that will decorate the exterior of the building.
Photo: MGRauckis
Down to the Studs of the Columbus Ohio Temple
Little marble cladding remains on the exterior of the Columbus Ohio Temple, which is undergoing a complete renovation. The spire and entrance vestibule have been removed, and work has begun on replacing the wood framing with steel. The length of the steel studs will slightly increase the height of the temple. The monument sign remains in tact on the southeast side of the temple.
Photo: Ralph Kenneth Henricks
Cladding Coming Off the Columbus Ohio Temple
With the interior of the Columbus Ohio Temple dismantled, work has begun on removing the marble cladding from the exterior. The vestibule at the entrance to the temple was originally a canopy that stood over the main doors, but it was later enclosed to provide a space for patrons to escape the weather or wait for others in their party before approaching the recommend desk.