Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
Latest News
Recent News Articles
- September 20, 2024 – ‘It Means Everything to Me’: Latter-day Saints Reflect on the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Dedication
- September 16, 2024 – Church dedicates Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple; announces site for Washington temple
- September 15, 2024 – Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf Dedicates Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
- August 15, 2024 – Open House for Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Begins Tomorrow
- August 14, 2024 – Church releases images from the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple as open house begins
- August 13, 2024 – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers tours of its 1st Western Pa. temple
- August 13, 2024 – Mormon temple opens in Pittsburgh area, marking a milestone for local Latter Day Saints community
- August 12, 2024 – Church of Latter-day Saints Cranberry Township temple prepares to open
- August 12, 2024 – Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Opens for Tours
- August 1, 2024 – New Church of Latter-Day Saints Temple opening in Cranberry
- April 15, 2024 – Open House, Dedication and Groundbreaking Dates for Temples in Argentina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania
News Stories
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Elder Uchtdorf Presides at the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Dedication
"This temple will be a blessing to you," said Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at yesterday's dedication of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple. The temple is located about 20 miles from the Ohio-Pennsylvania border in a suburban area north of Pittsburgh called Cranberry Township. Its landscaping includes a granite bridge, honoring Pittsburgh’s recognition as the "City of Bridges" for its 446 bridges. "The house of the Lord is here to make covenants which connect us to heaven," said Elder Uchtdorf. "These bridges, from one side to the other, from earth to heaven, are real."
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Public Invited to the Open House of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
A news conference and tour of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple was held this morning for the media. Tours for invited guests will continue through Thursday, August 15, and then public tours will begin on Friday, August 16, and continue through Saturday, August 31, excluding Sundays. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free, and no tickets are needed. This granite-clad house of the Lord was designed to feature the mountain laurel—Pennsylvania's official state flower. The art glass features a dogwood tree and flower motif in gold, pink and green.
Photo: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Dedication Details Announced for the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
A public open house for the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple will be held from Friday, August 16 through Saturday, August 31, 2024, excluding Sundays. Before the public tours, a media day will occur on Monday, August 12, 2024, followed by three days of tours for invited guests. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the temple in two sessions on Sunday, September 15, 2024. The dedicatory sessions will be held at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. EDT. All units in the temple district will receive the broadcast.
Photo: R Scott Hoffman
Wrapping Up Construction on the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
Major construction of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple is wrapping up, and inspections by members of the Presiding Bishopric and Temple Department have taken place. Final projects on the interior are underway while additional plantings for the grounds are planned for the spring. The dates for the open house and dedication of the temple have not yet been announced.
Photo: Mary T. Smith
Flag Hoisted on the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Grounds
An American flag has been hoisted atop the flagpole at the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple, which is nearing the completion of construction. Because Pittsburgh is known as the "City of Bridges," a beautiful granite-clad bridge was incorporated into the design of the grounds, connecting the stake center and temple properties and serving as a photograph location. Installation of the embossed panels above the windows and coping of the roof have been completed, and the parking lot has been striped. Cladding of the hardscape features continues.
Photo: Pittsburgh PA Temple Facebook page
Welcome Center Closing at the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
Monday, February 5, will be the last day to visit the Welcome Center at the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple. The center will be closing at the end of regular operating hours, allowing the trailer to be removed and the area to be landscaped. The wonderful missionary couple will conclude their service soon afterward and return home to the state of Washington. Light fixtures are being installed on the newly clad footbridge, and landscaping efforts continue.
Photo: Linda Johnson
Construction Fence Removed from the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Grounds
With the majority of the ornamental fencing in place on the grounds of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple, the construction fence has been removed. The mild weather in December allowed for the planting of more trees, bushes, and plants. Rolls of grass sod were also laid before the ground froze, leaving the north end of the lot without grass, as granite cladding of the bridge continues. Completed hardscape elements include the monument sign, sidewalks, and parking lot lamp posts. Art glass for the entrance transom has been glazed, and ornamental window headers are being installed.
Photo: Mary T Smith
Cladding the Bridge on the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Grounds
The beautiful footbridge that spans the retention pond between the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple grounds and the stake center parking lot is being clad in stone panels that match the temple cladding. Each side of the bridge features four posts that will support light fixtures. Window headers, featuring the dogwood blossoms, have been attached over the steeple windows. Additional sidewalks have been poured, and more bollard lights and lamp posts have been installed. A wide variety of trees and shrubs are being planted in the flowerbeds, and the monument sign is in place.
Photo: Angie Popa
Tri-Stake Devotional Held Next to the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
On Saturday, October 28, a Tri-Stake Relief Society Devotional was held in Pittsburgh with Sister Anette Dennis of the Relief Society General Presidency. Before the devotional began, a group photograph was taken in the stake center parking lot with the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple in the background. Asphalt is being paved for the parking lots and lanes around the temple while irrigation lines are being run to the garden areas. Granite cladding is being secured to planter walls and gate posts while granite pavers are laid for the entrance plaza. Grass sod has been laid on the south side of the property, and additional plantings are progressing.
Photo: Jocelyn Hatch Christensen
Exterior Lighting of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
A crescent moon hovers near the slender finial atop the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple, located in Butler County's Cranberry Township. Architectural exterior lighting has been installed on the roof of the temple that bathes the upper walls and steeple in a glorious glow. The components of a precast concrete bridge were recently installed to connect the grounds of the temple with the grounds of the adjacent stake center.
Photo: Jocelyn Hatch Christensen
Inscription Stones Installed on the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
Granite panels inscribed with the sacred words Holiness to the Lord—The House of the Lord have been installed above the arched opening in the east portico of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple. The lettering will be painted later. Cladding continues on the exterior, and framing for the main entrance doors is underway. Additional sections of the bridge between the temple and meetinghouse have been installed, and preparations for curbing and asphalt are moving forward. Landscaping is progressing south of the temple where a plaza is located and numerous plantings are taking place.
Photo: Jocelyn Hatch Christensen
Building a Bridge to the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
A sturdy hydraulic crane at the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple has been hoisting heavy sections of precast concrete from the parking lot of the adjoining stake center to the retention pond between the two buildings for the creation of a bridge. Fencing has been installed on the west side of the property, and landscaping is progressing on the south. Gold leaf has been applied to most of the carved stones on the temple exterior that feature a depiction of the mountain laurel. Cladding of the entrance portico is well underway.
Photo: Linda Johnson
Visitors to the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Welcome Center
Visitors from 26 of the 50 states and 8 foreign countries have paid a visit to the Welcome Center for Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple since construction began. The 1,500-pound cupola was installed last month. The height of the building from the ground to the top of the spire is 125 feet. Installation of the Portuguese granite cladding continues along the base of the north and west sides and along the mechanical level. Art glass installation and landscaping is also making progress.
Photo: Mary T Smith
Cupola and Spire Installed on the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
The Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple received a new addition today. The cupola and finial were set in place and secured to the top of the steeple. The new components coordinate in color with the window frames. Crews are making progress on the hardscape of the grounds and the exterior cladding of the temple. It is the second to be built in the state of Pennsylvania, and a third has been announced for the capital city of Harrisburg.
Photo: Mary T Smith
Scaffolding Removed from the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Steeple
Scaffolding has been removed from the newly clad steeple of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple. The structure features long stained glass and will eventually support a gold spire. Cladding of the main level is progressing on the east side where it has reached the portico. More elements of the hardscape have been installed including sidewalks, fence posts and panels, and lamp posts.
Photo: Linda Johnson
Fencing the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Grounds
Fence posts set in a concrete mow strip run the length of the east and south sides of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple site. Picketed panels with rings will be installed to complete the wrought-iron fence. Scaffolding has been moved from the south side of the temple, making the granite cladding clearly visible. Cladding has been mostly completed on the first and second tiers of the steeple as well. Pallets of granite panels sit in a staging area on the north side of the building.
Photo: Linda Johnson
Mountain Laurel Carved in the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Cladding
As shipments of granite cladding arrive at the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple, installers make more progress on covering the exterior in stone. Some of the carved pieces feature the mountain laurel flower—a theme that will be carried inside. Gold trim is being installed around the steeple windows with space for gold medallion headers. Work is also advancing on the interior including millwork, tiling, plumbing, and wiring.
Photo: Mary T Smith
Cladding the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Steeple
Cladding of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple steeple is making progress. Hanging brackets can be seen along the base of the pedestal, and a section of stone has been installed on the east side of the steeple body. Cladding is underway not only on the steeple but also on the west end of the building. Crates of additional stone panels sit on the ground north of the temple.
Photo: Pittsburgh PA Temple Facebook page
Cladding the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple in Stone
Stone cladding is making its way around the exterior of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple. The work started at the southwest corner and moved to the west end. Hanging brackets have been fastened to the ground floor walls. Sheathing has been attached to the mechanical level frame, and sheathing is moving up the steeple. The arched openings of the front portico can be seen on the east end.
Photo: Linda Johnson
Parking Lot Curbing at the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
Concrete crews at the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple have begun to hardscape the entrance plaza and install curbing for the north parking lot. Granite cladding is being secured to the exterior at the southwest corner of the building while some painting and millwork is making progress on the interior. Visitors can ask questions and watch construction from the observation deck at the Welcome Center trailer.
Photo: Pittsburgh North: Relief Society Sisters and Friends
Enclosing the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Before Winter
Crews at the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple are working quickly to enclose the building before winter so that temperature and humidity levels can be properly regulated inside. Plastic sheeting has been replaced by glass in nearly every window opening, and tradesmen continue to install wiring, plumbing, and mechanical systems. Some painting has also begun. Concrete planters have been installed on the south side of the temple, and planters are being formed on the east.
Photo: Jennifer McFadden
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Steeple Sheathed
Sheathing of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple steeple has been completed, and a moisture barrier has been attached to the exterior walls. Window frames and backing for the window headers are being installed. There are two other temples under construction in the eastern United States in Richmond, Virginia, and Tallahassee, Florida. Three more have been announced for Cleveland, Ohio; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Tampa, Florida.
Photo: Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Facebook page
Installing Window Frames in the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
The purple sheathing on the exterior of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple is being wrapped in a white moisture barrier while sheathing of the steeple continues. At the southwest corner of the building, hanging brackets are being secured to the walls in preparation for exterior cladding. Metal frames are being placed in the window openings for the ornamental header panels and stained glass that will be installed later.
Photo: Jocelyn Hatch Christensen
Sheathing Progress on the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
The majority of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple has been covered in eXP® Sheathing with a gypsum core wrapped in a fiberglass mat for mold and moisture resistance. Crews are also applying a Perm-A-Barrier® wall membrane to the sheathing for added moisture protection. Inside the temple, framers are installing steel studs and duct work for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Photo: Mitch Oakes
Framing and Sheathing the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
A view of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple from the construction observation deck shows the progress that has been made on framing and sheathing the exterior walls. The majority of sheathing has been installed around the mechanical level while framing of the steeple pedestal and main floor walls continues. A sealer will be applied to the purple sheathing boards before cladding begins.
Photo: George Cavalier
Roof Deck Installed on the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
An aerial view of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple shows the progress that has been made on adding a roof deck to the steel frame of the building. The temple sits next to a tree-lined creek at the base of a grass-covered hill that rises along the southwest border of the property. Framing of the interior and exterior walls is still ahead for the framing crew.
Photo: Elliot Haroldsen
Steeple Frame Installed on the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
The Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple gained some height a couple of weeks ago when the steeple frame was installed over the center of the body. In this photograph, the rising sun casts an orange glow on the steel framework against a streak of dark purple clouds. Heavy framing of the building will be followed by light framing on the interior and exterior.
Photo: Jocelyn Hatch Christensen
Structural Framing of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple Begins
Construction of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple moved above ground last week when steel framing for the superstructure started. The framing crew began with setting several steel columns before laying the connecting beams across the top. The 32,000-square-foot temple is similar in design to other temples under construction in the United States like the Tallahassee Florida Temple.
Photo: Elliot Haroldsen
Forming the Foundation Walls for the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
Construction crews at the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple are forming and pouring the foundation walls for the single-level building. A small basement will be located on the south side where the baptismal font and equipment will be contained. The temple will stand among the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania between Greater Pittsburgh and Northeast Ohio.
Photo: George Cavalier
Footings and Foundation Walls for the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple
An aerial view of the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Temple site captures a wintry scene where the footings and foundation walls for the sacred building are under construction. Concrete forms have been set for the walls that will surround the baptismal font in the south wing. The construction trailers located along the street serve as office space and a visitors' center for guests who wish to observe construction activity or ask questions.