From a distance, the Provo Tabernacle appears to stand as it has stood since the late 1800s. But upon closer inspection it floats above the ground, held in place by a network of steel supports.
Since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held a groundbreaking for the new temple on May 12, 2012, crews have reinforced the interior walls of the tabernacle with rebar and concrete. Now the site is being excavated for what will become a basement in the new temple.
The Provo Tabernacle was severely damaged Dec. 17, 2010, when a lighting technician mistakenly set a 300-watt light fixture on a wooden speaker box in the attic, Provo fire investigators concluded. The blaze caused an estimated $15 million in damage.
The progress on the temple is also a catalyst for Provo's downtown.
The restoration of this landmark is attracting a lot of people who want to see history in the making as the pioneer-era tabernacle is transformed.
The project is expected to be finished sometime in 2015. That’s when the Provo City Center Temple will be formally dedicated. Deseret News
