I Can't See The Windows

I was looking for new windows during today's visit, but it was impossible to miss the destruction of the sidewalk along Center Street.

This poor sidewalk has suffered many injustices during the past few years, with trucks and machines driving all over it.  I doubt anyone minds that it is being replaced.

The white posts on the left mark the north end of the temple grounds.

The remains of the sidewalk were gone by the end of the day.  My camera is facing west along Center.

A workman told me that Los Hermanos has a photograph of the fountain which used to be at the intersection of Center Street and University.  Turn yourself completely around from the previous picture and you will find yourself facing east.  The courthouse would be on the right, the tabernacle is behind us on the right.  The current location of Los Hermanos would be about three or four stores down on the left, near where I was conveniently parked this afternoon.

The reason I was told about the fountain is that the friendly man, who is quite familiar with the architectural drawings, believes our fountain on the temple grounds will be very similar to the old Victorian fountain which used to be nearby.  The temple fountain is in this picture somewhere.

This fountain came from the artist's rendering, and the similarities to the original fountain are clear.

Until recently, there has been a functioning fountain at the site.  I took this photo in September.  Water coming from the lovely PVC pipe has been pumped from throughout the site and then filtered through this makeshift retention basin before flowing into Provo's storm system.  However, in recent weeks, the pumping has stopped.

The dumpster which acted as the basin is gone.

The water table is now back at its original level, but it has not penetrated the vast waterproofing system throughout the site.  The temple and its accompanying annex and underground garages are indeed like a ship sailing high and dry above ancient Lake Bonneville.  If you have forgotten this process, three blog posts might be helpful:  July 12th, 2013, October 17th, 2013 and October 26th, 2013.

The workmen are almost finished with the waterproofing, doing their best to stay ahead of the geofoam which is taking over the site.

The areas immediately around the temple are being tidied up to make room for the geofoam.  This has made it possible for me to see the progress of the sandstone watercourse.  The black waterproofing line across the lower portion of this picture marks ground level.

The roof of the pavilion received a dashing new color this afternoon.

The red is part of the water and ice barrier system.

The rest of the roof has been protected from the snow we all believe is coming, but boy, not today.  It was a balmy 60 degrees,  Even I didn't have a coat on.

However, gnomes in the south lot were bundled up after a recent pour.  Ultimately they will turn into fence posts.

The goal is to place as much geofoam as possible before the weather interferes.

I don't believe the ground level at the south end of the temple grounds will be this high.  The geofoam is standing on end but eventually these blocks will rest on their sides.

I am not sure how the geofoam is going to blend into the post office lot.

I was hopeful that going to the site a little later in the day would make it possible for me to see the stained glass windows.  Most of the new windows are in place on the second level.  Can you see them?  I couldn't, either.

This photo of the tabernacle interior, facing west, shows where the windows are going in right now.  When the temple is completed, this upper level will have an instruction room, the celestial room, and five sealing rooms.  The architects added windows to a sealing room where the organ pipes were in the west gable wall.

Ground floor windows are visible in this picture, facing east, but none of these windows have been placed that I could see.

These two windows are in the north gable wall and will be part of a large sealing room.

Three new windows are along the east side of the north gable.

One new window is in place along the west side of the gable.  Workmen were installing flashing along a second window, on the left.

With the scaffolding in the way, I could barely see the windows from the street, but the upper level is complete on this south side.

Three beautiful new windows are on the east side of the south face of the temple.

These windows are on the west, and I knew as I was taking the photos that I couldn't see them very well.

My camera zoomed in from Second South and I was able to capture this closeup of one of the new windows.

This picture of one of the original art glass windows was in a brochure given out when visitors toured the tabernacle.  Glass Images in Orem gave me a precious original of this pamphlet.  I believe this is the latest style of window which is being installed.  Notice the beehive at the top of the window, which is very symbolic in LDS culture.  Glass Images restored the tabernacle windows in the mid-1990s. At that time they made rubbings of the art glass, a source which was called upon when the decision to build a temple was made.

I checked on the tower windows, mostly to make sure they were still in place.  This photo is of the northwest tower, with a post from the north planter in view.

I was encouraged to see a new window in the southeast tower.

Men were installing a lower window in the northeast tower.  While the windows have two sashes, they will not open as the original windows did.  The tabernacle was not built with air-conditioning, but the temple will be very comfortable all year.

Flashing has been placed in these northwest tower windows.

I had assumed that the flashing was aluminum, but that's not the case.  It's stainless steel.  Flashing is part of the system which keeps the integrity of the building envelope intact.

Right now, however, there is a little gap in a window opening in the west gable wall where I mentioned that there will be another large sealing room.

It's a vent for something going on inside.  I think we can all agree it's not permanent.

Slate now surrounds the southwest corner of the steeple base.  Two hardhats belong to workmen on the other side of the south gable.

Making hay while the sun shines, the men are eager to complete the slate before the weather changes.

Every time I visit the site, I see progress on this planter.  A Victorian urn will be in the center.

Dust from the recent mortar application on the mechanical wall was being washed away this afternoon.

Meanwhile, all was peaceful and calm at the temple on the hill.

Pansies across the street on the courthouse grounds were enjoying a little sun before being buried in snow, maybe this weekend.