Capitol, Tabernacle restorers recognized

The restorers of the State Capitol and the Salt Lake LDS Tabernacle will be honored with awards this week by the Utah Heritage Foundation. Kirk Huffaker, the foundation's executive director, believes these two buildings are among the state's architectural icons. And to have them both restored and completed within a year, he says, "It is one of the most amazing feats that the citizens of Utah, that the lovers of architecture and history, could have wished for."

Says Huffaker, "The caretakers of those buildings are certainly looked to to be the caretakers of our history. When it comes to those two great buildings, they've really tried to outdo themselves."

The restorers faced the usual seismic challenges when working on large buildings along the Wasatch Front — and also the challenges of small historic details. Utah architects are lucky to have gifted restoration professions to call upon, Huffaker says. "You can sit in the Tabernacle and look around and feel like it hasn't changed since the day it was constructed." He says the beauty of historic preservation of buildings of this magnitude is that such restorations bring all the outstanding craftsmen together on one project.

The Utah Heritage Foundation recognizes projects, organizations and individuals throughout the state, honoring those who exemplify excellence in historic preservation.

In addition to the Capitol and the Tabernacle, awards will be given for Adaptive Use to Artspace City Center in Salt Lake City and to the Paladin Development Partners for the Silver Star in Park City. In the category of Stabilization, Restoration or Renovation, awards will be given to Jim and Jennifer Levy for their home in Salt Lake City's Avenues; to the Friends of Gilgal Garden; to Utah State Parks for Old Iron Town in Cedar City; to the Porter Farmstead in Centerville and to the La Porte Group for the Stratford Hotel in Salt Lake City. Russell J. Bezette, of La Verkin in Washington County, will receive the Individual Award, and Salt Lake City architect Robert Bliss will receive the Lucybeth Rampton Award.

Lead architect David Hart will accept the award for the Capitol restoration, and Presiding Bishop H. David Burton will accept the award for the Tabernacle restoration on behalf of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The awards will be presented at noon on Friday at the Heritage Awards Luncheon in conjunction with the annual Preservation Conference at the Officer's Club at historic Fort Douglas. (Cost is $40, call 533-0858 for reservations.)