Comments about ‘For 35 years, Church Office Building has been symbolic Mormon headquarters, operational center for church growth’

I love this Church. I love the good that comes into my life as I live its teachings. It is wonderful for all who will live it! Just watched a video of Gordon B Hinckley tonight. A model of good and faith as is his successor, President Monson. Thank you for pointing all to Christ. Thank you for your examples of righteousness and selflessness.

Is there another business-like building that has such an open and inviting lobby? It really is a remarkable design by forward thinking people.

....ONE OF US!

This building was built using pre-stressed concrete from Buehner Block, a state of the art technique at the time which has allowed it to wear so well over the years.

The building is now 35 years old, and by all accounts has served well for those 35 years, but what does the church expect of it going forward? Will it continue to suffice for a church that continues to grow across the world, or does the church plan to adapt/expand beyond the Church Office Building?

This beautiful building has many wonderful memories for me. My mother was working there at the time of her death and when I was alot younger I used to walk from high school and go to her office at the Church Office Bldg and visit with her until it was time for her to go home so I could have a ride home. Then after I got married and had a couple of children we used to have lunch with her in the Church Office cafeteria. What wonderful memories this great building has for me..today would have been my mother's 69th b-day...

I remember as a new father delivering building materials for the construction, and amazed at the amount of concrete being used. It is truely a magnificent building, both inside as well as outside.

When my wife and I came to Utah back in 1975 to be married and sealed in the Manti Temple I had the pleasure of coming to SLC to get my patriachal blessing from Patriarch Eldred G. Smith at the Church Office Building. A very wonderful experience.

I've heard rumors that no other building can soar higher than the church office building, limiting SLC's skyline. Is this true?

It's not a business like building. It's a corporate HQ.

CP,

Happy Birthday to your mom! I'm sure she wishes she was here with you and your family, but what great memories you have to hold on to. It's nice how many memories can flood back into our minds as we see certain landmarks. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Mike

I entered the "Mission Home" across the street in September of 1973. During the one week stay there (prior to going to the LTM in Provo) we ate all of our meals in the Church Office Building cafeteria. I wasn't aware that the building wasn't dedicated until 1975. Thank you for this interesting and informative article.

It may be beautiful, It may be functional, but to many of us it screams Corporation, Big Business, and elite power tower.

I remember working the evening shifts either from 5-9pm or 9-1 pm as a custodian. I remember being on the buffing crew and working weekends to "strip" the wax and put on new wax.

Working there as a custodian was very fulfilling indeed.

One Monday evening, I was told to go up to the 26th floor (observation deck) and help clean up after a banquet. (This Monday was right after a General Conference) I went to the proscribed place and was told to wait until the guests had all departed. As I was waiting, President Kimball came out of the banquet room and went to the elevator lobby, where I was waiting, he looked and me, stretched forth his hand, taking mine, looking me in the eyes and complimented me, and the rest of the crew for keeping the building so beautiful.

What a thrill for a 17 year old kid...

Curious, it is not true. There are no regulations that state that.

The rumor that no building can be built higher than the Church Office building is just that -- a rumor. I believe the Utah building is taller than the Church Office building, but it sits further downhill, so it doesn't appear to be as tall.

It's expensive to build large, tall buildings. Heating and air conditioning costs go up exponentially as the building gets taller. That drives up the cost per square foot for any potential leaser. Also, there's no shortage of land, thanks to the RDA, so it's more cost-effective to only build to a certain height in Salt Lake City.

The church office building is not the tallest building in the city - that honor goes to Wells Fargo 3 or 4 blocks to the south. Buildings in the new City Creek Center will also be taller - and taller than Wells Fargo. The rumor you've heard is some story that was made up by sources unknown. It's never been the case that there has been a rule that the LDS office building had to be the tallest in the city. SLC, however, has had numerous proposed projects for buildings over 40 stories killed, however - all by bankers who wouldn't finance them. Due to the valley floor soil conditions and the onerous seismic codes (that are necessary), it becomes very expensive to build much over 35 stories in SLC.

LOL anon. Truly it IS a corporation to a certain extent. Hence the name: Corporation of the Presiding Bishopric. What amazes me is that here is a church who isn't in the red because it uses sound financial practices, and folks like you will cry and whine about it and say it "screams big business"? I wonder what it is that makes you so angry about these buildings? The fact that they belong to a church, or the idea that you have that churches should be small buildings in size? I am racking my brain trying to remember anywhere in the scriptures where it says anaything about sizes of buildings, or numbers of them?
Maybe you could enlighten us a bit more on how this building is going against anything God ever taught?
Thanks.

So many blessings, even rich blessings have come from that building.

When I came to work here in 1977, most of the General Authorities were house on the 19th floor and the First Presidency had moved to the 25th floor--just prior to the completion of the 47 East South Temple building restoration. Shortly thereafter, all of the General Authorities moved over to 47 East and those hallowed halls were once again used as General Authority offices. The building was still new and contained a lot of very 70's design and decoration. Wonderful times.