Ngaruawahia High School Yearbooks 2010-2012 Kapa Haka Tour of Western USA 1998 | Page 46

Page 44 - Ngaruawahia High School Kapa Haka USA Tour 1998

From the viewing floor of the Church Office
Building the tour group was able to see the
construction (above) of the Church of Jesus Christ’s
new assembly building across the road from Temple
Square.
The auditorium will seat about 21,000 people for
general conference sessions and is the fan-shaped
structure in the photo. The construction of the
auditorium, a smaller 900-seat theatre and
underground parking structures for 1,300 cars should
be complete by April 2000.
The building has the look of a multi-purpose
arena but it will be a house of worship.
Because of the building’s uniqueness there are
no other structures like it in the world for its designers
to use as a model.
The main auditorium will be large enough to
house a Boeing 747 jet aircraft and the main support
for the roof will be a 600-ton steel beam that was lifted
into place in September 1998.
The auditorium’s concrete shell is being
strengthened with 15,000 tons of reinforcing steel. In
the initial stages of construction 600 workers are
employed with a work force of 900 towards the latter
stages. Forty-five sub-contractors are also involved.
The Salt Lake Temple, dedicated April 6th 1893
after 40 years in construction, with the Salt Lake
Tabernacle behind.
The prominent ten-acre block of Temple Square
(right) is home of the many-spired Salt Lake Temple;
the Salt Lake Tabernacle, the egg-shaped auditorium
that houses the world-renowned Mormon Tabernacle
Choir; the architecturally elegant Assembly Hall, where
free weekly concerts are offered locals as well as
tourists; and two fascinating visitors centres, all set in
lushly landscaped grounds.