Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Preservation Update: SLC University Ward

I was slightly disheartened to learn that the University Ward, just to the west of the University of Utah campus, was not sold to the U of U as was planned, as was instead sold to a developer who has converted the building into residential units. (You can see pictures of the chapel when I visited it here.)

To the developer's credit, they have contained all renovations to the building footprint, so the exterior looks the same and is preserved, including the mosaic. And on the inside, it looks like they're treating the chapel at least a little bit sensitively, and the units there might retain some features.

But I had looked forward to this meetinghouse, particularly the chapel, being preserved in its large-room format, with the rafters, organ, and gilded scriptures painted on the rafters. I'm curious to see what it will look like when completed.