I was able to volunteer at the temple today. I am sorry that I don't have pictures of the interior! At this juncture, church policy prohibits photos of the interior. Even so, I can share a few of my impressions and some things I learned while I was there:
August 31, 2023
There were thirteen contractors working in the building. Ten of those are employees of MMC, a national Commercial and mechanical contractor based in Overland Park , KS.
Conner Timm is in our ward (Fontenelle in Omaha) - he is an electrician working for the Nelson company, and, according to Bro Dillon, there was another worker on the crew who is a member of the church. Each member of the crew is so friendly and respectful - just what you would expect in a temple. Each worker wears white painter pants and a white T-shirt, again, white clothing is just what you would expect in a temple.
The work is progressing on schedule, according to Bro Kosmicki and Bro Dillon (they are the building engineers). Repairs to the base of Moroni's tower are still underway. Whether the statue will have to be removed is unknown as of today - but it is clear that water damage to plywood sheathing has made it necessary to replace the sheathing. The flat roof will also be replaced.
Today, there was a smaller contingent of workers than on some other days. Some jobs were waiting for the delivery of HVAC equipment. One of the projects is to try to balance the climate zones in the temple, reducing hot spots and cold spots - an annoyance that has been pointed out on several occasions by patrons and temple workers. So, in additon to replcing HVAC equipment, new ducts are being installed with electronically controlled dampers to redirect airflow in an effort to attain a better indoor climate balance across the different rooms and floors in the temple.
Another main project is a redesign of the foyer and associated rooms. After the renovation, there will be a separate non-patron waiting area, with its own family restroom, larger dressing rooms for brother and sister workers, and a separate office for the on-duty VAR (volunteer assistant recorder).
Brother Dillon took me on a tour of the work area for the non-patron waiting room; I will do my best to put it into words, but like they say, a picture is worth a thousand of those. In this description, "south" is the direction indicated by looking from the building toward the parking lot. This new waiting area will occupy about two-thirds of the former non-patron waiting area, as you look north from the south wall of the existing room. The bathroom is being installed at the position formerly occupied by the old coat closet on the west side of the room, just south of the kitchen. There will be an east-west wall extending from the bathroom end of the new room to the existing foyer wall. The new wall will divide the new waiting room from worker dressing rooms. This new waiting room will be in the same style as other formal rooms in the temple. For example, it will have a raised, coved ceiling with a chandelier, and a tiled floor.
The VAR office will be in the same room formerly occupied by the baptistry office. The south wall of that office will now have a door opening into a hallway that will be created that new wall (described above) which will separate the non-patron waiting area from the worker dressing rooms. From that hallway the VAR can go the the right, toward the dressing rooms, or to the immediate left through another door which opens into the foyer behind the recommend desk, adjacent to the baptistry stained glass window. From here, he will be able to assist the desk attendant with recommend issues.
The dressing rooms will now have no showers. They have been removed and will be replaced by 33 additional lockers. Other dimensions and features of the dressing rooms will remain the same.
Last week, the front doors were cleaned. The glass was removed and the metalwork was cleaned and polished. It really looks nice. The plaque above the door was also removed and cleaned. Brother Dillon said that the letters on the inscription (The House of the Lord....)had been misaligned during a previous repair, and so they were realigned last week, too.
September 28, 2023
The italicized text which follows is from a Sept. 28 email message to temple workers, from President Wilkinson, 2nd counselor in the temple presidency.
The work is progressing at a rapid pace since all the HVAC equipment is now here in Omaha. The awaited rooftop unit will be set early next week.
Removal of the stone under angel Moroni has begun.
The non-patron waiting area is also moving along quickly. The framing is complete, the rough electrical and plumbing are complete. The drywall and tile work will begin in a week or so.
There are qualified craftsman working all disciplines and they are most respectful of the temple, and some have commented that they feel a difference working here.
Thank you for everyone’s continued prayers for the workers safety and for the timely completion.