The Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City has been recognized with a 1994 Award for Excellence in Concrete Construction from the Intermountain Chapter of the American Concrete Institute.
The award was presented to Church representatives during an awards banquet Feb. 24 at the University Park Hotel in Salt Lake City. A slide presentation of the unique features of the building accompanied the award presentation.The building, formerly known as the Hotel Utah, was built in 1911 and was noted for its elegance. The hotel closed in 1987 and was reconstructed into Church offices, meeting rooms, a chapel, restaurants, banquet rooms and a 500-seat large-screen movie theater where the LDS film "Legacy" is shown. The building also houses facilities for family history research and for a stake, two wards and a branch. (Please see June 26, July 3, 1993, Church News for articles on the building and its rededication.)
In speaking of the award, Earl M. Monson, director of temples and special projects in the Church's Physical Facilities Department, said the Joseph Smith Memorial Building was originally "designed and built well before the recent code requirements for earthquake resistance.
"By using concrete sheer walls and other things," he continued, "we've strengthened it to where it will be much more durable in the event of an earthquake."