World Trade Center at City Creek

Last updated
World Trade Center at City Creek
World Trade Center at City Creek - Salt Lake City, Utah - 14 July 2024.jpg
World Trade Center at City Creek
Former namesEagle Gate Plaza and Tower
General information
Address60 East South Temple
Town or city Salt Lake City, Utah
CountryUnited States
Coordinates 40°46′8.91″N111°53′20.55″W / 40.7691417°N 111.8890417°W / 40.7691417; -111.8890417
Year(s) built1984–1986
Topped-outJuly 17, 1985
InauguratedOctober 15, 1986
Owner The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Height310 feet (94 m)
Technical details
Floor count22
Lifts/elevators11
Design and construction
Architecture firmCooper, Carlson, Duy and Ritchie
Developer Zions Securities Corporation (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Main contractorChristiansen Brothers, Inc.
Website
citycreekslc.com/building-wtc
References
[1] [2]

World Trade Center at City Creek (formerly Eagle Gate Plaza and Tower) is a 22-story office tower at City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Opened in 1986, the building was developed by Zions Securities Corporation, a for-profit entity owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Contents

The structure's original name was a homage to the nearby Eagle Gate, a historic feature of downtown Salt Lake City. In 2012, the tower was incorporated into the newly built City Creek Center and its name was changed to World Trade Center at City Creek. [3]

Design

The tower has 20 stories, with an additional 2-story, centered penthouse at its top; the tower's total height is 310 feet (94 m). The east wing starts with two stories and steps up to four stories where it connects with the tower. The façade is dark-rose-colored, granite-textured precast stone with colored glass. The granite was quarried in neighboring Colorado. On the very corner of the property is the tree-shaded plaza, meant to provide a link to the Gardens at Temple Square across the street. [1] [2] The building's base is colonnaded to reflect the design of the nearby Beehive House and Church Administration Building. [4] An original bronze door frame from the Federal Reserve branch building that used to be located on this site was incorporated into the entrance of the tower. [5]

The building contains about 16,000 square feet (1,500 m2) per floor, for a total of 385,000 square feet (35,800 m2), of which 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2) was devoted to retail space at its opening in 1986. [2] [6]

Below the tower is a parking level, under which is a 1,000,000-US-gallon (830,000 imp gal; 3,800,000 L) thermal water tank. During the night, air conditioning units cool the water, which is then used to cool the building in the day. [7] Additional parking was made available with the construction of Eagle Gate Terrace garage along Social Hall Avenue on the block to the east of the tower. [2]

Location

The tower sits at the intersection of State Street and South Temple street, a prominent location in the city. The site is the former location of two historic structures: the Gardo House and just to its west, the LDS Church Historian's Home and Office. The Gardo House was demolished in 1921, and replaced with the Federal Reserve's Salt Lake City branch. [8] The Historian's Office was demolished in 1925 and replaced with the Medical Arts Building (an office building for medical and dental providers). [9] [10] Both the bank structure and Medical Arts Building were acquired by Zions Securities Corporation [11] [12] and demolished in 1984 for construction of the tower.

History

Construction

In July 1984, the LDS Church announced plans to construct an office and retail complex on property it owned at the corner of State Street and South Temple. The tower would be 22-stories high with an east wing that stepped up four stories between State Street and the tower. It would be connected to The ZCMI Center and include parking. The church did not give a cost, but local media estimated the structure would likely cost $30-40 million. Cooper, Carlson, Duy and Ritchie was the architectural firm and Christiansen Brothers, Inc. was hired as the general contractor. [4]

Before construction could begin, the two existing buildings on the site had to be razed. The Medical Arts Building was demolished via implosion in August 1984, whereas the old Federal Reserve bank was torn down with heavy equipment. [13] During demolition of the bank, it took three weeks of battering with a wrecking ball to break up the vault into small enough pieces to be hauled away. The demolition company had not expected the vault to be so difficult to remove and doing so consumed the profit the company had expected for the job. [14]

A topping out ceremony was held on July 17, 1985, when the last piece of steel put in place. The ceremony was watched by participants from the 26th floor of the neighboring Beneficial Life Tower. [15] [16]

World Trade Center lobby, 2024 World Trade Center at City Creek, lobby - Salt Lake City, Utah - 13 July 2024.jpg
World Trade Center lobby, 2024

Opening

The first tenant to sign a lease for space in the building was Davis Graham & Stubbs, a law firm. [17] Tenants were expected to begin moving in during late June 1986. [7]

Eagle Gate Plaza and Tower officially opened to the public on October 15, 1986, with a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony. The ribbon was cut by Ezra Taft Benson, president of the LDS Church. [18] [2] [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temple Square</span> United States historic place

Temple Square is a 10-acre (4.0 ha) complex, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the center of Salt Lake City, Utah. The usage of the name has gradually changed to include several other church facilities that are immediately adjacent to Temple Square. Contained within Temple Square are the Salt Lake Temple, Salt Lake Tabernacle, Salt Lake Assembly Hall, the Seagull Monument, and two visitors' centers. The square was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1964, recognizing the Mormon achievement in the settlement of Utah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buildings and sites of Salt Lake City</span>

Salt Lake City, Utah has many historic and notable sites within its immediate borders. Although the entire Salt Lake City metropolitan area is often referred to as "Salt Lake City", this article is concerned only with the buildings and sites within the official city limits of Salt Lake City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph B. Wirthlin</span> Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Joseph Bitner Wirthlin was an American businessman, religious leader and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was sustained to the Twelve on October 4, 1986, and ordained an apostle on October 9, 1986, by Thomas S. Monson. He became an apostle following the death of church president Spencer W. Kimball. As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Wirthlin was accepted by the church membership as a prophet, seer, and revelator.

<i>The Salt Lake Tribune</i> Daily newspaper in Salt Lake City, Utah

The Salt Lake Tribune is a newspaper published in the city of Salt Lake City, Utah. The Tribune is owned by The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc., a non-profit corporation. The newspaper's motto is "Utah's Independent Voice Since 1871."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James E. Faust</span> American Mormon religious leader

James Esdras Faust was an American religious leader, lawyer, and politician. Faust was Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995 until his death, an LDS Church apostle for 29 years, and a general authority of the church for 35 years.

<i>Deseret News</i> Newspaper published by the LDS Church

The Deseret News is a multi-platform newspaper based in Salt Lake City, published by Deseret News Publishing Company, a subsidiary of Deseret Management Corporation, which is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Founded in 1850, it was the first newspaper to be published in Utah. The publication's name is from the geographic area of Deseret identified by Utah's pioneer settlers, and much of the publication's reporting is rooted in that region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deseret Book Company</span> American publishing company

Deseret Book is an American publishing company headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, that also operates a chain of bookstores throughout the western United States. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deseret Management Corporation (DMC), the holding company for business firms owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Deseret Book is a for-profit corporation registered in Utah. Deseret Book publishes under four imprints with media ranging from works explaining LDS theology and doctrine, LDS-related fiction, electronic resources, and sound recordings such as The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ZCMI Center Mall</span> Former shopping mall in Salt Lake City, Utah

The ZCMI Center Mall was a shopping mall in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, that operated from 1975 to 2007, before being demolished to make way for City Creek Center. The mall was developed and owned by Zions Securities Corporation, a for-profit entity owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The mall was located kitty-corner from the church's Temple Square.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City Creek Center</span> Shopping mall in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

City Creek Center (CCC), commonly shortened to City Creek, is a mixed-use development containing an upscale open-air shopping mall, grocery store, and office and residential buildings near Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Opened on March 22, 2012, the development encompasses over 23 acres (9.3 ha) across portions of three city blocks. The center's mall includes a foliage-lined walkway with a simulated stream, meant to recreate City Creek, an important water source for the early settlers of Salt Lake City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gardo House</span> Former Gilded Age mansion in Salt Lake City, Utah

The Gardo House was a Gilded Age mansion in Salt Lake City, Utah. Built from 1873 to 1883, it became the official residence of the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the tenures of John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff. It was later occupied by several different families from Salt Lake City's high society, before being demolished in 1921 to make way for the Federal Reserve's Salt Lake City branch building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ensign Peak</span> Mountain peak above Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Ensign Peak is a dome-shaped peak in the hills just north of downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. The peak and surrounding area are part of Ensign Peak Nature Park, which is owned by the city. The hill's summit is accessed via a popular hiking trail, and provides an elevated view of Salt Lake Valley and Great Salt Lake.

Crossroads Plaza was a shopping mall in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, United States that operated from 1980 to 2007, before being demolished to make way for City Creek Center mall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triad Center</span> Complex of office buildings in Salt Lake City, Utah, US

The Triad Center is a complex of office buildings in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Originally planned as a large development, containing several office and residential buildings, the project was canceled after only two phases were completed. From 2017 to the present it houses BYU–Pathway Worldwide, Ensign College, the BYU Salt Lake Center, offices of the Deseret News and the studios of KSL-TV and KSL Radio. The landlord and prominent tenants are affiliated in one way or another with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Salt Lake City Branch is one of four branches of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. The branch opened in 1918 and is located in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. As of 2024, the branch provides outreach, cash operations, police services, supervision, and credit for financial institutions in Utah, southern Idaho, eastern Nevada, eastern Oregon, and western Wyoming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Council House (Salt Lake City)</span> Public/Government in Utah, United States

The Council House, often called the State House, was the first public building in Utah; being constructed in 1849–50. The building stood in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, on the corner of Main Street and South Temple Street. On June 21, 1883 the building was destroyed when a neighboring wagon depot caught fire and several barrels of gunpowder exploded, spreading the fire to the Council House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Provo City Center Temple</span> Latter-day Saint temple in Provo, Utah, United States

The Provo City Center Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the same site as the former Provo Tabernacle in Provo, Utah. Completed in 2016, the temple utilizes much of the external shell of the tabernacle, all that remained of the original building after a fire in December 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ZCMI Cast Iron Front</span> Historic building façade in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.

The ZCMI Cast Iron Front is a historic building façade, currently attached to City Creek Center facing Main Street in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The façade, built of cast iron and stamped sheet metal between 1876 and 1901, is a well-preserved example of a metal façade, and a reminder of the city's 19th-century commercial past. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

Kirton McConkie is an American law firm headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the largest law firm in Utah, and it has long served as the external legal counsel for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was ranked the 300th largest law firm in the United States in 2022 by the National Law Journal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Community Memorial Chapel</span> Non-denominational meetinghouse on Capitol Hill in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

White Community Memorial Chapel is a historic, non-denominational meetinghouse on Capitol Hill in Salt Lake City, Utah. The structure was built from 1979 to 1980 with salvaged elements from the recently demolished Salt Lake 18th Ward meetinghouse, which had been constructed in the early 1880s. The reconstruction was largely funded by the Mahonri Kenneth White and Ada Marie Sparks White Foundation, and the completed meetinghouse was donated to the State of Utah, which administers it as part of the Utah State Capitol complex.

References

  1. 1 2 Knudson, Max B. (November 1, 1984). "Exclusive leasing agent named for Eagle Complex". Deseret News . Salt Lake City. p. B13. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Weist, Larry (October 15, 1986). "Shimmering new tower opens its doors to S.L. after ceremony". Deseret News . Salt Lake City. pp. A1, A2. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  3. "Eagle Gate Tower renamed World Trade Center at City Creek". Deseret News . Salt Lake City. May 29, 2012. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Eagle Gate Plaza, Tower Plans Unveiled". The Salt Lake Tribune . Salt Lake City. July 7, 1984. p. B7. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  5. Federal Reserve Bank: Salt Lake branch of the Federal Reserve. Salt Lake City. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  6. Rolando, Joe (October 14, 1986). "Dedication Scheduled For Eagle Gate Plaza". The Salt Lake Tribune . Salt Lake City. p. C1. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Eagle Gate Plaza and Office Expecting First Tenants Soon". The Salt Lake Tribune . Salt Lake City. June 19, 1986. p. B9. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  8. "Wrecking Gardo House". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. November 24, 1921. p. 2. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  9. "Medical Arts Building Soon To Be Erected". Salt Lake Telegram. Salt Lake City. October 4, 1925. p. 2. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  10. "Historic Building on South Temple to Be Replaced by Skyscraper". Salt Lake Telegram. Salt Lake City. October 30, 1925. pp. 2, 10. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  11. "Old Federal Reserve Site: New Tenants Occupy S. Temple Bank Soon". Deseret News and Telegram. Salt Lake City. June 2, 1959. p. 12B. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  12. "Medical Building Sold". Deseret News . Salt Lake City. October 5, 1971. p. 12B. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  13. Funk, Marianne (August 20, 1984). "92½ lbs. of explosives, 4½ seconds, and she's down". Deseret News . Salt Lake City. p. B1. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  14. Woody, Robert H. (November 6, 1984). "Demolition Company Didn't Bank On Problem of the Concrete Vault". The Salt Lake Tribune . Salt Lake City. p. C1. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  15. "Last steel beam is nudged into place at the Eagle Gate Plaza and Tower". Deseret News . Salt Lake City. July 17, 1982. p. B11. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  16. "Topping-Off Gala Hails Eagle Gate Plaza Project". The Salt Lake Tribune . Salt Lake City. July 18, 1985. p. B7. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  17. "Denver law firm first tenant to sign for Eagle Gate Tower". Deseret News . Salt Lake City. May 6, 1986. p. 6B. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  18. "Pres. Benson snips the ribbon at Eagle Gate's official opening". Deseret News . Salt Lake City. October 16, 1986. p. B1. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  19. "Zions Securities Dedicates 22-Story Office Tower". The Salt Lake Tribune . Salt Lake City. October 16, 1986. p. B11. Retrieved July 14, 2024.