Kensington, MD (WUSA9) — It's an iconic structure you can see from the Beltway in Montgomery County, Md. It's the Mormon Temple.
Built in 1974, the sacred Mormon Temple has been sparking the public's curiosity for more than 40 years. But as with any building, sacred or not, it needs to be updated.
On Tuesday, leaders at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints invited reporters and photographers to a demo day at the temple.
The renovation will tackle plumbing, electrical and mechanical upgrades and make sure the temple is up to code.
PHOTOS: Inside the Mormon Temple
This is the first major renovation in almost half a century.
"The good news is, for the local community who has grown to love this building, when the project is done, the temple will still be your temple that you recognize and love," said Roger Hansen, the project's architect.
The temple is reserved for only the most sacred covenants like marriage and serves over 100,000 Mormons in D.C. and surrounding states.
The general public will be invited in for an open house once fixes are completed in two years. The public was only let in once before, in the 70s when the sacred building was first built.
It's a building that architect say reflects the past, but will now embrace the future.
The open house will be in 2020 and last between 30 and 45 days. The temple will then be rededicated.
