Oakland California Temple | ||||
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Number | 13 | |||
Dedication | November 17, 1964, by David O. McKay | |||
Site | 18.1 acres (7.3 ha) | |||
Floor area | 80,157 sq ft (7,446.8 m2) | |||
Height | 170 ft (52 m) | |||
Official website • News & images | ||||
Church chronology | ||||
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Additional information | ||||
Announced | January 23, 1961, by David O. McKay | |||
Groundbreaking | May 26, 1962, by David O. McKay | |||
Open house | 5-31 October 1964; 11 May–1 June 2019 (following renovations) | |||
Rededicated | June 16, 2019, by Dallin H. Oaks | |||
Current president | John C. Hodgman | |||
Designed by | Harold W. Burton | |||
Location | Oakland, California, United States | |||
Geographic coordinates | 37°48′28″N 122°11′57″W / 37.8078°N 122.1991°W | |||
Exterior finish | Sierra white granite over reinforced concrete | |||
Temple design | Modern, five-spire design | |||
Baptistries | 1 | |||
Ordinance rooms | 4 (Movie, stationary) | |||
Sealing rooms | 7 | |||
Clothing rental | Yes | |||
Visitors' center | Yes | |||
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The Oakland California Temple (formerly the Oakland Temple) is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Oakland, California. Notable for its five-spire design influenced by Asian architecture, the temple stands on a hill with panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay Area. The complex, sometimes referred to as Temple Hill, includes a visitors' center, a church employment center, a materials distribution center, an auditorium, an inter-stake center, a rooftop terrace, and gardens where photoshoots for quinceañeras and other celebrations take place.
The church purchased the site in 1943 and construction began in 1962. Following public tours in 1964, the temple was dedicated, and admittance became reserved for church members with a temple recommend. The temple stands on top of the Hayward Fault Zone; it underwent major renovations and seismic upgrades, closing from 1989 to 1990 following the Loma Prieta earthquake and again from 2018 to 2019.
The temple's architecture, designed by Harold W. Burton, incorporates Art Deco and mid-century elements. Interior decorations include dark cherry wood ornamentation, along with original artwork of Jesus Christ and the California landscape. Since 1978, annual music and dance performances have accompanied the Christmas light displays, reflecting on the holiday themes and the narrative of Jesus Christ's birth. Temple Hill used to host "temple pageants", but they have since been discontinued. The reception of the temple has been largely positive. Jen Woo of Architectural Digest said that the temple is an "architectural gem", while others have complained about the light pollution coming from the temple.