Holy Trinity Cathedral to undergo $16-$18 million seismic retrofit after 2020 quake

A magnitude-5.7 earthquake in March 2020 caused extensive interior cracking at Holy Trinity Cathedral, a Greek Orthodox landmark that has stood for over a century at 300 South and 300 West in Salt Lake City. Although the exterior survived, parish council president George Karahalios announced a comprehensive seismic upgrade that will involve stripping the building to its brick core, adding six-inch shotcrete layers to the walls, and installing a movable diaphragm beneath the dome.

The interior iconostasis, some pieces dating to 1906, will be replaced and the original icons moved to a basement museum, while stained-glass windows will be protected during construction. The project’s cost estimate has been revised to $16-$18 million, with the cathedral required to cover only 10% through fundraising; over $1 million has already been raised from donors including the Huntsman Foundation, the LDS Church, and local Greek families.

The annual Greek Festival, a major community event, will also contribute proceeds toward the renovation. Despite funding challenges, the congregation continues to grow, with at least 85 new converts reported in the past year.