185. Developments in the Emergence of the Mother Temple of South America

185

Developments in the Emergence of the Mother Temple of South America

16 February 2012

To all National Spiritual Assemblies

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

185.1 With joy we announce several major developments in connection with the emergence of the Mother Temple of South America. Two weeks ago the contract for the construction of the foundation of the building and all concrete work was awarded to a reputable firm in Chile. Following the completion of the excavation and grading for the foundation and plaza, work has now begun on the basement, service tunnel, main floor and mezzanine structure, incorporating important features for seismic resistance based on extensive computational modelling and analysis. And today, after several months of evaluation and assessment of alternative bids, the contract for the fabrication and erection of the Temple’s complex steel superstructure was signed with a well-known German company. The skeletal framework will stand thirty metres high and support five hundred tonnes of exterior and interior cladding of translucent cast glass and carved stone. The nine linked sections of the metal structure will be bound together through an intricate anchorage system that will ensure the connections will not detract from the sublime aesthetic effect of the completed design.

185.2 May the followers of the Blessed Beauty throughout the world draw inspiration from these recent developments as they exert themselves—sacrificially, generously, unitedly—to contribute to the advancement of the Cause by word and deed.

The Universal House of Justice