Where It's Located
The Santiago West Chile Temple is being built at Primo de Rivera 1551 in the Comuna de Maipú neighborhood of Santiago, Chile. The temple property occupies a corner lot in the western portion of Santiago.
Santiago is Chile's capital and largest city, with a metropolitan population of nearly 7 million people. Maipú is one of the city's major municipalities, making the temple particularly accessible to members living in western Santiago.
Getting There
International travelers will generally arrive at Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL), Santiago's primary international airport.
The temple's location in western Santiago makes it accessible from throughout the metropolitan area. Because it is still under construction, however, there is currently no temple operating schedule or public interior access.
A Bit of History
The Santiago West Chile Temple was announced on October 3, 2021, by President Russell M. Nelson during the October 2021 General Conference.
When completed, it will become:
- Chile's fourth temple
- The second temple in Santiago
- The seventh city worldwide to have more than one temple, according to the temple's historical information.
The announcement came in the 38th anniversary year of the original Santiago Chile Temple, which was dedicated in 1983.
The Church in Chile
Chile has one of the largest Latter-day Saint populations in South America.
At the time the Santiago West Temple was announced, Chile had more than 600,000 Latter-day Saints in over 500 congregations.
The country's existing temples include:
- Santiago Chile Temple — dedicated in 1983
- Concepción Chile Temple — dedicated in 2018
- Antofagasta Chile Temple — under construction
The Santiago West Temple will become the fourth.
Temple Site
The Church announced the temple's exact location on December 19, 2022.
Plans call for a single-story temple of approximately 12,500 square feet (1,161 square meters).
The relatively small size reflects the modern trend toward smaller temples that can serve established Latter-day Saint communities without requiring the large facilities of major temple complexes.
Groundbreaking and Construction
Groundbreaking and site dedication took place on August 17, 2024.
Elder Alan R. Walker, First Counselor in the South America South Area presidency, presided over the ceremony.
Approximately 200 Church members, friends, and invited civic, community, and religious leaders attended.
During the ceremony, Elder Walker described the future temple as a beacon of light and a place of peace and refuge that would invite people to come unto Christ.
Current Construction Status
The temple is now under construction.
The latest reported status is:
Exterior cladding is underway, and the arrival center is nearing completion.
This means the project has progressed well beyond the foundation and structural stages.
However, the temple is not yet open to the public.
The open house and dedication dates have not yet been announced.
Important Dates
- Announcement: October 3, 2021
- Site announced: December 19, 2022
- Official exterior rendering: June 24, 2024
- Groundbreaking: August 17, 2024
- Current status: Exterior cladding underway; arrival center nearing completion
- Open house: Not announced
- Dedication: Not announced
Design and Architecture
The Santiago West Chile Temple will contain approximately 12,500 square feet of floor space.
The building is designed as a single-story temple with a single attached central tower.
Its relatively compact design makes it substantially smaller than the original Santiago Chile Temple.
The temple's elevation will be approximately 1,582 feet (482 meters) above sea level.
Inside the Temple
The planned temple will contain:
- One instruction room
- One sealing room
- One baptistry
The compact design allows the temple to provide the essential ordinances while maintaining a smaller footprint.
Santiago's Two Temples
One of the most interesting facts about the Santiago West Temple is that it will be built in a city that already has an operating temple.
The original Santiago Chile Temple was dedicated in 1983 and was the first temple in Chile.
The Santiago West Temple will therefore provide a second temple within the same metropolitan area.
This is significant because Santiago will become only the seventh city in the world with more than one temple, according to the temple's historical information.
A Second Temple for Santiago
The two temples will serve different portions of the enormous Santiago metropolitan area.
The original Santiago Temple is located in Providencia, in the eastern part of the city.
The new temple is being built in Maipú, toward the west.
This geographic distribution will make temple access more convenient for many members who live on the western side of Santiago.
A Rare Distinction Worldwide
The Santiago West Temple will also make the Santiago metropolitan area only the fifth metropolitan area outside the United States with more than one temple, according to the temple's information page.
The other metropolitan areas identified are:
- Lima, Peru
- Greater Manila, Philippines
- Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Greater São Paulo, Brazil
Santiago will join this relatively small group once the new temple is completed.
Exploring Santiago
A visit to the Santiago West Temple can eventually be combined with exploring one of South America's largest and most interesting cities.
Santiago offers:
- Cerro San Cristóbal
- Plaza de Armas
- La Moneda Palace
- Mercado Central
- Barrio Bellavista
- Sky Costanera
- Museums and historic neighborhoods
- Views of the Andes Mountains
The city is also an excellent starting point for exploring central Chile.
Maipú
The temple's location in Maipú gives visitors the opportunity to experience a part of Santiago away from the city's traditional tourist center.
Maipú is a large, heavily populated municipality with its own cultural and historical identity.
One of its most recognizable landmarks is the Templo Votivo de Maipú, a major Catholic church and national historical site.
This makes the area particularly interesting for travelers interested in the religious history and architecture of Chile.
Chilean Wine Country
Santiago is also surrounded by some of Chile's most famous wine-producing regions.
The Maipo Valley, particularly close to Santiago, is internationally recognized for its Cabernet Sauvignon.
Travelers visiting the temple after its completion could combine a temple trip with visits to vineyards and wineries throughout central Chile.
The Andes
The Andes Mountains provide another major attraction.
Santiago sits relatively close to the mountains, and destinations such as Valle Nevado and Farellones provide opportunities for hiking, skiing, and mountain sightseeing depending on the season.
The contrast between Santiago's urban environment and the enormous Andes Mountains is one of the city's defining characteristics.
Why the Santiago West Temple Matters
The Santiago West Temple is significant for several reasons.
First, it will become Chile's fourth temple.
Second, it will provide a second temple for the Santiago metropolitan area.
Third, its location in Maipú will bring temple access closer to members living in western Santiago.
And finally, its construction reflects the continued strength and growth of the Church in Chile, which had more than 600,000 Latter-day Saints at the time the temple was announced.
A Temple Built for Accessibility
The relatively small size of the Santiago West Temple is part of what makes the project interesting.
At approximately 12,500 square feet, it is designed to provide the essential temple ordinances without requiring an enormous building.
With one instruction room, one sealing room, and one baptistry, the temple will be particularly suited to serving a local population on a regular basis.
Planning a Future Temple Trip
The Santiago West Chile Temple is not yet open.
Because construction is still underway, the public cannot currently tour the temple interior.
The Church has not yet announced the dates for the public open house or dedication.
Once construction is completed, the public open house will provide an opportunity for visitors to see the finished temple before its dedication.
After dedication, normal interior access will be reserved for Latter-day Saints who meet the requirements for temple worship.
Final Thoughts
The Santiago West Chile Temple is one of the more interesting temple projects currently underway in South America.
Announced on October 3, 2021, it will become Chile's fourth temple and the second temple serving the Santiago metropolitan area.
The temple will be built at Primo de Rivera 1551 in Maipú, on the western side of Santiago. The plans call for a 12,500-square-foot, single-story temple with a central tower, containing one instruction room, one sealing room, and one baptistry.
Groundbreaking took place on August 17, 2024, and construction is now well underway, with exterior cladding underway and the arrival center nearing completion.
Its most remarkable distinction may be its relationship to the original Santiago Chile Temple. Once completed, Santiago will become only the seventh city in the world with more than one temple, while the Santiago metropolitan area will become only the fifth metropolitan area outside the United States with multiple temples.
For Latter-day Saint travelers from the United States, a future trip to the Santiago West Chile Temple could combine temple worship, Santiago's rich history and culture, the Andes Mountains, Chilean wine country, and the distinctive neighborhoods of one of South America's great cities.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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