Salt Lake City converts former Leonardo museum into city offices

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Salt Lake City has filed a building permit to convert the former Leonardo museum, a downtown landmark in Library Square, into offices for several city departments. Work could begin within months, according to the Sept. 23 filing.

The renovation ends the building's life as a cultural venue. The Leonardo, an art-and-science museum that opened in 2011 in the old main library, closed during the pandemic and never reopened.

Why it matters

The conversion returns a vacant downtown landmark to public use, part of a broader municipal office consolidation across Salt Lake County.

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Key Indicators

118,000 sq ft

Building size

The former main library and museum totals about 118,000 square feet.

Sept. 23, 2026

Building permit filed

City submitted a commercial building permit application to remodel the building for offices.

Multiple

City departments relocating

The renovation will house several departments plus youth services, per the city's plan.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

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People Involved

Erin Mendenhall

Mayor of Salt Lake City

In office; overseeing the Leonardo office conversion

Organizations Involved

Salt Lake City

Municipal Government

Building owner and renovation lead

City government that owns the former library building and is leading the renovation.

The Leonardo

Museum (defunct)

Closed; former tenant of the building

Defunct art, science and technology museum that occupied the old main library.

Salt Lake City Public Library

Library System

Original occupant of the building

Operated the main library in the building before relocating downtown.

Timeline

2011 September 2026

4 events Latest: Today

Tap a bar to jump to that date

September 2026
City moves ahead on renovation plan
Today Plan

City proceeds with plan to convert the building to office space and youth services.
Today
Building permit filed
Permit

Salt Lake City files a commercial building permit to remodel the Leonardo into city offices.
7 days ago
2020
Museum closes during pandemic
Closure

The Leonardo closes for COVID-19 and never reopens, leaving the building vacant.
2020
2011
The Leonardo museum opens
Opening

Art, science and technology museum opens in the former Salt Lake City Main Library.
2011

Scenarios

Permit approved, construction begins

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Building Salt Lake, which reported work could begin in the coming months

If the commercial building permit clears city review, Salt Lake City will award a construction contract and begin remodeling. Departments would move in once the work is finished, completing the building's shift from museum to municipal use.

Project delayed or scaled back over costs

Possible Resolves by Q3 2027

Discussed by: A standard risk for large municipal renovations; no specific analyst has weighed in

If renovation costs exceed the city's budget, officials could postpone the project or reduce its scope, such as moving fewer departments or dropping youth services from the plan. Similar cost pressures are driving Salt Lake County to buy rather than renovate office space.

Conversion complete, departments move in

Possible Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: Salt Lake City's stated plan to house multiple departments and youth services in the building

With construction finished, city staff relocate into the landmark. The move completes the building's reuse cycle from library to museum to municipal offices and signals the end of its cultural-venue era.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2003

New downtown main library opens (2003)

Salt Lake City's new downtown main library, designed by architect Moshe Safdie, opened and replaced the older building. The original library structure was left empty.

Then

The old building was later renovated and reopened as The Leonardo museum in 2011.

Now

The building's reuse cycle now turns from museum back to government use with the city's office conversion.

Why this matters now

This is the third major reuse of the same landmark, showing how civic buildings cycle between public functions.

2011-2020

The Leonardo museum's opening (2011)

Salt Lake City renovated its old main library into The Leonardo, an experiential art, science and technology museum. The 118,000-square-foot venue included exhibition areas, labs, and a theater.

Then

The museum drew visitors but struggled financially, closing during the pandemic.

Now

The building sat vacant for years, leading the city to plan its conversion to municipal offices.

Why this matters now

Explains why the landmark is empty and available for the city's office plan.

2025-2026

Salt Lake County Government Center review (2025-2026)

Salt Lake County reviewed its nearly 40-year-old Government Center, which needs more than $124 million in deferred maintenance. The county concluded buying existing office space would be more cost-effective than renovating or rebuilding the two-building campus.

Then

The county is exploring the purchase of an existing building, estimating a move within 12-18 months.

Now

The existing site could be redeveloped with private developers, generating property tax and lease revenue for the county.

Why this matters now

Shows the parallel logic behind the city's Leonardo conversion: aging buildings and a soft office market make consolidation cheaper than upkeep.