Pasadena Central Library (Photo – cityofpasadena.net)
Pasadena Public Works Department is evaluating Five Alternatives of Repair of the Library.
By News Desk
Constructed in 1927, the Central Library serves as one of three pillars of Pasadena’s Civic Center. The City of Pasadena recognizes the importance of repairing the Central Library while simultaneously preserving its charm, restoring it to its original character, and bringing it into the 21st century.
Kris Markarian, Acting Director of Public Works, reported this endeavor combines historical preservation with necessary earthquake retrofitting, which will result in a unique space that meets the needs of both the present community and future generations.
Distinctive architectural features
The library boasts distinctive architectural features. Its Mediterranean Revival style is evident in the walled entrance courtyard with a central fountain, red clay tile roofs, and stucco exteriors adorned with cast stone trim. Expanded in the mid-1960s to include a children’s area and two reference wings, and restored sensitively in the late 1980s, the building retains much of its original 1927 infrastructure alongside various updates and repairs. In May 2021, engineering studies and physical testing revealed conditions that could pose a life safety risk during an earthquake. Currently, the building is closed for use following action taken by the City’s Building Official.
While the City’s intention has always been to repair the Library and return it to use as soon as possible, the Library Design Team examined various alternatives to doing so from a historic perspective as well as a cost perspective. These alternatives included 1) demolishing the building and recreating the historic library; 2) demolishing the building and building a new modern, central library; 3) retaining the south facade and building a new building inside of this facade; 4) demolishing the building and not replacing it; 5) “mothballing” the building so that it remains as-is without repair but also without being able to be used, with a protective fence to keep all people a safe distance from the building.
The Library is one of the three most significant contributing buildings to the Civic Center Historic District along with City Hall and the Civic Auditorium. The District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and California Register of Historical Resources.
Alternative Plans
Alternate 1, demolish the existing building and re-create it to match the size, character, and quality of the existing building both inside and out. This would represent an increase in cost of 10-12% over the cost of repairing the existing building.
Alternate 2, demolish the existing building and replace it with a new building of the same size and general configuration of the existing but using “modern” materials that are more economical. This would be 1–2% less expensive than repairing the existing building.
Alternate 3, retain the south facade, with a new modern building behind. Retrofit and stabilization of the south facade coupled with all the costs of the new building, would make this a higher cost alternative than repairing the existing building.
Alternate 4, demolish the building and do not replace it. This would be a substantial cost reduction, but also a substantial loss of a community asset. Ultimately, a permanent solution would be needed for housing the Library’s vast collection that is being temporarily housed off-site.
Alternate 5, put a protective fence around the library to keep people away from it in the event of a collapse. It would be the least expensive option but, like option 4, would result in the substantial loss of a community asset. This alternate would diminish the quality of life in the Civic Center and eventually pose a public safety risk by leaving it as a large, abandoned building in the heart of Pasadena.
To learn more about the Central Library Retrofit and Building Repairs Project, visit the Central Library Earthquake Retrofit and Building Repairs Project page.
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