Modernize, Don’t Demolish: A Smarter Future for San Rafael Elementary

OPINION

Construction staff make space for new trees on San Rafael Elementary’s upper campus, 2024 (File Photo – Wesley Reutimann)

Flush with more than $850 million in unallocated Measure R Facilities Bond funding, the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) is weighing options for campus investments and consolidation.

By Wesley Reutimann

On Wednesday, February 25, the District’s new Superintendent Facilities Advisory Committee (SFAC) considered plans for the sole remaining public school site in west Pasadena, San Rafael Elementary School.

Facilities staff presented three options for the historic campus:

• Option A ($78 million) would modernize the century-old campus’s electrical, HVAC, bathrooms, and other core infrastructure, upgrade select outdoor facilities, and replace five portable bungalow classrooms with a permanent building.
• Option B ($70 million) would modernize the basic infrastructure but would not replace the portable classrooms.
• Option C ($116 million) would completely demolish and reconstruct the elementary campus.

All three options include seismic upgrades.

Option A would include modernization of key infrastructure (e.g., utilities, restrooms, HVAC, ADA access) plus the replacement of (5) portable classrooms on the south side of campus with new construction (Photo – PUSD)

Option B would cover campus modernization plus the replacement of (5) portable classrooms on the south side of campus with new construction (Photo – PUSD)

Cost estimates for the (3) options presented by PUSD Facilities staff on Feb. 26, 2026 (Photo – PUSD)

Adaptive Reuse

The aging campus, nearly closed more than once in the past decade due to seismic concerns, reflects the difficult decisions PUSD faces across more than two dozen sites in Pasadena, Altadena, and Sierra Madre. Years of deferred maintenance, declining enrollment, seismic requirements, and ADA compliance must all be addressed. Yet at historic campuses like San Rafael Elementary, demolition should not be the default. Adaptive reuse, the thoughtful rehabilitation and modernization of existing buildings, offers economic, environmental, and community advantages.

First, adaptive reuse is generally the most fiscally prudent path. While renovation costs can appear high upfront, demolition and new construction frequently exceed estimates due to site preparation, hazardous material abatement, and rising construction costs. Local labor shortages, particularly in the wake of the Eaton and Palisades fires, add further uncertainty. Once a campus is demolished, there is no partial rebuild if costs escalate. Taxpayers would absorb overruns, limiting PUSD’s ability to address needs elsewhere. Rehabilitation, by contrast, allows phased improvements and greater flexibility as costs become clear.

Second, historic campuses often contain durable materials and craftsmanship that would be prohibitively expensive—if not impossible—to replicate today. Thick masonry walls, mature trees, and thoughtful layouts reflect an era when schools were designed as lasting civic investments. Modern upgrades—energy-efficient HVAC and lighting, accessibility improvements, updated restrooms—can be integrated while preserving that value.

An aerial view of campus (Photo – David Rey)

Third, adaptive reuse is the more environmentally responsible choice. Every existing school building embodies decades of energy, materials, and labor. Demolition discards that investment and replaces it with carbon-intensive new construction. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency identifies construction and demolition debris as one of the largest waste streams in the country. Beyond landfill impacts, new construction generates substantial air and climate pollution through concrete production, steel manufacturing, and transportation. Retaining and upgrading existing structures significantly reduces those impacts. The greenest building is almost always the one that already exists.

Fourth, adaptive reuse directs more funding toward skilled local labor rather than mass-produced materials. Investing bond dollars in local contractors, craftspeople, and suppliers helps circulate economic benefits within the community.

Fifth, modernization requires less time. District staff estimate that Options A and B would take roughly one school year, while demolition and reconstruction would take two. A longer timeline would increase neighborhood disruption and require relocating students and staff to a swing space for twice as much time.

Finally, adaptive reuse strengthens community identity. Historic schools anchor neighborhoods and connect generations. In Pasadena, these campuses reflect architectural traditions and civic history that cannot be recreated once lost. Their scale and character contribute to neighborhood cohesion and pride. This continuity is especially meaningful as communities recover from events like the devastating Eaton Fire. West Pasadena residents have rallied multiple times over the past two decades to keep San Rafael Elementary open.

A sustainable path forward

As PUSD considers how to invest nearly a billion dollars in bond funding — the SFAC Committee was divided on their preferred option for San Rafael — the District should embrace adaptive reuse as a sustainable path forward. This does not mean preserving buildings unchanged; it means upgrading them to meet modern standards while retaining their essential character.

Seismic retrofits, improved heating and cooling, accessibility upgrades, solar power, and energy-efficient technology can all be incorporated into historic structures. These improvements would prepare PUSD campuses for the next century while honoring the original public investment. Local examples, from the renovation of Pasadena’s historic civic center to the transformation of the 1927 Flintridge/Biltmore Hotel into Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, demonstrate the viability of adaptive reuse.

PUSD schools have always been places of learning. Preserving and adapting historic campuses like San Rafael Elementary would ensure the District continues to model stewardship, resilience, and responsible public investment for generations to come. Adaptive reuse is the practical, sustainable, and forward-looking choice.