Central Library Retrofit Advances to Ground Floor

Concrete work at Pasadena’s Central Library is scheduled to move out of the basement and up to the ground floor in the coming weeks, the next step in a seismic retrofit carrying a construction contract worth up to $186,186,155.

The library at 285 E. Walnut St. has been closed to the public since May 3, 2021, when a structural analysis found its unreinforced masonry walls were not fastened to the building’s foundation, to its reinforced concrete floor beams or to the timber roof they support. Roof work, concrete pours, footings and shotcrete operations are continuing and the project is on schedule, according to the City of Pasadena.

Voters agreed to pay for it. In November 2024 Pasadena voters approved Measure PL, a $195 million general obligation bond financing the construction phase. On March 2 the City Council authorized a $177,533,815 increase to PCL Construction Services’ contract, taking it from about $8.65 million in preconstruction and selective demolition work to a not-to-exceed total of $186,186,155 and locking in a guaranteed maximum price for full construction. The amended contract carries a 10% local economic impact commitment measured across all phases, which may be satisfied through wages paid to eligible local residents, spending with Pasadena-based suppliers and payments to local subcontractors.

With roof tiles removed, crews covered critical areas near and below the roof line that carry historical finishes before the last rainfall, and no water-related damage resulted, according to the city. Misters, fans, shade structures and water stations were stationed across the upper levels, where heat and sun exposure pose the greatest risk to crews, and will stay in place as roof work continues.

In the basement, pours are concentrated in three areas on the west side of the building. That sequence has allowed scheduling of concrete pours for the northeast high roof, a step in reinforcing the roof, and footing and shotcrete work is progressing in the lower levels.

The building is the oldest piece of Pasadena’s Civic Center. Designed by Myron Hunt and H.C. Chambers, it was dedicated on Feb. 12, 1927, runs roughly 120,000 square feet and is listed on the National Register. Its stated project goals include improving seismic performance “to allow the building to have greater resilience to earthquakes” while preserving the historic fabric.

Central Library will turn 100 on Feb. 12, 2027 — more than a year before the targeted summer 2028 completion. Its collection of nearly 300,000 items has been dispersed to branch libraries and off-site storage, with holds available for branch pickup. Weekly construction updates are posted at https://www.cityofpasadena.net/library/central-library-earthquake-retrofit/.