Central Library Sheds Its Historic Roof Tiles for Earthquake Retrofit

The red ceramic tiles that have crowned Pasadena’s Central Library for nearly a century are coming down.

Crews are erecting scaffolding around the 1927 building at 285 East Walnut Street. and removing the Spanish-style tiles from the roof as part of the earthquake retrofit now in its second phase, according to a city project update. Each tile will be inventoried and moved to off-site storage during construction. When the retrofit is finished, they go back.

The removal serves a second purpose. Taking the tiles off gives workers access to fix roof leaks throughout the building and allows crews to replace broken tiles, according to the update from Tim McDonald, Director of Libraries and Information Services.

The Central Library, designed by architects Myron Hunt and H.C. Chambers in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, opened on February 12, 1927 — the first building in Pasadena’s Civic Center. It will turn 100 in February 2027 while the retrofit is still underway. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Scaffolding installation has required careful maneuvering around trees and other obstacles near the building, according to McDonald’s update. The work is part of a broader construction effort that includes demolition of concrete in the lower basement levels, soil excavation for new foundation elements, and the covering and securing of windows, cast stone, and other architectural features to prevent damage.

The Central Library closed to the public on May 3, 2021, after a seismic inspection determined that the unreinforced masonry structure was vulnerable to collapse in an earthquake. Before it closed, the library served more than 1,000 visitors daily and hosted nearly 900 community meetings and events each year, according to city records.

Pasadena voters approved Measure PL in November 2024, authorizing $195 million in general obligation bonds to fund the retrofit and renovation. The City Council approved Phase 2 of the project on March 2, 2026, with an amended contract to PCL Construction Services, Inc. not to exceed $186,186,155, according to a city press release. The contract includes a 10 percent local economic impact commitment to be satisfied through wages paid to local residents, expenditures with Pasadena-based vendors, and payments to local subcontractors.

During earlier phases of the project, crews removed and cataloged historic wood finishes, completed hazardous material abatement, dismantled outdated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, and completed a Historic American Buildings Survey, according to city project updates. The reference desk that once stood near the Centennial Room entrance, along with the original Central Library model, has been relocated to offsite storage.

The first major concrete pour is expected in June 2026 and will mark the beginning of the building’s core structural and seismic strengthening work, according to the city. Low carbon concrete will be used to reduce the environmental impact of construction. Shotcrete test panels were created off-site the week of May 14 to verify that the material meets city specifications.

Gruen Associates led the design phase of the retrofit under a contract first approved in February 2023, with guidance from a historic preservation consultant and a Mayor-appointed Technical Oversight Committee that includes professionals from Pasadena Heritage, Caltech, and the American Institute of Architects.

The project is on target for substantial completion in Summer 2028, according to the city.

For project updates and photos of work in progress, visit CityOfPasadena.net/Library/Central-Library-Updates.