According to a City official, Mayor Victor Gordo will appoint a technical oversight committee as part of the Central Library Seismic Retrofit and Renovation project.
The committee will review key findings of the structural assessment re-evaluation and review findings from the design team throughout the design phase of the project.
“The City of Pasadena was forced to close the Pasadena Central Library in May 2021 due to life safety concerns after a structural assessment revealed that unreinforced masonry construction left the building vulnerable to seismic activity,” according to Public Works Director Tony Olmos. “The City is currently working on a re-evaluation of the previous structural assessment, which now includes geotechnical and in-situ testing of existing materials for more accuracy. The City is also in the process of selecting a design firm to develop seismic retrofit solutions and restoration plans for the Central Library.”
In November, the Department of Public Works published a Request for Proposals for the Central Library Seismic Renovation Project which, including preparatory engineering work, could cost the City up to $120 million.
In December, the council approved an item allowing the library to use Jefferson Elementary School, which was shuttered earlier by the Pasadena Unified School District.
The City Manager has appointed a Community Programming Committee (CPC) to recommend how Central library space can be reimagined to draw more people into the building and serve as a primary community gathering space for community, artistic and theatrical events while remaining the central building in the city s library system.
The committees are expected to be involved during the early and key stages of the project and longer, if needed.
The next steps include the completion of the structural re-assessment and award the design contract by the end of 2022.
Completion of the design and preparation of the contract documents are expected to take approximately 18 months from the award of the design contract with construction to follow in 2025, depending on funding.
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