Historic Castle Green Rotunda Dome Undergoes Restoration in Pasadena

The iconic red rotunda dome atop Castle Green in Pasadena is undergoing a thorough restoration, thanks to funds raised from recent community events. The project, which began on July 29, is expected to last three weeks and involves stripping paint, repairing broken ribs, and applying new protective coatings.

Scaffolding, suspended from the second-floor window sills to create a catwalk for workers, now hangs from the rotunda. The first week focused on removing large windows and erecting the scaffolding. The second week, starting Aug. 6, will involve stripping paint and identifying the original color.

“We are very grateful for all who took part in these two events,” Susan Futterman, Chair of the Friends of Castle Green, said in a statement Wednesday, referring to the 125th Year Spring Gala and Spring Home Tour that raised the necessary funds.

The restoration is a joint effort between the Friends of the Castle Green, a nonprofit support organization, and the Castle Green Homeowners Association. KC Restoration has been hired to carry out the work, which includes carefully stripping the dome of all paint and applying new coatings designed to preserve its color for years to come.

A surprise discovery during the first week of work revealed that the dome is made of copper, not sheet metal as previously thought. This finding may provide valuable insights for future restorations of the building’s other four domes, as there are five domes in total on Castle Green – four on the roof and one on the rotunda.

The project is being overseen by Bill Ellinger, a Board member and historical architect for the Friends of Castle Green. The organization has a history of restoration projects on the building, including work on veranda lanterns and exterior painting, primarily funded through public tours.

Built in 1898, Castle Green was designed by architect Frederick Louis Roehrig as the first annex to the very successful Green Hotel, which had been built on the opposite side of Raymond Avenue. Friends of Castle Green, formed in 1993, aims to raise funds for historic restoration and increase awareness of the building’s significance in Pasadena’s history.

Pasadena Heritage holds a conservation easement on Castle Green’s exterior façade, ensuring its preservation. The organization has held this easement since November 1988 and oversees about 90 similar agreements, the largest number west of the Mississippi.

To contact the Friends of the Castle Green in Pasadena, you can reach out to Susan Futterman via email at susanfutterman@mac.com.