Old Pasadena Fire Station to Undergo Seismic Retrofit, Crews Will Temporarily Operate From Trailers on Empty Lot

Pasadena’s City Council is expected to approve Monday two contracts related to the seismic retrofit and tenant improvement works of Fire Station 31, a two-story, 8,563 square-foot building at 135 S. Fair Oaks Ave., and its accompanying 3,700 square-foot garage known as the WickerCraft Building.

While the retrofit is underway, Fire Station 31 personnel will need to be relocated temporarily. For this, the Public Works Department said it is recommending a contract with Corner Keystone Construction Corp., based in Walnut, which will prepare a vacant lot at 95 Alessandro Place where temporary trailers will be installed to ensure the fire station’s continued operations and services to the community.

Fire Station 31 was constructed in 1960 and requires structural retrofit in accordance with building code revisions and updates adopted since the initial construction. In addition, as the most active of all of Pasadena’s fire stations, Fire Station 31 is in need of tenant improvements to maintain basic operational standards for Fire Department personnel.

For this part of the work, the Department of Public Works has recommended a contract with Monet Construction, Inc., based in Tujunga, one of five contractors that responded to a bid announcement in February.

The Public Works Department said the scope of work for the retrofit will include upgrading the lateral force resisting systems and connections to the roof and floor structures, as well as retrofitting foundation elements so new steel moment frames can be installed. Finishes will need to be removed from floors and ceilings so workers can have access to anchorage points.

Tenant improvements for the station will include architectural renovations to the kitchen, the living room, restrooms, offices, and dorms. The scope of work includes flooring replacement, replacement of ceiling tiles, lighting, furniture, appliances and cabinetry; removal of office partition walls; new paint, re-roofing, new HVAC equipment, and minor electrical improvements.

The contract with Monet Construction would cost the City $2,018,456, which includes the base amount of $1,755,178 and a contingency of $263,278.

For Corner Keystone Construction, the contract would cost $382,547, which includes a $347,770 base amount and a contingency of $34,777.