Pasadena City Council Approves Contract for Central Library Seismic Retrofit Amid Local Hiring Demands

The Pasadena City Council on Monday approved a contract with PCL Construction Services, Inc. to begin seismic retrofitting and renovations at the Pasadena Central Library, a key step toward reopening the historic building more than four years after it was shuttered for safety concerns.

The approval allows work to commence on Phase 1 of the $195 million project, including preconstruction planning and selective demolition under a Construction Manager At-Risk (CMAR) model designed to improve coordination and cost certainty.

The retrofit will address seismic deficiencies in the unreinforced masonry building and includes upgrades to fire safety, HVAC systems, roofing, and accessibility.

The Central Library, designed in 1927 by renowned architect Myron Hunt, was closed in May 2021 after seismic assessments identified significant structural vulnerabilities.

In November 2024, voters passed Measure PL, approving bond funding for the building’s restoration, with design oversight led by Gruen Associates and a mayor-appointed Technical Oversight Committee.

But as the City Council prepared to move forward with the construction contract, two Pasadena-based contractors raised concerns about the lack of enforceable local hiring mandates tied to the taxpayer-funded project.

“Local hiring is treated as a voluntary preference—not a binding obligation. This is inadequate for a $195 million public project funded by Pasadena residents through Measure PL,” said Ronald Matthews, CEO of RKM Construction and the city’s former local hiring coordinator.

Matthews and fellow contractor Jamie Potter, owner of Titan Disposal, urged the City Council to require a formal Local Workforce Utilization Plan (LWUP) from PCL Construction.

They called for enforceable targets, coordination with unions and job centers, and job prioritization for displaced residents, First Source program graduates, and local tradespeople.

“We need local residents working on every part of this project,” Potter told Councilmembers. “We have the skill and the manpower, and we live here. We most definitely should be included.”

The City Council also approved a $3.45 million amendment to its contract with Gruen Associates, bringing the firm’s total contract value to $9.56 million to continue overseeing design and construction management through the library’s anticipated completion in 2028.