Gruen Associates was in attendance at the Pasadena Central Library’s Ceremonial Groundbreaking on December 12, 2025. Around 150 people gathered at the library to commemorate this exciting new phase in the library’s seismic retrofit and renovation project. Before closing, the Pasadena Central Library was home to approximately 300,000 items in its collection and served around 1,000 visitors daily. However, the Spanish Colonial Revival Style-structure closed in May 2021 after it was deemed to be an unreinforced masonry building. The historical restoration comprises of selective demolition, removal of hazardous materials, and a full replacement of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Gruen is honored to lead the design renovation and preserve the historic character of the Central Library and the landscape around it. “Be made whole by books, as by great spaces and the Stars” are the words carved above the library’s entrance and our talented team of architects, engineers, and specialists are inspired to uphold those values for the historic building itself and the generations of patrons who will visit for years to come.
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