Pasadena City Hall
Encyclopedia
Pasadena City Hall, completed in 1927, serves as the central location for city government in the City of Pasadena
and it is a significant example of the City Beautiful movement of the 1920s.
approved a bond measure issuing $3.5 million towards the development of a civic center. City Hall was to be the central element of this center. The San Francisco
architecture firm of Bakewell and Brown designed the City Beautiful and California Mediterranean of Mediterranean Revival Style
and Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture
influenced City Hall. It was completed on December 27, 1927 at a cost of $1.3 million. It measures 361 feet (110 m) by 242 feet (73.8 m), and rises 6 stores. There are over 235 rooms and passageways that cover over 170000 square feet (15,793.5 m²). The defining dome, located above the west entrance, is 26 feet (7.9 m) tall and 54 feet (16.5 m) in diameter.
On July 28, 1980 the Civic Center District, including Pasadena City Hall, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. (listing # 80000813)
The City Hall has long been a favorite shooting location for filmmakers. The courtyard was used in the 1995 movie "A Walk in the Clouds" to portray a Napa Valley town square. It has also been used as an embassy in the "Mission: Impossible" television series, and a villa in Charlie Chaplin
's Oscar-nominated 1940 film "The Great Dictator." Pasadena City Hall currently serves as the city hall of fictional Pawnee, Indiana, in the television show "Parks and Recreation
."
of San Francisco, CA.
In July 2004, the building was vacated in order to allow for a complete overhaul of the structure. Over the course of 3 years, all offices and council chambers were renovated, the facade was restored, the building was adapted to meet ADA standards, the building's HVAC
systems were replaced and modernized, and new landscaping and architectural lighting was installed all round the complex. In order ensure that the City Hall would withstand future earthquake activity, the building was lifted off its foundation, equipped with structural base isolators
, and given a new foundation. The renovation of Pasadena City Hall earned a LEED
Gold certification.
Following construction, staff moved back to City hall starting in April 2007. City Hall was fully operational again by July. At the time, the Los Angeles Times
noted: "In a city where historic preservation is much like a civic obsession, City Hall has long been among the crown jewels of Pasadena, along with the Colorado Street Bridge, the Rose Bowl and the Gamble House. Although the renovation has been among the costliest public works projects in Pasadena, city officials decided that they couldn't risk losing the landmark in another quake."
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
and it is a significant example of the City Beautiful movement of the 1920s.
History
In 1923, the people of PasadenaPasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
approved a bond measure issuing $3.5 million towards the development of a civic center. City Hall was to be the central element of this center. The San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
architecture firm of Bakewell and Brown designed the City Beautiful and California Mediterranean of Mediterranean Revival Style
Mediterranean Revival Style architecture
The Mediterranean Revival was an eclectic design style that was first introduced in the United States about the end of the nineteenth century, and became popular during the 1920s and 1930s...
and Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture
Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture
The Spanish Colonial Revival Style was a United States architectural stylistic movement that came about in the early 20th century, starting in California and Florida as a regional expression related to history, environment, and nostalgia...
influenced City Hall. It was completed on December 27, 1927 at a cost of $1.3 million. It measures 361 feet (110 m) by 242 feet (73.8 m), and rises 6 stores. There are over 235 rooms and passageways that cover over 170000 square feet (15,793.5 m²). The defining dome, located above the west entrance, is 26 feet (7.9 m) tall and 54 feet (16.5 m) in diameter.
On July 28, 1980 the Civic Center District, including Pasadena City Hall, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. (listing # 80000813)
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
's Oscar-nominated 1940 film "The Great Dictator." Pasadena City Hall currently serves as the city hall of fictional Pawnee, Indiana, in the television show "Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation is an American comedy television series on NBC that focuses on Leslie Knope , a mid-level bureaucrat in the parks department of Pawnee, a fictional town in Indiana. Created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, the series debuted on April 9, 2009; it has run for three seasons and...
."
Seismic Retrofit
From a distance, Pasadena City Hall has always looked as though it has withstood the test of time. However, by the late 20th century, the building was showing signs of age. The 1920s building did not meet modern building codes, and studies indicated that a major earthquake could potentially destroy several parts of the building and likely result in a loss of life The concrete walls had many deep cracks, and two of the stairway towers had considerable damage. There was also water damage from years of storms with little to no repair and maintenance. In the late 90's, an effort to rehabilitate the aging building began, led by Architectural Resources GroupArchitectural Resources Group
Architectural Resources Group is a firm founded in 1980 by Bruce Judd and Steve Farneth in San Francisco. It began by providing professional services in the fields of architecture and urban planning with particular expertise in the area of historic preservation...
of San Francisco, CA.
In July 2004, the building was vacated in order to allow for a complete overhaul of the structure. Over the course of 3 years, all offices and council chambers were renovated, the facade was restored, the building was adapted to meet ADA standards, the building's HVAC
HVAC
HVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
systems were replaced and modernized, and new landscaping and architectural lighting was installed all round the complex. In order ensure that the City Hall would withstand future earthquake activity, the building was lifted off its foundation, equipped with structural base isolators
Base isolation
Base isolation, also known as seismic base isolation or base isolation system, is one of the most popular means of protecting a structure against earthquake forces...
, and given a new foundation. The renovation of Pasadena City Hall earned a LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
Gold certification.
Following construction, staff moved back to City hall starting in April 2007. City Hall was fully operational again by July. At the time, the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
noted: "In a city where historic preservation is much like a civic obsession, City Hall has long been among the crown jewels of Pasadena, along with the Colorado Street Bridge, the Rose Bowl and the Gamble House. Although the renovation has been among the costliest public works projects in Pasadena, city officials decided that they couldn't risk losing the landmark in another quake."