Contributed by: Pasadena Heritage
Organization: Pasadena Heritage
Dated Posted: April 28, 2026
Website: Visit External Site

Earlier this week, we issued the following public statement:

For nearly 50 years, Pasadena Heritage’s principal purpose has been to preserve and protect Pasadena’s historic and cultural resources. Therefore, we have watched with concern the ongoing discussions by the Pasadena Unified School District concerning the potential closure or consolidation of District campuses.

Recognizing the significant, long-term attendance, fiscal and staffing challenges faced by the District, we acknowledge the complexity and difficulty of the decisions that the District may be asked to consider.

As the District explores these choices, Pasadena Heritage asks that you:

• Acknowledge and embrace the significant architectural, historical and cultural value attached to many Pasadena Unified School District campuses. Many Pasadena campuses were designed by architects among the most notable practitioners of their generation, with distinctive character and significant historical associations.
• Explore the potential for protection, preservation and adaptive reuse of its physical campuses, an increasingly popular alternative to the loss of significant historic fabric. Adaptive reuse offers significant benefits over demolition with respect to climate goals, forming an important element of placemaking.
• Ensure that schools remain available to serve all geographic areas, income levels, and communities that make up Pasadena. Our members have reached out to us concerning specific campuses because of a fear that the multiple schools that once populated their neighborhoods may now be shuttered, leaving portions of this community without sufficient public neighborhood schools. These campuses are more than educational centers, as they are communal gathering places, sources of information and recreation, and character-defining elements of the neighborhoods they serve.

As the Pasadena Unified School District faces these challenges, we offer the contribution of professionals with deep knowledge of architecture, construction, preservation, planning and adaptive reuse. We invite you to contact us at any time so that we may assist you in exploring your options for these important components of Pasadena’s community identity.