RETROFITTING

California earthquake standards were significantly strengthed after the massive earthquake in Long Beach on March 10, 1933 which killed 115 people.  Since then, earthquake standards have been updated many times – most importantly – the 1976 retrofit standards for existing buildings.

Santa Clarita Elementary was designed by Smith, Powell, and Morgridge to California Earthquake standards in effect in the 1950’s and 60’s.  The building has survived several major eathquakes since it was built – including the 1971 San Fernando 6.6 magnitude earthquake that resulted in 65 deaths, 2,000 injuries, and more than $500 million in property damage.  Santa Clarita Elementary also survived the 1994 Northridge quake which killed 57 people, injured 9000, and caused the collapse of the Interstate 5 Newhall Pass Interchage and the explosion of a major Santa Clarita electrical station, causing a citywide power outage for several days.  Any new retrofitting required will further increase the earthquake resistant structural integrity of the existing school building.

California Assembly Bill 300 of 1999 requires inspections and retrofitting of all public school buildings not built to 1976 earthquake standards.  The retrofitting requirements for schools are very extensive.  However, if school buildings are repurposed for other uses – not schools – different earthquake standards apply that may not be as rigorous as school standards.  If our school building is repurposed, the retrofit requirements could be significantly less costly than the 8 to 20 million dollar figures quoted for retrofitting the building for continued use as a school.

If the current building is demolished and replaced with new buildings – the cost of the new buildings could easily be higher than the cost of retrofitting the existing building.  Furthermore, the quality of the new buildings would probably not have the historical style and aesthetics of the current structures.

There are exemptions and possible grants for retrofitting historic buildings.

State of California Health and Safety Code Division 32 – Part 1:
Rehabilitation of these buildings to meet current standards of earthquake safety is in the public interest, but that private enterprise will be unable in many cases to meet the high cost of making the necessary modifications without the availability of long-term, low-interest loans for the purpose.
It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature in enacting this division to authorize establishment of local loan programs to serve this need at the lowest possible cost and upon favorable terms so that owners of eligible buildings will be encouraged to make modifications required to assure structural integrity in the event of an earthquake.

The Santa Clarita Elementary School building is a rare example of Mid-Century Modern architecture which could qualify the property as a Historical Monument.  A similar Mid-Century Modern school in Mountainview California – Kenneth Slater Elementary – was repurposed as the Google’s Children’s Center at the Woods without significant changes the beauty and design of the original Mid-Century Modern buildings.