Work is set to start early next week to demolish buildings severely damaged in the Eaton Fire on the campus of Eliot Arts Magnet Academy, the Pasadena Unified School District announced Friday.
The demolition work set for Monday marks “the first step in a transformative rebuilding process that will create a modern, innovative learning environment for students and staff,” according to the PUSD.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will oversee the demolition of the school’s auditorium and north wing of the campus and work to stabilize the remaining structures.
The Eaton Fire in January did a lot of damage to the Eliot Arts campus and surrounding neighborhood, displacing students and school staff members and requiring a swift response from the district, officials said.
After a hasty mobilization to offer resources and support for students, families and school employees, district officials then had to make sure campuses were safe for students to return. Eliot Arts relocated from 2184 Lake Ave. in Altadena to McKinley School at 325 S. Oak Knoll Ave. in Pasadena.
“Our entire community is heartbroken by the devastation of our historic Eliot Arts campus, but we will rise above this,” Jennifer Hall Lee, PUSD Board of Education president, said in a statement. “This is an opportunity to create a new space that captures the spirit of our school and serves as a beacon of hope and resilience for our students, staff and the entire Pasadena community.”
Officials said the school district is beginning to evaluate options for the future Eliot campus with an aim on improved safety, accessibility and “modern learning” capabilities. The multiyear rebuilding effort also will include fire-safety measures, modernizing electrical and plumbing systems and spaces designed to foster creativity and academic excellence.
As the planning stage progresses, the PUSD will see input from students, families and educators.
“Eliot Arts is an integral part of our community, and we are committed to rebuilding a campus that honors its legacy while embracing the future,” PUSD Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco said in a statement. “We want to ensure that community voices are heard throughout this process, and we will incorporate their ideas into a design that is safe, innovative, and inspiring for generations to come.”
Information from the school district on fire recovery is at pusd.us/fire-relief/fire-relief-home.
Additional schools damaged or destroyed in the Eaton Fire, which erupted Jan. 7 amid fierce winds, were Franklin Elementary and the Edison, Loma Alta, Noyes, Aveson and Odyssey charter schools. St. Mark’s School in Altadena and Pasadena Waldorf School were also destroyed.
