Los Angeles County has refused to release seismic reports on the Gas Co. Tower, a downtown skyscraper it purchased for $200 million. The county planned to use the building as its new headquarters, but concerns have arisen about its ability to withstand a major earthquake. According to the Los Angeles Times, officials recommended a $230-million retrofit for the tower, but the Board of Supervisors suspended the work due to financial constraints.
The Gas Co. Tower, built in 1991, incorporates a steel-moment-frame structure, which some experts warn could suffer severe damage in an earthquake. Structural engineer David Cocke, a former president of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, noted that this type of building has vulnerabilities, as seen during the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
Despite these concerns, County CEO Fesia Davenport assured the Board of Supervisors that no retrofit project is currently underway. She emphasized that the building meets existing safety standards, and any seismic upgrades would require board approval. Pasadena Now reported that the county has not finalized any plans for seismic work, and Davenport stated that the Gas Co. Tower is cost-neutral due to ongoing rental income.
Supervisor Janice Hahn expressed skepticism about the purchase, calling for more transparency regarding the costs associated with the building. She suggested that retrofitting the current Hall of Administration might be a better option. The Los Angeles Times reported that the contract for any potential seismic upgrades is expected to be awarded in October, with the building remaining occupied during construction.
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