UCLA Powell Library

UCLA Powell Library is a winner for the 2026 Preservation Design Award in the category of Rehabilitation. Award recipients are selected by a jury of top professionals in the fields of architecture, engineering, planning, and history, as well as renowned architecture critics and journalists. Tickets and sponsorship options are available at californiapreservation.org/programs/awards/.

About UCLA Powell Library

Conceived from its outset to follow the Secretary of Interior’s Standards Treatment for Historic Properties, the rehabilitation project was a carefully engineered feat of creative planning and artistry – a true ‘ship-in-a-bottle’ endeavor with constant and close collaboration between the University, the design team, and the construction manager. The work required surgical precision to address seismic vulnerabilities, maintain the building’s historic integrity, and repair water damage discovered during construction, all while the library remained open to students.

The seismic retrofit incorporated cutting-edge techniques and materials. To strengthen the structure, the team installed 33 tons of steel, comprising more than 350 linear feet of reinforcement, strategically placed above the historic ceiling without compromising its delicate frescoed panels. Approximately 14,000 square feet of Kevlar fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) was applied to the underside of the existing roof deck, providing lightweight, robust shear reinforcement incorporating 2,400 drilled anchors installed into the existing structure.

Community Importance

The project was originally conceived as a comprehensive update to the historic building, including modernization of building systems and programmatic improvements to address the library’s evolving role at the University. As a result of state budgeting and funding challenges, the project was reimagined as a phased project, with a dramatically scaled back first phase, funded through a targeted state funded grant to address only the most critical seismic improvements.

As one of the most visited and utilized buildings on campus, it was critical that Powell library remain open throughout the construction process. Combined with the limited funding, it became imperative to craft an efficient and effective rehabilitation process, maximizing the project’s impact, while minimizing both cost, schedule, and risk to UCLA. The Phase 1 project will enable the University to continue the more comprehensive rehabilitation of Powell over time and in a cost-effective manner.

The building’s popularity among students, often referred to as ‘the living room of UCLA,’ cements its role as a defining image of the university. Preserving Powell Library was not merely a matter of maintaining a structure; it was an act of preserving UCLA’s heritage and ensuring that future generations can experience the same sense of inspiration.

About CPF and the Awards

Held in conjunction with CPF’s 2026 Annual Conference in Riverside, the 2026 Mission Inn Preservation Design Awards Ceremony and Reception will spotlight excellence in historic preservation in a setting that reflects the very spirit of the work being honored. This special evening brings together award recipients, conference participants, preservation leaders, and supporters from across California to celebrate outstanding preservation projects and leadership through the Preservation Design Awards and President’s Awards.

Founded in 1978, the California Preservation Foundation (CPF) is California’s statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of historic places and cultural heritage. Through education, advocacy, and community-centered programs, CPF supports the people, projects, and policies that keep California’s historic resources vital and valued. We now support a national network of more than 36,000 members and supporters. Click here to learn how you can become a member.