ROLLING HILLS ESTATES, CA — Revised plans for a delayed renovation of the plaza outside Peninsula Center Library are now under review after construction uncovered an unexpected concrete slab and water intrusion that forced engineers to redesign portions of the project.
The Palos Verdes Library District said in a Sept. 16 project update that the revised plans for the Deep Valley Drive plaza have been submitted to the city and Los Angeles County for review. The district expects the plan-check process to take another three to four weeks.
With the plans submitted, the district said it is also working with its contractor to schedule mobilization so work can move forward. The latest development follows months of complications at the plaza outside Peninsula Center Library, located at 701 Silver Spur Road in Rolling Hills Estates. The district originally said construction would begin Feb. 17 and take approximately three months, although it cautioned at the time that it did not yet have a confirmed construction timeline.
During demolition of the existing walkway, crews discovered a structurally significant concrete slab that was not identified in the original plans, according to an Aug. 28 update from the library district.
The slab cannot be removed and affects the grading and foundation planned for the new walkway, meaning engineers had to incorporate it into a revised design. The existing slab also revealed water intrusion along that corner of the building. The district said it initially contacted waterproofing contractors for pricing but was advised to bring in a consultant because of the difficult conditions involved.
Earlier in August, sections of the plaza were excavated to expose walls and underlying structures so a water intrusion consultant could assess the problem. The recommended waterproofing system requires additional material thickness, creating another challenge around the entrance doors because the existing slab leaves limited space to maintain a smooth and accessible transition into the building.
The discoveries also affected planned grading and drainage and the structural foundation for the new walkway, requiring new civil and structural engineering plans. Landscaping plans had to be revised as well. The district said Aug. 28 that the unexpected conditions and resulting design changes had pushed its target for completing the project to November 2026. The Sept. 16 update did not announce a further change to that target.
The Deep Valley Drive entrance project is intended to replace slippery marble with new pavers while making several other improvements to the library's entrance plaza. Plans also include new front glass sliding doors, expanded patron seating, new furniture, a water fountain, bike racks and Wi-Fi throughout the plaza.
The district held a groundbreaking ceremony March 6. The project is being funded in partnership with the Peninsula Library Friends Foundation, with Cozen Architecture + Lighting and MZN Construction & Engineering listed by the district as project partners.
The library district provides continuing updates on the Deep Valley Plaza project page and said its facility manager also gives monthly project updates during Board of Library Trustees meetings.
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