Colorado Street Bridge
photo by Pasadena Heritage
PECK Architecture + KEITA Design at Pasadena Heritage’s 29th Bridge Party
This year, we’re honored to sponsor Pasadena Heritage’s 29th annual Bridge Party, a celebration of the iconic Colorado Street Bridge and a symbol of the city’s commitment to historic preservation and community identity.
At PECK, and our furniture-making enterprise, KEITA Design, we believe that preservation is not just about protecting what was; it’s also about extending the life and meaning of our shared built and natural environment.
Advocacy as Architecture: The La Loma Bridge Story
Preservation is rarely straightforward. When the City of Pasadena once proposed demolishing the La Loma Bridge, CM PECK Principal Chris Peck stepped in, not just as an engineer, but as an advocate for its cultural, artistic, and historic value.
In a pivotal article written for the West Pasadena Residents’ Association Newsletter, Chris argued the case for restoration over replacement. His advocacy was instrumental in shifting the city’s trajectory. What began as a replacement project evolved into a landmark restoration, thanks in part to Chris’ involvement in the Design Advisory Group (DAG), a citizen committee tasked with reconciling the old and the new in a structure made of original concrete with bonded grout, precast elements, and cast-in-place finishes.
Chris’ design suggestion to retrofit the bridge’s supporting piers using twin columns hugging the interior of the historic piers was adopted, preserving the bridge’s silhouette while meeting seismic standards. The bridge, now officially known as the John K. Van de Kamp Bridge, reopened in June 2017, standing as a testament to what community advocacy and design integrity can accomplish.
The La Loma Bridge is the "little sister" of the Colorado Street Bridge and for us, their preservation stories are deeply intertwined. After 8 years, the retrofit project is standing the test of time, and looks even better as the materials age together.
From Infrastructure to Intimate: Reusing Local Resources with KEITA Design
Our preservation work doesn't stop at bridges.
At KEITA Design, we apply the same philosophy to our city’s urban canopy. When trees come down, whether due to age, windstorms, or development, we see opportunity. We mill and season the wood from Pasadena, South Pasadena, the San Gabriel Valley, and even Bel Air, transforming what would otherwise be discarded into timeless, handcrafted furniture pieces that will last for generations, extending the life and beauty of our local trees.
Each KEITA piece tells the story of place. That dining table in your home? It may once have shaded a street in South Pasadena. That hand-crafted bench? Once a backyard Aleppo Pine.
Just like our work with Pasadena Heritage, it’s about preserving the past while reimagining its place in the present.
Common Ground: Preservation & Design as Cultural Legacy
Whether we’re advocating to save a bridge or salvaging a downed tree, our work is about honoring great design and stewardship of our common cultural heritage.
At this year’s Bridge Party, we celebrate alongside Pasadena Heritage not only the Colorado Street Bridge itself, but also the deeper values it represents: preservation, reuse, advocacy, and artistry.
We're proud to stand at the intersection of engineering and craft, of city-scale preservation and small-batch furniture design, all rooted in Pasadena.
Bridge Party
Photo by Pasadena Heritage