Library District Sues Architectural Firm

The Palos Verdes Peninsula Library District has sued the architectural firm that designed the remodeled Peninsula Center Library in Rolling Hills Estates as a result of what library officials say are 255 construction and design defects.

The district filed the lawsuit last week after a consultant estimated that it would cost about $2.1 million to repair flaws such as a leaky roof, cracked walkway and poor lighting in the 35,000-square-foot building. The defects were identified shortly after the library reopened in 1995 following a $20-million remodeling project.

The district refused to make its final payment--$2.6 million--to the contractor, Bernard Bros. Bernard Bros. filed a lawsuit against the district last winter, but the library countersued in January, said Diana Moreno, director of the three-library district. The claim against the Los Angeles architectural firm, Zimmer, Gunsul and Frasca, has been added to the same suit.

Zimmer, Gunsul and Frasca officials could not be reached for comment.