L.A. Construction Firm Picked to Build Reagan Library

A Los Angeles firm has been selected to build the $45-million Ronald Reagan presidential library in eastern Ventura County.

C.L. Peck/Jones Brothers Construction will build the library at cost, said J. Gregory Jones, executive vice president of the firm. The company would ordinarily make a 3% to 4% profit, he said.

“Our family is admittedly Republican, but we’d do the same thing if an extremely popular Democrat was President,” Jones said. “It’s a high-visibility job that looks nice to put in your brochure.”

Several other firms offered to build the library at cost, said C. Ronald Kimberling, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation executive director. But Peck/Jones was selected over five other finalists because officials wanted a Southern California firm familiar with the local labor market, he said.

Peck/Jones will begin building the library on a 100-acre site on Madera Road between Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley in late November, Kimberling said.

The project, which includes a 300-seat auditorium, a replica of the President’s Oval Office, a presidential museum and a room for Nancy Reagan memorabilia, is expected to be completed in early 1991, Kimberling said.

Peck/Jones has built the Forum and the Bonaventure Hotel. Recent projects include Exxon’s regional headquarters in Thousand Oaks and the Financial Plaza in Oxnard.