THOUSAND OAKS : City Sues Architects Over Leaky Library

Nine years after the roof of the Thousand Oaks library began leaking, Thousand Oaks officials sued the Los Angeles-based architectural firm that designed the $9-million building, alleging negligence and breach of contract.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday in Ventura County Superior Court accuses Albert C. Martin & Associates of designing an inadequate drainage system and a defective roof that sprang leaks soon after the library was completed in 1982.

The suit did not specify the amount of damages the city is seeking but indicated it was more than $2 million.

“We feel it’s a design issue that needs to be resolved,” said Joe Hinsberg, city community services manager. “We felt we had no other choice but to file.”

Representatives of the architectural firm were not available for comment.

The city paid the architects $700,000 for the design, commissioned in 1979. The library design, with its sloping, angular roof, won architectural awards when it was constructed.

However, during a heavy rainstorm last year, nearly $10,000 worth of books, carpeting and other materials were damaged, including a rare book collection in library director Marvin Smith’s office.

According to the suit, the architects have blamed the leaks on maintenance rather than design problems and recommended that the city increase inspections of the roof and use additional seals and caulking to keep out water.

Donald Toy, an architect with Martin & Associates, said he had not heard of the suit and declined to comment.

Hinsberg said the city finally had to hire an independent team of consultants to determine how much it would cost to fix the leaks. He did not have that estimate on Tuesday.