THE PALM SPRINGS SCHOOL, Desert Modernism: 1934–1975
IMPORTANT NEW BOOK BY ALAN HESS
We are very pleased to let you know that this highly anticipated and important book on Palm Springs architecture will be published by the well-known top-tier publisher Rizzoli. We recently had the pleasure of approving the color photo proofs and await the final text edits soon. The finished files will be sent to China for printing this summer.
The publishing date will be 2025, with the books expected to arrive well before the Palm Springs Art Museum and PSAA sponsored Architecture Symposium to be held during Modernism Week.
We must thank Janice Lyle, Sidney Williams, Alan Hess and our fundraisers, Kim and Joe Zakowski, and all of our Task Force members, for the hard work it took to get this published. Experts Frank Lopez, Melissa and Jim Riche, Bob Berg and Steven Biller have helped us obtain photo use agreements, write accurate captions, and edit the final essays and manuscript.
UPDATES ON AN IMPORTANT PROJECT IN PALM SPRINGS
The College of the Desert
One of the main reasons we created PSAA was to facilitate a partnership between the College of the Desert and Cal Poly Pomona to create a Bachelors of Architecture degree program on the new Palm Springs C.O.D campus.
We continue to work with COD leadership to get the 5-year degree in architecture in place. COD and Cal Poly are still in talks to draft an MOU (Memo of Understanding) toward establishing the master’s in architecture program at the new Palm Springs campus. This project has been delayed many times, and with a constantly evolving cast of bureaucrats, but we continue to be optimistic and excited about the new campus in Palm Springs. We will prevail.
Remember, this degree will be the first advanced degree offered at COD and will offer a chance for current COD students and Cal Poly Pomona students to achieve this advanced degree in the middle of the midcentury capital of the world.
UPDATES ON A CITY GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE
Design Guidelines for Palm Springs
The goal of this project is to participate with the City of Palm Springs to encourage innovation, sustainability and architectural design excellence for new commercial construction to honor the international reputation of our Palm Springs architectural legacy.
The City of Palm Springs recently hired a new city planner, Christopher Hadwin. PSAA task force members Dick, Sidney and Debra met with him and are enthusiastic about his background and interest in Palm Springs, and our architectural legacy.
The guidelines, which fall under zoning law, will be tackled as soon as the General Plan is finalized. This is but one more step in our quest to get the Design Guidelines Task Force on the agenda for the council.
We have recently met with the consultants hired by the city to oversee the design guidelines. We are concerned that while they are experienced, they do not seem to have any understanding of the architectural significance of Palm Springs. We are remaining involved and will have more news to share soon.