top of page

about The PSAA

In 2018, a group of dedicated preservationists and futurists got together and conceived an idea to form an alliance of organizations that would work together to get projects accomplished that are important to our community. PSAA is the result of that dream.

​

The Palm Springs Architectural Alliance is a project of the Palm Springs Center for Creativity, a 501c3 tax-exempt organization, EIN 83-2444190

Meet The founders
Dick Burkett photo

Dick Burkett

Dick’s career blends interior design, entrepreneurship and hotel management. After a career in business, and becoming increasingly interested in interior design and architecture, he began studying at Corcoran Art Institute in Washington, D.C. and the University of Maryland.

 

Upon moving to Palm Springs he joined every architecture and preservation organization, PS Art Museum Legacy Circle, served on the PS Modern Committee board and the Historic Site Preservation Board and co-founded the Palm Springs Architectural Alliance.

​

‭dickburkett@gmail.com

760-774-5795‬

Debra Hovel photo

Debra Hovel

After a long design career in snowy Minneapolis, Debra moved with her husband to sunny Palm Springs. Being surrounded by such amazing examples of architecture and natural beauty led her to join every conceivable preservation and art organizations and immerse herself in the arts community.

 

After years of active preservation and arts involvement she joined with the other PSAA founders to create a consortium of local organizations devoted to the future of Palm Springs built environment, and education.

​

debrahovel@gmail.com

‭612-483-0993‬

Sidney Williams photo

Sidney Williams

Sidney Williams was director of education and public programs before becoming curator of architecture and design at the Palm Springs Art Museum from 2003 to 2016. She was the founding curator of the Architecture and Design Center after an historic rehabilitation of a 1961 bank building which opened in 2014.
 

Currently, she lectures on modern architecture and is active in the Palm Springs Architectural Alliance that focuses on fostering the legacy of Palm Springs’s architectural excellence into the future.

​

sidneygg@gmail.com

‭760-219-1661‬

Richard Hovel photo

Richard Hovel

Richard Hovel had a successful career as a retail store designer and content developer. After moving with his wife to Palm Springs he became excited at the idea of expanding on the legacy of great and innovative architecture of Palm Springs.

 

A dedicated futurist, PSAA was borne of his interest in the future, technology, design and education for young people in the Coachella Valley. 

​

richardhovel@gmail.com

‭612-483-0994‬

Our volunteer teams

PSAA focuses its efforts on various projects that support the mission, and each project is assigned a Task Force team based on their expertise, experience, and interests. Many of these team members are also active in our allied organizations. We rely on these tireless volunteers to work in various capacities on behalf of the PSAA.

Task Force

Marina Acosta

Bert Bitanga

Stefane Barbeau

Stan Boles

Duane Smith

Future Ideation

AIA

 

CVP

 

Modernism Week

 

Preservation Mirage

 

PS Historical Society

 

PS ModCom

 

PS Museum

 

PS Preservation Foundation

 

PS Historic Site Preservation Board

Development
& Events

Kitty Mahon

Carol Munro

Kim Zakowski

Joe Zakowski

Graphics & Marketing

Tom Dolle

Richard Hovel

The Book

Dick Burkett

Alan Hess

Debra Hovel

Janice Lyle

Sidney Williams

College of the Desert

Dick Burkett

Debra Hovel

Richard Hovel

Sidney Williams

Design Guidelines

Dick Burkett

Debra Hovel

Sidney Williams

our allied organizations

bottom of page