Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center

The Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion, is a creative hub dedicated to exploring mid-century modern architecture and design. Housed in the historic Santa Fe Federal Savings & Loan building, designed in 1961 by renowned architect E. Stewart Williams, the center stands as the first historic structure transformed into a freestanding architecture and design museum in the U.S.. After years of disuse, the Palm Springs Art Museum purchased the building in 2011 and launched a major fundraising campaign to restore and repurpose it. The renovated building, which reopened in 2014, features steel finned columns, walls of wrap-around glass with sliding sun screens, and a gravity-defying cantilevered concrete platform. Inside, visitors can explore rotating exhibitions, participate in community programs and events, and browse the Bradford W. Bates Vault: The Museum Design Store. The center also holds significant portions of the Albert Frey, E. Stewart Williams, Arthur Elrod/Harold Broderick, and Hugh Kaptur archives. The center's exhibitions highlight various aspects of architecture and design, showcasing the work of renowned architects and exploring the evolution of different design styles. Past and present exhibitions include 'Modern Women: The Influencers Who Shaped Palm Springs' and 'Fashioning Architecture: What the Runway Borrows from Architecture'. The center also serves as a hub for educational programs, workshops, and lectures related to architecture and design.