Architecture and Design Center

Mid-century architecture museums

One of our favorite buildings, The Palm Springs Art Museum‘s Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion, started off as a bank in 1961; the Santa Fe Federal Savings & Loan to be exact, designed by noted modernist architect E. Stewart Williams.

After years of disuse, The Palm Springs Art Museum purchased the vacant property in 2011 and mounted a major fundraising campaign to restore and repurpose the former financial building as its hub for all things related to architecture & design.

The structure itself features steel finned columns, walls of wrap-around glass with gorgeous sliding sun screens and a gravity-defying cantilevered concrete platform on which this jewel box of a building sits. Inside, be sure to check out the below-ground mid mod staircase, it’s exquisite.

Since late 2014, the pavilion has been housing rotating exhibits, hosting community programs and events, and is also home to the Bradford W. Bates Vault: The Museum Design Store where you can find some really nice architecture & design-related gift items.

The Architecture & Design Center is designated a Class 1 Historic Site.