AIA California Desert at Modernism Week – October Edition  

Another successful Modernism Week October has come and gone, and this October edition was nothing short of spectacular! AIA California Desert was proud to be a Gold Sponsor for this year’s event, allowing us to support and celebrate the rich legacy of Mid-Century Modern architecture right here in our backyard.  

As part of our sponsorship, we were thrilled to provide learning units for our members during select activities, emphasizing the importance of continual growth and education within our profession. Modernism Week is a vital celebration of the visionary architects who shaped our region’s identity and a powerful reminder that understanding our architectural past better equips us to design a thoughtful and innovative future.  

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this event a resounding success. Together, we’re shaping the future of architecture in the very places we live and work.  

AIA California Desert Attends the PS ModCom Awards 25th Anniversary Gala  

On behalf of AIA California Desert, Our board member Todd Verwers attended the 25th Annual PS ModCom Preservation Awards, a milestone celebration of preservation achievements in the Coachella Valley. This gala, honoring outstanding contributions to preserving our region’s unique architectural legacy, was both a professional and inspiring event.  

Todd shared his impressions:  

“The preservation awards and following networking dinner, as well as the larger preservation movement in several Coachella Valley cities, are incredibly relevant to our chapter and our mission. These efforts advance local architects and celebrate the unique architecture that defines our region.” 

This year’s event marked a significant milestone, featuring professional video productions for all award-winning projects—a first for the awards' history. It was an inspiring reminder of the enduring value of our architectural heritage and the role preservation plays in shaping our future.  

Award Winners:  

• Aluminaire House

Palm Springs Art Museum/Marmol Radziner and others  

• Bel Vista (Albert Frey) Todd Hays  
• Bank of America / City of Palm Springs / Gensler  
• Curator Award for Albert Frey: Inventive Modernist – Brad Dunning  
• Howard Hughes House – Jeffrey Steenberg  
• Excellence in Preservation Architecture Award – Susan Secoy Jensen  

The gala served as a poignant celebration of the Coachella Valley’s architectural legacy and an opportunity to connect with peers dedicated to preserving and advancing this legacy. Congratulations to all the honorees for their exceptional work!  

AIA California Desert Celebrates Milestones as Gold Sponsors of Modernism Week 2025

2025 marks two monumental anniversaries: Modernism Week’s 20th year and AIA California Desert’s 40th year! With great pride and excitement, we announce that AIA California Desert is a Gold Sponsor of Modernism Week 2025, further cementing our commitment to celebrating and advancing architectural excellence.  

In honor of this collaboration, AIA California Desert has worked tirelessly to curate 20 activities within the Modernism Week program as Continuing Education opportunities for architects and design professionals. This effort, led by Richard Hobbs AIA, our liaison with Modernism Week,and Jorge Garcia,Assoc. AIA, our executive Director has been instrumental in ensuring these activities align with AIA Continuing Education requirements. We’re thrilled to announce that more than 20 Learning Units, including 1 LU/HSW, will be available (pending AIA approval), offering an incredible opportunity for attendees to fulfill a significant portion of their annual CE requirements.  

This partnership highlights our shared dedication to advancing Desert Modernism and fostering professional development in architecture.  

Featured Activities with Learning Units:  

1. Survival Through Restoration: Neutra’s Legacy in Palm Springs –   1.0 AIA HSW/LU  (Pending Approval)
2. Desert Modernism 101: From Bauhaus to Our House –   1.5 AIA LU (Pending Approval)
3. What Was the Bauhaus? Its Legacy is Both Universal and Universally Misunderstood – 1.0 AIA LU (Pending Approval)
4. Keynote Presentation: Dr. Raymond Neutra – Survival Through Design – 1.0 LU AIA Credit (Pending Approval)
5. WORLD PREMIER FILM – THE HARVARD 5: A Story of Love, Architecture, and a Design Revolution – 2.0 AIA LU (Pending Approval)
6. Fallingwater’s Edgar Kaufmann, Jr.: The Life and Legacy of a Modern Movement Tastemaker –  1.0 AIA LU (Pending Approval)
7. Working in Tranquility: Landscapes, Interiors, and the Modernist Corporate Campus –  1.0 AIA LU (Pending Approval)
8. Learning by Inhabiting: Restoring and Living Luis Barragán’s Casa Pedregal –  1.0 AIA LU AIA (Pending Approval)
9. McUrbia: The 1950s and the Birth of Contemporary American Landscape – 1.0 AIA LU (Pending Approval)
10. Leedy Legacy – 1.0 AIA LU (Pending Approval)
11. FILM PREMIERE: Preservation Mirage Presents Richard Neutra’s Maslon House –  1.0 AIA LU (Pending Approval)
12. Concrete Modernism: The Architecture of Canada’s Arthur Erickson –  1.0 AIA LU (Pending Approval)
13. American Modern: The Architecture and Legacy of Columbus, Indiana – 1.0 AIA LU (Pending Approval)
14. Glass or Not Glass? That’s the Lina Bo Bardi Question – 1.0 AIA LU A (Pending Approval)
15. Renewing the Rothko Chapel’s Legacy of Art, Spirituality, and Social Justice –  1.0 AIA LU (Pending Approval)
16. A Landslide and a Masterpiece: The Disassembly of Lloyd Wright’s Wayfarer’s Chapel – 1.0 AIA LU A(Pending Approval)
17. From Beverly Hills to Desert Elegance: Exploring Harold W. Levitt’s Design Vision –  1.0 AIA LU (Pending Approval)
18. The Palm Springs School: A Symposium –  3.5 AIA LU (Pending Approval)
19. Giants of Architecture – 1.5 AIA LU (Pending Approval)
20. Temple Isaiah: The Evolution of Classical to Extreme Modernism –  1.5 AIA LU (Pending Approval)

Each event in the program has been carefully evaluated to deliver meaningful insights and expand your knowledge of architecture, preservation, and modernism.  

Why Attend?  

This collaboration not only celebrates the rich history of Desert Modernism but also offers an unparalleled opportunity for architects to engage with thought-provoking content while fulfilling their professional development requirements.  

Save the Date: February 15–25, 2025  

Modernism Week promises to be an unforgettable celebration of architecture, culture, and design. Visit the Modernism Week website to explore the full schedule and secure your tickets.  

Special Thanks  

A huge thank you to Mark Davis,Sara Dawson and Alex Addris from Modernism week for providing this incredible opportinity and to our dedicated board members for making this partnership possible. Let’s celebrate 40 years of AIA California Desert and 20 years of Modernism Week with a commitment to learning, growth, and community.  

A Note From our President, Kathy Friedle...

Hello California Desert Members!

Winter is coming! (yay!) As the temperature cooled over the last month we were finally able to take advantage of some outdoor socializing and outdoor architectural touring. 

Our Ocotillo Lodge tour and social hosted by CD member Todd Verwers was well attended and it was easy to imagine Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack hanging out around that gigantic key-hole shaped pool and the fabulous Sunshine Bar. It’s always a treat to see spaces designed by our members. Todd’s unit (which was on the Modernism Week Tour last year) was detailed meticulously and made the most of 500 sf. I heard several people on the tour saying “I’d love to live there!” (I felt the same.)

Our second social / educational meet up was a new kind of adventure for us. We teamed up with the Long Beach / South Bay Chapter for a hike and tour at the gorgeous Whitewater Preserve. Our tour was led by the Jack Thompson - Director of The Wildlands Conservancy. We then ventured over the mountain to the home of Nader Ghassemlou (who was a member of LB/SB and is now a member of California Desert – lucky us!). Our speaker at this part of the event was Kerry Berman (Certified Interpretive Guide) who took us from Jurassic Park Days to present day in under 30 minutes. (No joke!) We rounded out the day taking in the expansive view at Nader’s home and marveled at the windmills above us and below us! I think it’s safe to say everyone was in awe of that incredible view.

Throughout 2024, we’ve introduced all sorts of new learning and social opportunities in order the enrich the experience of our Chapter members. With all of these events, and in all that we do as a Chapter, I’d like to recognize and give a BIG shout out to our Executive Directors – who really are the glue to make all of this happen. In my photo this month, say hello to Kristine Hammond (Executive Director of LB/SB) and Jorge Garcia (Executive Director of CD) who work tirelessly for our Chapters. 

We’ve got one more event planned for this year. Our annual meeting is on Thursday, December 5^th at the office of Lance O’Donnell from o2 Architecture (5-7 pm). Come and join us for some holiday cheer, hear about what we’ve accomplished this year, chat about ideas for next year and vote on the upcoming board members for 2025.

Hope to see you there!

Thanks,

Kathy Friedle, Assoc. AIA

President, AIA California Desert