City on Cusp of Hiring Architect for Plaza Theatre

The Plaza Theatre has sat primarily empty since 2014

PALM SPRINGS — With the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation’s fundraising campaign reportedly now at roughly 75% of its goal, the City Council today, Thursday, July 28, is poised to hire an architect to restore the iconic Plaza Theatre for $1,047,994.

On the consent calendar is approval of a professional services agreement with Architectural Resources Group Inc. for Plaza Theatre design services, which includes all phases of design and construction administration for the renovation of the city’s historic Plaza Theatre, 128 S. Palm Canyon Drive.

Architectural Resources Group has completed a number of theater and other historic projects of similar scope to the Theatre, according to a staff report. Architectural Resources Group also has a great deal of experience in the area of historical restoration and has an Architectural Conservator on board who will be instrumental in the restoration of the Plaza Theatre.

The design is anticipated to take approximately eight months to complete, with construction anticipated to begin in the spring of 2023. It is projected that the work will take approximately one year to complete, allowing the Theatre to open around the Spring of 2024.

The Theatre was commissioned by heiress Julia Carnell and designed by lead architect Harry Williams. Its atmospheric design hearkens to grand movie palaces, while its Spanish Colonial Revival exterior was typical of many buildings of the era in Palm Springs. In 1991, the Theatre was designated City of Palm Springs class 1 historic site.

While the Palm Springs Follies ran for 23 years, the Theatre has sat primarily empty since 2014. The city
of Palm Springs owns the Theatre and is working in conjunction with the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation to restore the Theatre.