California Preservation Awards Sponsorship

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The 2026 Design Awards Event

A view from above of a circular, multi-level courtyard with ornate railings, white columns, red tile floors, and a central fountain surrounded by greenery. Spiral staircases connect the different levels.We're celebrating 24 award winning projects, as well as the Trustee's Awards for Excellence and four President's Awards at the Mission Inn in downtown Riverside. This special celebration is followed by a ticketed reception with food and drinks. Purchase your tickets before they sell out!

Plaza Theater

Owner/Client
Teresa Gallavan – City of Palm Springs

Owner / Client
JR Roberts – Palm Springs Plaza Theater Foundation

Project Manager / Project Architect
Jason Currie – Architectural Resources Group, Inc.

Architectural Conservator
Sarah Devan – Architectural Resources Group, Inc.

Associate Principal / Architectural Historian & Preservation Planner
Evanne St. Charles – Architectural Resources Group, Inc.

Structural Engineer
Russell Kehl – Structural Focus

Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Engineer
Chris Carson – AMA Group

Construction Manager
George Litzinger – Dudek

Contractor
Robert Everhart – Woodcliff Corporation

Design Principal
Naomi Miroglio – Architectural Resources Group, Inc.

Theatrical Consultant
Jim Niesel – Theater Projects

Restoration Subcontractor
Troy Parry – Oak Hollow Restoration, Inc.

Acoustic Consultant
Tony Hoover – McKay Conant Hoover

Architectural Lighting
Ann Kale – Ann Kale Associates

Operator
John Bolton – Oak View Group

Specifications
David Byun – Byun Partners

Cost Estimating
Jackie Chan – KPJ Consulting

Photography
Courtesy Dan Chavkin / Architectural Resources Group

Plaza Theater

Plaza Theater is a winner for the 2026 Preservation Design Award in the category of Restoration. Award recipients are selected by a jury of top professionals in the fields of architecture, engineering, planning, and history, as well as renowned architecture critics and journalists. Tickets and sponsorship options are available at californiapreservation.org/programs/awards/.

About Plaza Theater

This project was a comprehensive effort to balance the building’s historic character while equipping it for success as a modern performance venue. The Plaza Theatre was originally designed as an atmospheric theater – an immersive style made popular in the 1920s – utilizing architectural ornamentation to evoke a village scene within its auditorium.

The scope of the project included repairs to the Spanish village-themed atmospheric sidewalls and ceiling, restoration of decorative painted stenciling at the lobby and proscenium, and recreation of historic light fixtures. These details were carefully restored based on archival documentation, including original drawings and historic photographs.

Modernizations to the building included an expanded conditioned lobby area, a new bar and concessions area, new seating, and accessibility upgrades. Energy-efficient fixtures and accessories, and acoustical improvements were also installed throughout the interior. Site improvements comprised a redesigned entry plaza with a widened pedestrian ramp and restored historic tile paving pattern.

Read more about the Preservation Design Awards
Wide view of the restored Plaza Theater in Los Angeles, showing rows of red seats, decorative walls, a starry ceiling, and a brightly lit stage. Award logo and text overlay announce a 2026 preservation design award.
View from a theater stage facing rows of empty red seats, with warm yellow wall lights, decorative walls, and a curved, star-lit ceiling. The auditorium is well-lit and appears ready for an audience.
An empty theater with red seats faces a stage with closed blue curtains. The walls have a Spanish-style design, and the ceiling is painted to look like a night sky with small, glowing lights.
Rows of empty red theater seats face a stage, with walls decorated to look like building facades at night, illuminated by warm yellow lights under a dark blue ceiling.
A vintage-style theater bar with wooden counter, shelves of liquor bottles, red curtains, warm lighting, ornate ceiling beams, and deep red carpet, set against cream-colored walls with decorative sconces.
An empty theater with red velvet seats faces a stage framed by blue curtains and decorative walls, lit by wall sconces and ceiling lights, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Front view of the white stucco La Plaza Theatre at dusk, with three large arched doorways, outdoor lantern lighting, and a neon green sign on the roof reading Plaza Theatre.

Community Importance

This project isn’t about just preserving a building, but also about energizing the surrounding community. The Plaza Theatre is more than a venue; it is a catalyst for cultural connection, offering world-class programming in Palm Springs while remaining accessible to all.

In addition to its legacy as a major contributor to the cultural fabric of the Coachella Valley for over nine decades, hosting a variety of film premieres, radio shows, and live acts, the renewed theater is set to host educational and community programs that will build a vibrant cultural and diverse experience downtown, and enrich the lives of visitors of all ages and backgrounds.

Now that the building is fully restored, the owner and operator have secured partnerships with local arts groups and programs that will call the venue home. These include the Palm Springs Symphony, the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus, Modernism Week, the Palm Springs International Film Festival, and the Palm Springs International Jazz Festival. Since its re-opening, the theater has showcased performances of internationally acclaimed stars, such as singer and actress Cynthia Erivo who performed at the Plaza Theatre’s opening night gala.

 

About CPF and the Awards

Held in conjunction with CPF’s 2026 Annual Conference in Riverside, the 2026 Mission Inn Preservation Design Awards Ceremony and Reception will spotlight excellence in historic preservation in a setting that reflects the very spirit of the work being honored. This special evening brings together award recipients, conference participants, preservation leaders, and supporters from across California to celebrate outstanding preservation projects and leadership through the Preservation Design Awards and President’s Awards.

Founded in 1978, the California Preservation Foundation (CPF) is California’s statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of historic places and cultural heritage. Through education, advocacy, and community-centered programs, CPF supports the people, projects, and policies that keep California’s historic resources vital and valued. We now support a national network of more than 36,000 members and supporters. Click here to learn how you can become a member.