At the recent 2026 Preservation Design Awards, the California Preservation Foundation (CPF) presented the Preservation Design Award for Restoration to the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation and Architectural Resources Group. The CPF is a California nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of historic places and cultural heritage and the Restoration award honored the significant restoration work that transformed the Plaza Theatre. Award recipients were selected by a jury of top professionals in the fields of architecture, engineering, planning, and history, as well as renowned architecture critics and journalists.
CPF recognized that the Plaza Theater project was not simply about preserving a building. The restoration of the Plaza Theatre was also about energizing the surrounding community and following its reopening in December, 2025, it has become a catalyst for cultural connection, offering world-class programming in Palm Springs while remaining accessible to all.
The beautiful lobby bar greats patrons as part of the fully-restored Plaza Theater.
“We are deeply honored that our restoration efforts were recognized by the respected and revered California Preservation Foundation,” said J.R. Roberts, President of the Plaza Theatre Foundation. “Partnering with Architectural Resources Group ensured that the comprehensive restoration of our historic structure would be executed in the best possible way. The Plaza Theatre restoration was a significant project, and this award confirms that our combined hard work was worth it.”
The Plaza Theatre restoration was selected by the CPF for the following criteria:
The project was a comprehensive effort to balance the building’s historic character while equipping it for success as a modern performance venue.
The scope of the project included extensive 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.
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.
As part of the award ceremony, representatives from Plaza Theatre Foundation and Architectural Resources Group presented a detailed summary of the extensive project, which relayed the painstaking work that went into many project elements, such as discovering the original paint color hue, replicating original light sconces, retouching original hand-painted murals, and uncovering and restoring the long-obscured theatre proscenium.
“It’s a real honor to have our work at Plaza Theatre recognized by the California Preservation Foundation,” said Jason Currie, Senior Associate and Architect of Architectural Resources Group. “Congratulations to the Plaza Theatre Foundation, whose commitment to preserving the building and vision for its future made the project not only possible, but an incredible success.”
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
