And the Star Goes to Richard Harrison

Richard Harrison of Wexler and Harrison fame is honored on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

Each year the Palm Springs Walk of Stars and Modernism Week honor a notable Palm Springs architect for his contribution to midcentury architecture.  This year, the star goes to Richard Harrison.

Richard Arnett Harrison was a native born Southern Californian. Born in Los Angeles June 5, 1924, Rick attended University High School in Los Angeles. He went on to graduate from University of Southern California, Los Angeles in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, Cum Laude.

After travel to Mexico and Canada, Harrison began work at William F. Cody’s firm in Palm Springs from July 1951 to February 1953, where he worked side by side with his soon to be partner Donald Wexler (who previously began his career in the office of Richard Neutra).  Harrison went on to design homes throughout Southern California including Seven Lakes, and enclaves of homes in Nevada.

Image: Esoteric Survey, Architects Donald Wexler, Richard Harrison and William Cody teamed up to design Palm Springs Spa Hotel in 1958.
Image: Esoteric Survey, Architects Donald Wexler, Richard Harrison and William Cody teamed up to design Palm Springs Spa Hotel in 1958.

Join Modernism Week in a special dedication ceremony on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars on February 12th at 2pm.  Special guests and friends of Mr. Harrison will provide insight into his important role in desert modern design and the legacy of the architecture firm he co-founded with Donald Wexler.  The ceremony is open to the public and will take place at the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion.