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Board approves redesigned shade structures for Palm Springs International Airport pedestrian zone
Summary
The Historic Site Preservation Board approved staff‑conditioned design guidance for four shade structures outside the Wexler terminal, asking for a flatter profile, quieter color and staff-level review; motion passed 7-0.
The Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board on April 7 approved staff-directed revisions to a minor Certificate of Appropriateness (case CAMI2026-0003) proposed for four shade structures along the pedestrian median at Palm Springs International Airport’s Wexler terminal, with the final designs to be reviewed and approved by staff.
Staff presented the case as a minor alteration to a locally designated landmark and National Register–listed terminal by Donald Wexler. Staff recommended the proposed locations (south end pedestrian median in front of the ticketing area) but urged a redesign of the submitted pyramidal canopy so the structures would be more visually compatible with existing post-and-beam or cabled T-cantilever shade elements already in use on the secured side of the site. Staff asked that final design, materials and color be reviewed at the staff level to limit visual impact on the terminal.
Airport planner Nikki Gomez said passenger activity and curbside needs motivated the project. Project manager Harman Singh said recent TNC ridership at the airport is roughly 400,000 people annually (about 33,000 per month) and noted Measure J funds as the stated source for the project; Singh said a custom concept sketch was estimated at about $1.9 million for four structures while Measure J allocation available was roughly $750,000, prompting staff emphasis on design-to-budget.
Vendor Dakota Shelton (USA Shade) explained technical options: a cabled T-cantilever can be engineered to produce a flatter, less visually heavy profile while preserving shade coverage; a framed pyramidal canopy (as in the applicant’s initial submittal) could also be manufactured but would present a different visual profile. The board generally favored a flatter/tensioned profile, lighter structural expression and a bronze/soft neutral color (not black or bright blue).
Board Member Hare moved — and Board Member Bachman seconded — a motion directing that the revised shade-structure design be compatible "in spirit" with existing airport structures (flatter/tensioned profile, minimal structure, softer/bronze color) and that the final design be reviewed and approved by staff for design compatibility. The motion passed unanimously, 7-0.
What’s next: Staff will take the board’s comments into final design negotiations with the airport and vendor, hold a staff-level review of final details (materials, exact color, anchor/column placement) and return to the public record only if a substantive change triggers further review.
