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The Show Must Go On: A Frey & Chambers Church Reimagined as Dezart Performs Community Theatre

Preservation architect Susan Secoy Jensen shares the design and construction process for the transformation of a 1957 Frey & Chambers-designed church to a community theatre.

Preservation architect Susan Secoy Jensen has been involved in many preservation projects in southern California, recently the rehabilitation of the Consolidated Orange Growers Precooling & Ice Plant (winner of the California Preservation Foundation’s 2025 Preservation Design Award for Rehabilitation, and an AIA Orange County 2025 Design Award). Locally, Susan worked with modernist architect Hugh Kaptur on the highly successful rehabilitation of Kaptur Plaza, a Class 1 Historic Resource of the city of Palm Springs.

Join Susan as she shares the design and construction process for her current local project: transforming the 1957 Frey & Chambers-designed First Church of Christ, Scientist from a house of worship into a community theatre.

The Palm Springs Preservation Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is “to educate and promote public awareness of the importance of preserving the historical resources and architecture of the city of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley area. ”PSPF offers free membership as a public benefit. To learn more about the work of the foundation, see www.pspreservationfoundation.org.

Photo Credits: Susan Secoy Jensen, Julius Shulman,

Location & Attendee Information

  • What are the appropriate ages for this activity?Person No children
  • Are pets, animals, or service animals permitted?Dog on a leash Pets and animals not permitted
  • Are food and drinks permitted?Food and drink Food & drinks available for purchase
  • What are the mobility considerations for this activity?Person walking Seated activity
  • What type of parking is available?Car Parking & handicap parking available
  • What is the policy for personal effects?Bag or purse Large purses, bags, backpacks discouraged
  • Is photography permitted?Camera Personal/non-commercial photography permitted
  • Are restrooms available?Restroom sign Restrooms available
  • Is this an indoor or outdoor activity?Sun Indoor activity
  • What is the policy regarding smoking?Cigarette with smoke No smoking or e-cigarettes
  • What type of ADA accessibility is available?Wheelchair Wheelchair accessible
The organizer of this event is: Palm Springs Preservation Foundation

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