Architect. He was one of southern California's most notable architects, popularizing the easy to produce "Steel Houses" in the early 1960s. He, along with his business partner Richard Harrison, and other notable architects such as William Cody and E. Stewart Williams, played a significant role in establishing the modernist aesthetic Palm Springs has become known for. Following high school, Wexler spent two years in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946 and later enrolled at the University of Minnesota where he began to explore the modernist style, which would come to define post-war America. Following college, he went on to apprentice at the firm of Richard Neutra, a legend in southern California architecture, before heading to Palm Springs for a job in Cody's firm. In 1952 Wexler teamed up with Harrison to establish Wexler & Harrison. In 1961, the firm developed a cluster of nine steel homes in Palm Springs; seven have since become historic sites, with Steel House Development No. 2 being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After the partnership split, Wexler designed dozens more houses, commercial buildings, and schools including the El Rancho Vista Estates, Palm Springs Medical Clinic, Dinah Shore residence, Desert Water Agency and the Larson Justice Center. His crowning achievement was the Palm Springs International Airport, built in 1966. Wexler, whose career spanned 50 years, died of natural causes.
Architect. He was one of southern California's most notable architects, popularizing the easy to produce "Steel Houses" in the early 1960s. He, along with his business partner Richard Harrison, and other notable architects such as William Cody and E. Stewart Williams, played a significant role in establishing the modernist aesthetic Palm Springs has become known for. Following high school, Wexler spent two years in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946 and later enrolled at the University of Minnesota where he began to explore the modernist style, which would come to define post-war America. Following college, he went on to apprentice at the firm of Richard Neutra, a legend in southern California architecture, before heading to Palm Springs for a job in Cody's firm. In 1952 Wexler teamed up with Harrison to establish Wexler & Harrison. In 1961, the firm developed a cluster of nine steel homes in Palm Springs; seven have since become historic sites, with Steel House Development No. 2 being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After the partnership split, Wexler designed dozens more houses, commercial buildings, and schools including the El Rancho Vista Estates, Palm Springs Medical Clinic, Dinah Shore residence, Desert Water Agency and the Larson Justice Center. His crowning achievement was the Palm Springs International Airport, built in 1966. Wexler, whose career spanned 50 years, died of natural causes.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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