Check in on the third floor of the historic courthouse at 300 N. Dixie Hwy.; follow signage when you arrive.

Is the venue accessible?

Yes, the program location is wheelchair accessible—contact the organizer in advance for specific needs.

Are there member discounts or free admission?

Attendance is often free for HSPBC members; members should use their seven-digit HSPBC number when booking to receive the discount.

Who should I contact for member ID help?

If you do not know your member ID number, email Sharon Poss at sposs@pbchistory.org for assistance.

Is there an age requirement to attend?

No minimum age is specified in the event details; check the booking page for any updates or restrictions.

Do I need to register in advance?

Yes, reserve your spot through the event booking link to ensure seating and to confirm any member discounts.

Palm Beach By Design: Then and Now — Architectural Panel at the Historic Courthouse | Guided Tour | History Tour

Palm Beach By Design Then and Now brings a concentrated hour-and-a-half of design conversation to the historic courthouse at 300 N. Dixie Hwy. in West Palm Beach. This panel pairs leading local practitioners—Robert Bell, Lisa Erdmann, Joe Morin, and John Melhorn—with moderator Jeff Sophir to map how architecture, landscape, and luxury construction shape the face of Palm Beach today. Expect grounded professional talk about civic scale, residential detail, and the material choices that endure in coastal Florida.

The program opens with remarks by Shanon Materio and unfolds on the courthouse’s third floor, a civic interior that frames the conversation in plaster, woodwork, and period light. The venue itself is part of the story: hearing about design inside a preserved municipal building makes the past-and-present comparison tangible, from façade rhythm to window proportions. Guests will leave with a clearer sense of how regional climate, palm-dominated planting palettes, and shoreline pressures influence decisions from hardscape to interior finishes.

This event suits architects, designers, preservation advocates, and curious travelers who want context beyond the brochure. Topics tend to range from landscape strategies for salt-prone species to the economics of luxury residential construction, and the panelists’ varied perspectives create a practical through-line: how to design well for place, not just for image. The format—one moderated conversation followed by a reception—makes it easy to ask focused questions and follow up with presenters afterward.

Logistics are simple: check in on the third floor; the historic courthouse address is 300 N. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach, FL 33401. The space is wheelchair accessible. Bookings for members may require a seven-digit HSPBC member number to receive a discount; if you need help, email [email protected]. No specialized gear or physical exertion is required—just bring business cards and a notebook if you plan to network.

Photographers and writers will appreciate the courthouse’s architectural details and natural light during the afternoon reception, while design students can catalog real-world examples mentioned during the talk. Because conversations focus on the local built environment, attendees gain immediate takeaways to apply at home or on-site visits across Palm Beach and neighboring neighborhoods. For anyone keen on how place shapes practice, this short program is a concentrated primer on living and building in coastal South Florida.

Attendance is often free for members of HSPBC, a detail worth confirming at booking; nonmembers can still attend by reserving a spot through the event link. The reception that follows creates a low-pressure setting to compare notes with practitioners and local advocates, trade business cards, and spot local design trends firsthand. Whether you are evaluating a renovation project, studying regional landscape design, or simply curious, the panel condenses years of practice into actionable ideas you can test on-site with confidence.

About Historical Society of Palm Beach County

Historical Society of Palm Beach County preserves and shares the history of Palm Beach County from its early settlement through modern times. Located in West Palm Beach, the Society operates the Richard & Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum in the historic 1916 courthouse, hosting permanent and rotating exhibits that chronicle local culture, tourism, and community life. The Society offers a range of public programs and experiences, including guided and self-guided museum visits, educational school group tours, interactive mock trials, seasonal events, and lecture series.

Educational school group tours provide focused 90-minute experiences tailored to different grade levels, with options to explore the 1916 courthouse or participate in an interactive mock trial for older students. Museum general admission includes access to the 'Places' exhibit and self-guided exploration of artifacts and stories from across the county. Specialized experiences highlight unique local narratives: 'Wish You Were Here: Tourism in the Palm Beaches' examines the evolution of regional tourism; 'Sunshine Cinema: Florida in Film' explores the state’s filmmaking history; and community events such as Haunting History, Cocktails in Paradise, and Women’s History Initiative present thematic programming for different audiences.

The Society supports public engagement through history talks and private experiences hosted in historic spaces. As a long-established cultural organization based in West Palm Beach, the Historical Society of Palm Beach County collaborates with local experts, docents, and community partners to offer educational, immersive, and accessible history programming for residents and visitors alike. Admission options and event schedules are available on the website.

Palm Beach By Design: Then and Now — Architectural Panel at the Historic Courthouse

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