Tucson Modernism Week 2026 Cocktail Party

Event Details

Join us at the 1961 Gerald S. Adelman House, designed by acclaimed Tucson modernist architect Nicholas Sakellar, FAIA, for a glamorous evening of celebration and support for Tucson Modernism Week.

This exclusive, limited-capacity event offers a rare opportunity to experience one of Sakellar’s sophisticated midcentury residences in an intimate setting. Guests will enjoy an unforgettable evening of architecture, cocktails, and live music while exploring a house that reflects Sakellar’s distinctive approach to desert modernism through strong geometric forms, carefully composed interior and exterior spaces, and a thoughtful response to Tucson’s climate and landscape.

The evening celebrates both the Adelman House and the broader legacy of modern design in Southern Arizona. Your ticket supports Tucson Modernism Week’s mission to celebrate, document, and preserve the region’s exceptional twentieth-century architectural heritage. All proceeds directly benefit the ongoing work of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation.

Each Cocktail Party ticket also includes early-entry admission to the Tucson Modernism Week Home Tour on Sunday, November 8, 2026.

Event Details

• Ticket Price: $160 per person, including Sunday Home Tour admission
• Age Requirement: 21 and over
• Photography: Personal photography only; no commercial use permitted
• Location: Private residence in the Catalina Foothills. The address will be provided to ticket holders two days before the event.
• Accessibility: Limited accessibility due to steps and narrow doorways
• Refund Policy: All ticket sales are final

This special evening offers a rare opportunity to experience the enduring beauty of Tucson’s desert modern architecture while directly supporting its preservation. Reserve your place and become part of a celebration of design, architecture, preservation, and community.

About the Architect

Nicholas Sakellar, FAIA (1918–1995) was one of the leading figures in the development of postwar modern architecture in Southern Arizona. His work combined the formal discipline and experimentation of international modernism with a deep response to the Sonoran Desert, producing buildings distinguished by expressive geometry, innovative structures, carefully controlled light, and strong relationships between interior and exterior space.

Over the course of his career, Sakellar designed residences, commercial buildings, schools, civic projects, and cultural institutions that helped define the architectural character of modern Tucson. His work remains among the most distinctive and important contributions to twentieth-century architecture in Arizona.