Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Abby Sher collection regarding Edgemar
- Dates:
- 1984-2009
- Creators:
- Sher, Abby, Frank O. Gehry Associates, Sher, Abby, and Gehry, Frank O.
- Extent:
- 40 Linear Feet 33 rolls, 24 boxes; 2 architecture models and 1 maquette for holiday tree
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
Abby Sher collection regarding Edgemar, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Edgemar Collection contains materials collected by Abby Sher pertaining to her development of 2415-2435 Main Street, Santa Monica, which combined 1908 and 1928 warehouses, a 1940's office building, and new construction to create "Edgemar," a mixed-use commercial and art center designed by Frank O. Gehry & Associates. The collection includes architectural, mechanical and electrical plans and models; and Sher's correspondence with the City of Santa Monica regarding Edgemar's development and the formation of the Santa Monica Museum of Art. A collection of photographs of the site and materials pertaining to events and festivals held in and around the Edgemar property are also included. Newspaper clippings, audio and video tapes, and promotional materials are part of the collection.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Edgemar, located at 2415-2449 Main Street in Santa Monica, is a mixed-use shopping and arts center. Its developer was Abby Sher, a local resident who was part of a family of shopping center developers. The original 1908 warehouse and a 1928 addition were built as ice storage facilities for the Imperial Ice Company. In the 1940s, the ice factory warehouses were converted to egg processing facilities for the Santa Monica Dairy Company, which built an Art Deco building on Main Street for its offices. The company name was later changed to Edgemar Farms. The dairy company was sold in 1984, prior to Sher's purchase of the property. Sher wanted to develop a mixed-use shopping center and art museum to draw people to new and contemporary art who would not ordinarily visit a stand-alone museum. In 1989 a museum — the Santa Monica Museum of Art — opened in the original 1908 warehouse, and Röckenwagner Restaurant opened in the 1928 warehouse addition that same year. Around that same time, Peet's Coffee and Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream moved into the 1940's Art Deco building. Combined with these renovated buildings, Gehry's plans added grade level and underground parking, and new buildings housing offices and retail around an open air courtyard.
- Custodial history:
-
Gift of Abby Sher, 2014-2016
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Edgemar (Santa Monica, Calif.)
- Names:
- Sher, Abby
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-12-19 09:17:13 -0800 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Partially processed collection, open for use by qualified researchers.
- Preferred citation:
-
Abby Sher collection regarding Edgemar, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.
- Location of this collection:
-
University of California, Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, CA 93106-7130, US
- Contact:
- (805) 893-2724