Edith Heath’s Tiled Facade at the Norton Simon Museum Gets a Proper Restoration

“We’d never done a real study of the condition of the tile—to study and to conserve the pieces—and to work with Heath to create new tile,” explains Leslie Denk, vice president of external affairs at the Norton Simon, about the surface that clads the vertically undulating building designed by Thornton Ladd and John Kelsey. Previous physical updates include interventions by Craig Elwood in the mid-1970s, Frank Gehry’s late 1990s gallery renovations, Nancy Goslee Power’s sculpture garden overhaul, and the Gensler-led theater remodel at the turn of the millennium.

While under the stewardship of Cathy Bailey and Robin Petravic, who in 2003 purchased the Bay Area business founded by Edith and Brian Heath in 1948, the Heath brand has resonated with new audiences, largely through the ever-evolving revitalization of its stoneware tabletop goods. Meanwhile, Edith Heath’s significant contribution to the field of architectural tile remains less discussed, outside circles of Heath fanatics and, in this case, Pasadena locals.

The original commission from architects Ladd and Kelsey called for 115,000 rectangular 5-inch-by-15-inch pieces, which Edith Heath artfully finished by layering Onyx with Red Brick glazes. The particular chemical reaction (which back then involved lead), yielded variegated dark browns, ranging from coffee ground-like shades to rusty reddish hues that were informed by the San Gabriel Mountains. These irregularly textured, densely mottled surfaces were intended for what was then the contemporary and modern art-oriented Pasadena Art Museum before reemerging in March 1975 as the Norton Simon Museum of Art at Pasadena.

In 1971, Edith Heath won the AIA Industrial Arts Medal award—the first time a non-architect was awarded this distinction—and the project helped fuel a growing demand for durable Heath products installed at buildings of all scales, from the Ford Foundation in Manhattan to the Hawaii State Capitol to private homes in Heath’s Marin County home turf. 

The tile plan is part of a subtle refresh helmed by Pasadena-based historic specialists Architectural Resources Group (ARG) in collaboration with KC Restoration builders. “The main goal was to improve the street presence and draw people in,” says architect and ARG partner Liz MacLean of the effort that began in 2023. While reconsidering the site’s pedestrian access, visibility along Colorado Boulevard, and perimeter security, the team became determined to seize this opportunity to restore the Heath surfaces.