HMC Architects, a firm dedicated to designing spaces that positively shape communities, is proud to announce its 85th-anniversary exhibition, Designing Our Community: HMC Architects in the Pomona Valley, at the Chaffey Community Museum of Art (CCMA) in Ontario, California. The exhibition opened on May 3 and runs through July 13, 2025. The exhibit showcases and documents the firm’s enduring architectural legacy, celebrating its profound influence on the region’s education, healthcare, commerce, and civic life.

Founded in 1940 in Ontario, California, HMC has designed hundreds of buildings that have shaped the Pomona Valley’s cultural and physical landscape. This exhibition offers a rare glimpse into never-before-seen photographs from HMC’s archives, documenting the firm’s pioneering work through the lens of legendary photographers Julius Shulman, Leland Y. Lee, and others.

The exhibition was inspired by Art and Community in California’s Pomona Valley, a forthcoming book by Dr. Wendy Slatkin, a nationally recognized art historian and expert in gender studies. Now retired, Dr. Slatkin spent most of her career teaching art history at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona). Her new book explores the Pomona Valley’s rich cultural and architectural heritage, providing a deeper context for the exhibition.

“For 85 years, HMC has been committed to designing spaces that uplift and serve communities,” said President and CEO Brian Staton. “This exhibition reflects our belief that architecture should create positive change—enhancing education, healthcare, and civic life in ways that make a lasting impact on the people who use these spaces every day.”

Highlights of the Exhibition:

• Iconic Local Projects: Featuring HMC’s most significant contributions, including Ontario International Airport’s first modern passenger terminal (1960), San Antonio Community Hospital (now San Antonio Regional Hospital), and the Ontario Public Library expansion.
• Shaping Education: A deep dive into HMC’s impact on local school districts, including its design of over 30 schools in Ontario-Montclair, 10 in Upland, and significant projects at Chaffey College.
• Visionary Photography: Stunning images from Julius Shulman, America’s most celebrated architectural photographer, and Leland Y. Lee, whose work defined modern California architecture.
• Industrial and Commercial Growth: How HMC helped develop post-war commercial and industrial spaces, including structures for General Electric, Lockheed, and the rise of suburban commerce in the Pomona Valley.

Designing Our Community: HMC Architects in the Pomona Valley runs through July 13, 2025. The Chaffey Community Museum of Art (CCMA) is at 217 S Lemon Ave, Ontario, CA 91761. Hours of operation are noon- 4 p.m., Thursday-Sunday. Admission to the exhibition is free.

*Photo in this story by Julius Shulman, Ontario International Airport, 1960