An evaporative cooler and method of operating the evaporative cooler are described. The evaporative cooler comprises a reservoir configured to contain water, a frame, and panels. The panels together at least partially form a cooler housing and define an interior region of the cooler housing. The cooler housing has at least one inlet for the intake of ambient air and at least one outlet for the flow of cooled air out from the interior of the cooler housing. Media is positioned adjacent the at least one inlet such that the intake of ambient air passes through the media for heat exchange. A blower is positioned to receive air entering through the at least one inlet defined by the cooler housing and to exhaust cooled air toward the at least one outlet opening defined by the cooler housing.