First of all, lets address all of those people throwing around accusations of "bitter feelings" by people who think this is an onion. I have no affiliation to any building/desing/engineering firm that may, or may not have had the potential to be involved in this project. However I do have a background in design and am currently finishing up a degree in architecture and agree with the nomination class as an onion. Secondly, as for the environmental factor, USGBC is currently involved in a class action suit, and "among other allegations, the suit argues that USGBC is fraudulently misleading consumers and fraudulently misrepresenting energy performance of buildings certified under its LEED rating systems, and that LEED is harming the environment by leading consumers away from using proven energy-saving strategies." LEED is not the system that the general public think it is. There are many more passive, environmental ways to design that are not addressed by LEED, because, these methods do not make the privately owned, for-profit company, USGBC money from advertisements posted on their site. That aside, this appears to be one of those structures that we now think looks cool and modern, but will look boring and dated in a few years, causing us to wonder what we were thinking. A few little asymmetrical cutouts will not compensate for the entire lack of origionality in the details and design.

The building exhibits a strong sustainability approach; the Architect and University are tracking it through LEED. As submitted, it is currently Silver LEED, but when reviewed it is possible it may make it into the Gold category. LEED takes into account the placement of the building on the site and improvements that are made to the site, water efficiency, how energy is used in the building and it's impact on the reduction of the use of fossil fuels, selections of building materials that reduce various types of waste and harm to the environment, and the indoor environmental quality (promoting a healthy atmosphere for occupants). The strongest area of the LEED application is in the Innovation and Design Process - 5 points are possible in this area and all five have been taken. Innovation includes Exemplary performance in public transportation access, their Maintenance and Operation Plan, Exceptional Alternative Transportation, and Exemplary performance in site development. This project is not only an aesthetically important contribution to San Diego's architectural scene, but sustainably driven and executed. Orchid, absolutely.

It's not just the architecture but the location. To appreciate how awful this building is you have to drive along La Jolla Village Drive. UCSD normally does great site planning but this is too close to the roadway for the scale of the building and the height of the pad above the road. Context is important from both the campus side as well as the public side. Post pictures from that perspective and it is obvious this deserves an onion.

I was shocked and embarrassed when I helped a new graduate student move into this building. The grey concrete floors and ceilings are hideous and cold within the apartments and in the hallways, the lighting is awful (especially in the kitchen), and the circulation was terrible. Can you believe new housing in La Jolla, CA that has one of the most temperate climates in the world has windows that are extremely difficult to open (the 2nd latch is very high and difficult to reach) and there are no screens on any of the windows. It must have been 90 degrees in the apartment on the night we moved in and we were unable to find any air controls to adjust. The built-in "desk" is very small and not adjustable up or down and incredibly poor ergonomically, as is the chair that is provided. The closet in the bedroom is shocking as well. It is quite small, and there is a hanging white rubber sheet (literally looks like a shower cover) in front of the closet. No bookshelves, built-in or otherwise, for graduate students! The colors alone deserve an onion, but the interior may deserve the onion of the decade!

The building's massing provides great interest to the exterior. I imagine the interiors benefit greatly from the variety as well. A far cry from the masonry box dormitory of my college days!

At first glance you have to take a second harder look to reassure yourself that the color is definitely the disgusting color you thought it was. I have been working on the project for about a year now and it is easy for me to let my friends know which building I have been working on because I just reference the ugly green color and they all know which one I am talking about. If you think that the outside is bad then you should see some of the colors on the inside, YUCK!!! I can kind of see that they are trying to go with a modern look with concrete ceilings, walls and floors but do you really want to live in a cave. Everything echoes in there. Can you imagine being a student there and trying to study when you can hear your loud neighbors and their music from 5 doors down! You should try going into one of the units on the east side that face the sun in the morning. It gets to be about 90 degrees by 9:00 AM. There is no AC and very poor design for air circulation. I feel sorry for some of the students who are going to wake up drench in sweat because they live in a hotbox! I know that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder but do some of you seriously think this is an orchid? As for me, it is a definite ONION!

A beautiful, contemporary building with a wonderful sustainability message! This is definitely an ORCHID!

This building is beautiful!

Sounds like sour grapes from the original "onion" poster that may be an unimaginative designer that didn't make the cut on the opportunity to participate in this exemplary project.

We have walked this new site and toured this amazing complex. The entire site is stunning, relative and environmentally compatible to the university campus. Webcor Builders can be proud of this unique UCSD design and build project which mixes futuristic modern design with "green house" influences. And UCSD can be proud of its completion of residency complexs that promote leading edge technology, compassion for the community, and a commitment to providing a sustainable environment for future generations. San Diego, you have a winner, and you should be proud! UCSD - you have our Orchid Vote!!! Northern California

As a supplier of non-architectural products to the building, I must say this is one of the most beautiful buildings student housing buildings I've ever seen. Regarding the comments about the appearance of the building, the author must have some really weird ideas of how buildings should look. Truly a gem of a building, and an orchid of a building.

With a few notable exceptions, UCSD is not a bastian of cohesive, appropriate, modern architecture. There are far too many, designed in isolation, buildings which don't honor the context, but in fact dominate it (whether intentionally or inadvertently). This project unfortunately falls in this camp; kitschy, lopsided proportions, dischordant elevations that are chaotic and unresolved. The nominator got it right.

This building brings a modern and contemporary feel to the UCSD campus. It promotes a unique visual effect that inspires learning and artistic creative expression. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to call this beautiful piece of San Diego home in the coming semester.

No way this is an onion

This is one of the most innovative buildings on campus. From what I understand, the campus and moreover the Housing group on campus is gaining the use of this facility nearly a year ahead of projections. The architecture is aweinspiring, from the cut outs in the mid levels, to the slices taken from the roof structure, my hat is off to Valerio Dewalt Train and their partner Webcor.

Let's break this down line-by-line in the nominator's own words: - The background information on the project, though correct, is limited and lacking credit given to the builder, Webcor Contractors, and the owner, UCSD Housing & Dining Services in conjunction with FD&C, who are owed just as much credit for bringing in such a beautiful project. - Next, "inappropriate scale within the coastal zone"...This project rises above the eucalyptus trees, yes, but as it rises the form has been broken up to limit it's visual weight. Only an architect lacking fortitude would shy away from having a strong presence on an 8 lane, incredibly busy thoroughfare. The value of this project is in giving the campus a presence right up to the edges of the site. You cannot even see the ocean from the roof, so no need to play the coastal zone card, this project didn't even need to submit to the Coastal Commission. - "Poor quality materials"...I only need to dismiss this by quoting the author's own words from later in his paragraph - "the vocabulary that has passed the test of time...concrete and glass". Because this building IS built of concrete and glass. Now, one might ask about the stucco in between. The system used on this project is not the typical 3-coat system, but instead a 4-coat system with an acrylic coat on top providing our smooth finish and incredible resistance to cracking. Extensive control and expansion joints were used which also helps break the facade down in a similar way to the other concrete buildings on campus. But because of the stucco, I would argue this project has a more residential feel than many of the other residence halls on campus. - "Poor...color selection"...Again, I need only reference the author's own words - "the vocabulary that has passed the test of time...silver eucalyptus". Yes, the field color is relatively white, though a slight hint of tan was incorporated to help the aging process the author so fears. But the green was chosen because of how closely it matches the leaves of those very eucalyptus trees this person holds so dear. We'll leave it at that. The remainder of the author's comments stink of the bitterness of the chubby kid always picked last.

I have to disagree with the author on the stinking onion that new Health Services Grad Housing received. It’s too bad that the author prefers the mentioned concrete and glass buildings to the ALSO concrete and glass Rita Atkinson building. Looks like the UCSD planners decided to broaden their vocabulary a bit. Do a little research and check out the structures that the author noted. Personally, I feel some of them echo the doldrums of a maximum security prison. All I can say is thank goodness that UCSD swayed from their typical method of operation and ventured into uncharted territories. They discovered a rare and exotic orchid nestled in a field of ordinaries.

http://hdh.ucsd.edu/RAR/images/rita_IntBanner_home.jpg Here is link to a different angle of the Rita Atkinson Residences. Definitely does not deserve an onion.

Perhaps the person that nominated this project to be an onion instead of an orchid was confused by the categories, because there is no way this project could receive anything but the best in nomination. From the moment I spotted the building in the distance along La Jolla Vollage Dr., I was enchanted by it. It's sharp lines, unique color, and clean design are intriguing and impressive. The Rita Atkinson residences stand out from the campus with a brilliant sophistication (not unlike the graduate student individuals that will be residing in them), yet softly blend in with the overall modern architectural theme of the campus and wonderful greenery of La Jolla. This project is the result of careful planning and thoughtful development. It is both esthetically pleasing to look at and pragmatically designed for easy living. Just as the orchid flower is beautiful and distinguishable, this project beholds a unique attraction and allurement that cannot be ignored. This project is an orchid.

I wholeheartedly challenge anyone who calls the Rita Atkinson building an 'Onion'. Here's why: San Diego is largely filled with lackluster, superficial, and uninspired architecture and recreations of the past from other regions. Especially La Jolla! We should be celebrating and encouraging the risks taken to bring this structure to fruition - as it provide us with a fresh, artistic, forward thinking piece of art that is functional and inspiring those both on and off campus. As a UCSD alumni, I have been proud watching this building go up, and am now thrilled to see the final product. So many architects focus on recreating elements of the pastin there work....However, UCSD is a place of the future, and this structure represents exactly that! Just look at its sharp edges, unique spaces, and seamless flow. This is a call to San Diego architectural critics: let's start thinking outside the box and celebrate risks and unique architecture that will bring identity to this city. Thank you to the architects, builders, landscapers who came together to help achieve this goal!

The building is modern, unique, stylish and beautiful. I personally think this building is a wonderful addition to our campus and it gives a fresh feel to our school.

The person who nominated this project as an Onion obviously doesn't know what they are talking about. They must work for the design teams that lost the design build bid to UCSD. Bitter...

This building is super cool

I would have to disagree with the onion nomination. The job looks contemporary and sophisticated like the rest of the newly developed campus and should be nominated to an Orchid because of its unique and functional design. Not only is it one of the more inexpensive housing projects on the campus but its location and feel give the campus a modern look. I've seen many housing condos downtown that dont look as nice as this one, inside and out. Definitely an orchid.

I disagree that this project is an Onion! It is truly an Orchid!! Anita Villani Barnes, Owner Anita Fire Hose Company Etc.

UCSD is known for it's unusual buildings, and this is no exception. I disagree with the Onion nomination and call this a seemingly rare and extraordinary Orchid. This building is a direct link to the modern and future "outside the box" method of design as seen from Valerio, who by the way provided their creative expertise in what obviously met with the standards and culture of the UCSD campus. In view of the other buildings on campus, it is clear that it provides a majestic scene to minds inquring the processes of design, architecture and sustainability practices. I'd rather this building be up and in the sky than take up acres of what is now secured natural landscape. Save the bunnies!!!Obviously, whoever gave this building an onion has no clue of what materials that made this building. It's a concrete structure that will last a million years through quakes and salty weather. The building has natural light and ventilation throughout and will keep the students interested in hanging out there instead of trying to find a place more suitable. The critic also failed to mention that the building is up and running a year ahead of original schedule. It's important to have some validity before criticizing someone elses hard work.

As someone who has devoted the last 9 months of my life to the Rita Atkinson project, i'd like to invite anyone and everyone for a tour of this amazing addition to the UCSD campus. It truly is a beautiful project and I would like to use this as a forum to personally thank all of those who have been involved, whether they be cleaners, pipe-fitters, engineers, or senior vice presidents.

In contradiction to the comments above, this project is very consistent with the exposed concrete, temporary design of the UCSD campus. It is much more attractive than the dated architecture of most of the residential projects on campus.

I would like to second this nomination. This project looks better in the picture here (This must be from the interior) It looks really ugly from the road and being what most of the driving public sees, it does not speak well for the UCSD campus. The design is unoriginal, the colors are yucky. And most of all, it is too close to the road and takes up too much of the sky. It is an affront to the eys.