AWARDS AND JURY COMMENTS
1985-1989

1985 ORCHIDS & ONIONS

1985 ORCHIDS

1. HORTON PLAZA/ Fourth Avenue & Broadway, Downtown (Architecture & Urban Planning)
“Old Globe Theater Set Award.” More than a project, it is an event, and a bold statement of recommitment to downtown. The Architecture is a solution to a marketing challenge – how to bring shoppers back downtown – and it executes the solution with a playful, colorful flair. Now let this unique plan carry forward to the 4th street frontage.

2. UNION 76 CAR WASH/ 10383 Friars Rd, Grantville (Architecture)
“A Clean Solution.” It says something about the state of contemporary Architecture in San Diego when a car wash receives an Orchid for Architecture.

3. OCEANSIDE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY HEADQUARTERS/ 322 N. Cleveland St., City of Oceanside (Historic Preservation)
This building is a tribute to authenticity – a jewel inside and out. Wonderful attention to detail – it’s refreshing to see a modest building restored with respect to its humble origins as a hotel. The building, home of the City of Oceanside’s Redevelopment Agency, symbolizes the City’s determination to redevelop and revitalize its downtown area.

4. NORMAL HEIGHTS REBUILDING PLAN/ Normal Heights (Urban Planning)
Within days after the tragedy of the Normal Heights Fire, the American Institute of Architects formed a Community Design Assistance Team to provide guidelines for reconstruction. With the help from the City of San Diego, the San Diego Landscape Architects, and the Normal Heights Community Development Corporation, significant action was taken to ensure that rebuilding will occur in a sensitive and expeditious manner.

5. URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION FOR ESCONDIDO CIVIC CENTER/ City of Escondido (Urban Planning)
Applause to the City Council for involving citizens from the start in the decision making process. The council created a citizen’s committee which sponsored a nationwide design competition funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The winning entry is currently under construction and will be completed in time for Escondido’s 1988 Centennial celebration.

6. CAPITAL FUNDING & EAST LINE EXTENSION OF SAN DIEGO TROLLEY/ City of San Diego & Metropolitan Transit Development Board (Urban Planning)
This novel funding mechanism involves a private/public partnership to create a major public transportation system. Design and construction of the new Eastern extension of the line and stations has provided a catalyst for new development in the communities along its route.

7. MIDDLETOWN SQUARE/ 1747 Hancock St., Middletown (Interior Design)
An exciting example of adaptive reuse, the interior of an old beer bottling plant has been transformed into a dramatic modern office setting.

8. EXTERIOR BUILDING LIGHTING OF NAIMAN TECH CENTER/ 9605 Scranton Road, Sorrento Valley (Interior Design)
A nighttime wash of colored light on the Naiman building makes this section of Interstate 805 a pleasure to drive. The nightly change of colors makes a guessing game of “what will it be tonight?” The building sets a precedent for Architecture as a canvas, but please, take the electric ivy off the adjacent sculpture before it chokes your orchid.

9. EQUIDON PLAZA/ 10221 Wateridge Circle, Sorrento Valley (Landscape Architecture)
Landscape design in full partnership with Architecture. A very civilized complex with a large-scale waterscape system running through, and working with a modern office center.

10. THE STUART COLLECTION/UCSD Campus, La Jolla (Fine Arts)
Campus as museum, UCSD is being used as a setting for accessible public art. Each artist has been invited to select a specific site and adapt his or her sculpture to the natural setting.

11. MISSION VALLEY WATER RECLAMATION PROJECT/ West of San Diego Stadium, Mission Valley (Environmental Solutions)
“Plants working for a living.” A unique experiment using Water Hyacinths to filter raw sewage and develop an alternate future water source. We applaud the City of San Diego’s “water farm in the valley.”

1985 ONIONS

1. PACIFIC BEACH PARK RESTROOM FACILITY/ Ocean Blvd. at Diamond St., Pacific Beach (Environmental Solutions)

2. CAMP PENDLETON WALL/ Interstate 5 South of Las Pulgas Rd., Camp Pendleton (Environmental Solutions)
Don’t give us excuses!! “We must stop taking our public ocean views for granted. The view westward from Diamond Street is needlessly obstructed by a public restroom on a bluff above Pacific Beach. Likewise, the Marines erected a wall that bars views of the Pacific Ocean along an otherwise scenic stretch. What else is in store for the coastline along Camp Pendleton from the folks who are “Preserving California’s precious resources”?

3. BROOKES CANYON CONDOMINIUMS/ Avenue at Brookes Ave., Bankers Hill (Environmental Solutions)
“The Portland Cement Award”. Concrete meets canyon; concrete wins. Shame on the City Council for approving this project over Staff’s recommendations. A disgraceful assault on an endangered species – San Diego’s canyons.

4. GRADING FOR COMMUNITY OF NORTH CITY WEST/ East of Interstate 5, North of Carmel Valley Rd, North City West (Environmental Solutions)
We recognize that this property has been slated for development for sometime, but the massive grading does not fit our expectation for the adopted plan. Perhaps a more terrain-sensitive product type would have been appropriate.

5. POINTE DEL MAR/ Interstate 5 at Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel Valley (Environmental Solutions)
Extensive grading transformed one of San Diego’s most picturesque coastal bluffs into a pink imitation of an Italian hill town. Remaining portions of the bluff are also threatened. We regret the intensive treatment of the natural landforms at this highly visible location.

6. HANFORD DRIVE SUBDIVISION/ West of Interstate 5 between Genesee Ave. & Friars Rd., Linda Vista (Urban Planning)
“Bad View In – Bad View Out”. This project gives a bad name to the “in-fill” concept, which has considerable merit when properly used. There is no excuse for creating an unlivable environment in the name of affordable housing.

7. LANDSCAPE SITE DESIGN FOR HOTEL INTERCONTINENTAL/ 333 W. Harbor Dr., Downtown (Landscape Architecture)
Fiberglass rocks with headlights!! Confusing access. Contrived swimming pool area – “Last Vegas-by-the-bay”. A major disappointment when compared to the building design and interior.

8. BALBOA AVENUE OFFICE BUILDING/ 7710 Balboa Avenue, Kearny Mesa (Architecture)
“Bizarre Baroque Award”. A rehabilitation of an old garage structure in Centre City. While obvious attention has been given to the façade of the structure, it remains an unfortunate example of redevelopment design with awkward focus, poor colors and the west elevation, devoid of any architectural interest, appears to be “mooning” one of the principal entry points to Centre City.

9. CAPITOL PACIFIC BUILDING/ India St. at Ash St., Downtown (Architecture)
“Son of Darth Vader Award.” A thoroughly dehumanizing design, particularly for pedestrians. The building is situated in such a way that it encroaches significantly on the Ash Street corridor view of San Diego Bay.

1986 ORCHIDS & ONIONS

1986 ORCHIDS

1. U.S. GRANT HOTEL/ 4th and Broadway, Centre City (Historic Preservation)
Grant takes Broadway! ... the restoration of the century on the sober side of Broadway.

2. THE IMPROV COMEDY CLUB/ 832 Garnet, Pacific Beach (Graphic Design & Signage)
A theme carried out in tile, paving inside and out, and furnishings. The entire building becomes a graphic identity, and says it all in black and white.

3. FIRST INTERSTATE PLAZA BUILDING/ 5th and B Streets, Centre City (Architectural & Structures)
Design with quality materials, sitting that breaks architectural gridlock in the Centre City and a major commitment to public art.

4. RAM’S HILL/ Borrego Springs (Landscape Design)
Ram’s Hill defines “xeriscape”: the use of native, drought tolerant materials and water reclamation makes this project at home in the desert.

5. STERLING HOUSE SPECIFIC PLAN/ Mission Blvd., Guadacanal St., Oceanside (City Planning Solutions)
A salute to the Marine Corps, the City of Oceanside and the private sector for marching together in a unique plan to return land to the City for private development and private badly needed housing on the Marine Corps base. Everybody wins.

6. CHULA VISTA DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION/ 3rd Ave., between “E” and “H” Streets, Chula Vista (City Planning Solutions)
Third Avenue gets a first. This courageous revitalization brings community life back to “Main Street.”

7. SYMPHONY HALL/ 7th and B Streets, Centre City (Interior Design)
A high note in civic pride, this interior design recognizes and enhances the building’s original architectural grandeur.

8. THE TWIN INNS/ NEIMAN’S RESTAURANT/ 2978 Carlsbad Blvd., Carlsbad (Historic Preservation)
Private enterprise retains a century of heritage in this historic building. This creative renovation serves as a catalyst to preserve other reminders of North County’s past.

9. JAPANESE GARDENS, NAIMAN TECH CENTER/ 9605 Scranton Road, Sorrento Mesa (Landscape Design)
This small oriental jewel is a green and artful counterpoint to the high tech environment of Sorrento Mesa.

1986 ONIONS

1. LAUREL STREET TRAVEL CENTER/ Kettner/ Laurel Streets, Midtown (Environmental Solutions)
No laurels for the Laurel Street Travel Center, an officially designated obstruction – a blight on flight and sight. The city and developer earn a flashing red onion for this one.

2. MISSION BEACH PLUNGE/ Mission Blvd., So. Mission Beach (Historic Preservation)
The City Council votes to take the Plunge, including the building surrounding the indoor pool. We think it should be saved intact. This AIA award-winning 1925 structure is at the historic heart of Mission Beach and deserves to be restored.

3. SAN DIEGO MISSION MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING/ Mission Valley (Environmental Solutions)
An irreverent proposal to bury early California history forever under a proposed new building. Twenty years of architectural studies on this graveyard have never been released. This national issue calls for public confession.

4. ROBERT F. DRIVER INSURANCE BUILDING/ 1620 Fifth Avenue, Centre City (Architecture & Structures)
The policy on this design expired twenty years ago. San Diego’s skyline deserves better.

5. BROADMOOR COMMERCIAL CENTER/ Fourth and Robinson, Hillcrest (Landscape Design)
No orchids will ever grow in this garden of asphalt. A “xeroscape” that caters to the car, not the people of Hillcrest.

6. NORTH PARK MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS/ 30th Street, North Park (City Planning Solutions)
An onion patch is sprouting in Mid-City. Urban infill should not mean endless duplication of non-design or the sacrifice of quality of life. This is progress?

7. LA JOLLA VILLAGE GALLERIA/ 7467 Fay Avenue, La Jolla (Architecture & Structures)
Inappropriate color and design on an important corner. Is this sawtooth structure truly on the cutting edge of La Jolla architecture? We hope not!

8. UCSD SUPER COMPUTER BUIDING/ UCSD Campus, La Jolla (Architecture & Structures)
A grade F for the plain white box with the bowl on the top. An architectural non-addition to the UCSD campus that doesn’t live up to its scenic setting or to the extraordinary work performed inside. This building does not compute.

1987 ORCHIDS & ONIONS

1987 ORCHIDS

1. GLORIETTA BAY PARK RESTROOM, Orange Avenue, Coronado (Architecture)
Beauty and the Beach. This is one outhouse that’s “in.” A refreshing contrast to the unusual war zone bunker begging for graffiti. A symbolic return of great civic projects.

2. CARLSBAD GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLAN, Carlsbad, California (City Planning)
A case where the leaders followed. Though not a total panacea, this comprehensive plan calls for public facilities to be assured before development is permitted. A rational response to an emotional issue.

3. OTAY MESA LIBRARY, 3003 Coronado Avenue and Beyer Blvd., South Bay (Architecture)
An aesthetic delight in South Bay. This energy-efficient building casts a natural light on public architecture.

4. OCEANSIDE RAILROAD SWITCHING YARDS RELOCATION, Downtown Oceanside (City Planning)
Imagination and 10 years of tenacity kept this project on the right track. Moving the switching yards from Downtown provided the catalyst for redevelopment and access to the beach.

5. MAST CITY PARK, Carlton Hills Blvd., Santee (Environmental Solutions)
A park that goes with the flow. A useable public park enhanced by interpretive features, teaches us how to use the floodplain. A refreshing oasis that reflects and enhances the natural features of the San Diego River.

6. C STREET PEDESTRIAN/TROLLEY CORRIDOR, Between 4th & 5th Avenue, San Diego Center City (City Planning)
For once, pedestrians have the right-of-way, showing there are other ways to travel. This place brings together people, cafes, trees, and trolleys.

7. SAN DIEGO HARDWARE, 840 5th Ave., San Diego Center City (Historic Preservation)
After a business wrenching fire, the owner came back harder than nails. They saw the light and didn’t chisel on quality, keeping a treasured landmark and a real hardware store. Don’t file this one away – bolt down and see it.

8. CASE PALMERA CARE CENTER, El Camino Real and Via de la Valle, Rancho Santa Fe (Architecture)
Resting comfortable in the community, this peaceful convalescent home expresses a feeling that belies its institutional use.

1987 ONIONS

1. LA JOLLA EMBASSY SUITES, 4550 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego Golden Triangle (Interior Design)
A claustrophobic interior inappropriate to San Diego’s climate. The gaudy and tacky combination of materials finishes off a garden overstuffed with fish, furniture, and ferns.

2. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SAN DIEGO CAMPUS, La Jolla (Planning & Architecture)
The University of California is squandering the opportunity to create timeless architecture in a splendid natural landscape. Without a common vision, individual buildings struggle for recognition and fail to relate to each other in this beautiful setting.

3. INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL-TOWER II, West Harbor Drive, San Diego Center City (Architecture)
Symmetry is dead. A second look at the second tower tells it all. The design disregards the waterfront that could be enjoyed by all San Diegans.

4. SDG&E BUILDING EXTERIOR NIGHT LIGHTING, 101 Ash Street, San Diego Center City (Other)
Turn out the lights, the party’s over.

5. SAN DIEGUITO RIVER VALLEY TOMATO FIELDS, Via de la Valle, San Diego (Environmental Solutions)
Looks are deceiving. The conversion of the San Dieguito River Valley into agricultural use preempts long term efforts to preserve the wetland intact. When the crops are gone, will this become the next Mission Valley? Are these the killing fields to the San Dieguito Lagoon Enhancement Program?

6. DEL MAR ESTATES, Racetrack View Road, San Diego (City Planning)
The natural transition from the bluffs to the recently enhanced San Dieguito Lagoon has been sacrificed for these few homes.

7. RANCHO SANTA FE PLAZA, El Camino Real and Via de la Valle, Rancho Santa Fe (Architecture & Landscape)
Combined with previous awards, this project completes an “onion ring” around the San Dieguito River Valley. This poorly designed urban building offends the rural character of the valley.

1988 ORCHIDS & ONIONS

1988 ORCHIDS

1. LINDA VISTA LIBRARY (Architecture) San Diego
The City of San Diego took the risk and the community of Linda Vista won. The Library is a new civic landmark that begins by reflecting the neighborhood, then goes beyond. It’s an event as much as architecture, full of life and light. As libraries go, it’s long overdue.

2. GREAT WESTERN BUILDING (Architecture) Centre City, San Diego
A 50’s refugee gets a face-lift that’s cosmetic surgery at its very best. The makeover puts a handsome new face on the San Diego skyline. But, please lipposuct that sign on top.

3. ESCONDIDO CITY HALL (Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design) Escondido
A glorious civic building and terrific cornerstone of a new city center. The fruits of a national design competition ripened into extraordinary architecture, interior design and landscape architecture. Escondido leads by example.

4. MARKET STREET MURAL (Graphic Design) San Diego
San Marcos gets straight A’s for planning and commitment. This comprehensive solution joins the Civic Center and the SDSU North County College Campus in a thoughtful and thorough planning program.

5. TIGER RIVER ( Landscape Architecture, Graphic Design) San Diego Zoo, San Diego
An environment so dynamic it transports visitors to a remote rainforest replete with ground fog, tropical landscape and exotic animals. Dramatic and harmonious signage completes a wonderful information resource.

6. NIGHT VISIONS (Fine Arts) Balboa Park, San Diego
A cavalcade of stars along Park Boulevard. This public art evokes our thoughts and enhances community senses. A perfect night-time performance.

7. WINGED RUNNER (Fine Arts) Sea World, San Diego
Finally, a public sculpture deserving of the term “Fine Art.” A dynamic bronze that captures energy and motion. Winged Runner is as much a welcome surprise as Candu’s unexpected delivery.

8. SAIL BAY (Environmental Solutions) San Diego
The return of a public beach restores our faith in government. Replacing the sand and replenishing the eelgrass makes Sail Bay perfect for people and the environment. (We Gotcha a Beach!)

9. CHULA VISTA NATURE INTERPRETIVE CENTER (Environmental Solutions) San Diego
This dynamic museum in the marsh is a sensory and interactive experience showcasing San Diego Bay’s native flora and fauna.

10. LAFAYETTE HOTEL (Interior Design) San Diego
A serene and graceful retreat, the Lafayette is an unexpected pleasure of attractive and reasonable design. Without the contrived excess so commonly found in Southern California hotel interiors, this restored landmark leaves Disneyland in Anaheim.

11. CILANTRO’S (Interior Design) Del Mar
A triumph of attractive over atrocious! In a building formerly awarded an Onion, Cilantro’s provides an upbeat Southwestern setting without serapes or sombreros. The only tears here will come from the salsa.

1988 ONIONS

1. DENTIST OFFICE (Architecture) Kensington, San Diego
Form follows gingivitis. Novocain can’t soothe the pain of this inverted wisdom tooth that even exposes its roots. It’s a white blight that puts the bite on Kensington.

2. RAMADA INN (Architecture) Centre City East, San Diego
Ouch! Like a sharp stick in the eye. It’s a building that brutally assaults the street and robs the neighborhood of its scale and humanity. Don’t ever repeat this crime!

3. POINT LOMA CONDOMINIUMS (Architecture) San Diego
The synergy of poor design that is badly executed acts like a toxic substance, even threatening the gas station next door. These condos push the zoning envelope to the limit and, if not the EPA, our new City Architect should outlaw this sort of pollution.

4. LES GIRLS (Graphic Design) San Diego
A hodgepodge of signs so jumbled it couldn’t titillate a prurient interest. It may not offend the First Amendment, but how about the sign code?

5. BALBOA PARK NURSERY (City & Regional Planning) San Diego
An alien presence in Balboa Park. This industrial use has the look of a detention center. Equally important, an operation that warehouses plants for city-wide use doesn’t belong where it displaces valuable open parkland.

6. ADAMS AVENUE DEMONSTRATION BLOCK (City & Regional Planning) San Diego
A new episode in the continuing series “Planning as Punishment.” A well conceived neighborhood program promised to invigorate the street, then disparaged it instead. Community involvement was cursory, design poor and execution dismal.

7. SAN DIEGO UNIFIED DISTRICT ARTS PROGRAM (Fine Arts) San Diego
The Port District play Freddy Kruger. In a spectacular show of dexterity, the Port District eviscerates its arts committee, splits the public, and then repeatedly stabs itself in the foot. For all the time and money spent on a public arts program, a great idea and noble purpose lies in shreds.

1989 ORCHIDS & ONIONS

1989 ORCHIDS

1. CHULA VISTA WILDLIFE RESERVE (Environmental Solutions)
Lady Bug, Lady Bug, don’t fly away; South Bay Salt Marsh is filled with Scale; Help the Port District preserve the Bay, A safe solution we all hail!

2. SAN DIEGO TRUST & SAVINGS (Historic Preservation)
1928 model; one owner, original throughout, concurs condition, elegant show winner. A respectfully maintained landmark that proves an ounce of preservation is worth a pound of rehabilitation.

3. G STREET MOLE (Landscape Architecture)
Finally – waterfront space for people (to say nothing of the moles!) Thank You!

4. EASTLAKE (Regional Planning)
A 3,000 acre master-planned community that’s off to a great start. Homes, schools, infrastructure, recreation, shops, and jobs evolving in a well-integrated fashion. Close working relationship with the City of Chula Vista, a creative financing plan, and ongoing developer involvement are key elements to this project’s success.

5. THE BOULEVARD (Graphic Design & Signage)
It works, it fits, it’s great!!! A design and execution that perfectly relates to El Cajon Boulevard, as it was in its heyday of the fifties and as it is today.

6. ADVANCE BLUEPRINT MURAL (Graphic Design & Signage)
A successful marriage of Fine Arts and Business Graphics – advertising and taste can go together. What could have been another blank wall titillates one’s mind with whimsy and color.

7. JAMES R. MILLS BUILDING/ MTS HEADQUARTERS (Architecture)
Its time has come. An arresting new public building and urban plaza complex that creatively combines building materials with vivid colors and imaginative design details. A positive asset to a positive San Diego landmark.

8. DEL MAR PLAZA (Architecture)
How to design a building with 10,000 kibitzers looking over your shoulder. A difficult site, program and town; trying to make commercial space work under these difficult circumstances is a major challenge. The architect and developer are commended for producing a wonderful project with outstanding people spaces.

9. PRICE CENTER (Architecture)
Hey, it’s the Mall! No gray glass and concrete hive, this. A perfect people place to pause – ponder – peruse – plead – pickup – play; and it’s never the same façade twice. But please do something about the transformer in back.

1989 ONIONS

1. GOLDEN TRIANGLE (Regional Planning)
Like the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle; we see the streets, we see the buildings, but where on earth are all the people? A cluster of competing structures planned to be an urban node but failing in the process.

2. SAN DIEGO COUNTY OPERATIONS CENTER ANNEX (Graphic Design & Signage/ Landscape Architecture)
Is the barbwire for architectural terrorists or are the permits going to get out? It loses in all conceivable categories! The County shows complete insensitivity in doing nothing with this highly visible property. Without question, the exterior and landscaping would not be approved by the County for the lowest level of prison design.

3. EGYPTIAN APARTMENTS (Historic Preservation)
Napoleon also stripped the monuments. Awarded for stripping the ornamentation from this classic example of Egyptian Revival Architecture. One must ask, “Was this a clumsy attempt to circumvent the City of San Diego Historic Sites Ordinance?” This residential court deserved better.

4. OKEANOS (Fine Arts) Scripps Clinic
Plop! Please curb your art. Maybe they can match this with a sculpture of a pooper-scooper. Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but this artist’s glasses must be rose colored.

5. OMNI OBELISK (Fine Arts)
Where’s my rubber ducky and bubble bath? Is this a plastic study model to test public reaction? Hopefully, the permanent sculpture will be installed soon.

6. LA SCALA ( Architecture)
La Scala is La Scary – it’s certainly not pretty in pink! This hulking monstrosity is an insult to this blighted community. Giant Redwoods planted at 3’-0” on center wouldn’t be enough to hide this creation.

7. DEL MAR HILTON (Architecture)
Pseudo Tudor – “Jilt ‘em”, Hilton! Hilton Hotels ought to be ashamed of themselves. Thousands driving by daily are subjected to this eyesore. Too bad the City of Del Mar with its 10,000 kibitzers didn’t have jurisdiction over this one.

8. WEST ASH PLAZA (Architecture)
Godzilla’s Dollhouse – “I can’t believe I designed the whole thing.”

9. QUIGLEY OFFICE BUILDING (Architecture)
Too much of a bad thing. This shows what can go wrong when the developer has no control over design. Contextual Architecture, rhythm and scale were paid fleeting lip service here and supplanted by the school of thought that too much is not enough.