Combining functionality and visual appeal, San Diego Fire Station 50 must be considered for an Orchid nomination. Going beyond the need to satisfy it’s utilitarian function, the designers were mindful of the community’s sensitivity to the location of the facility, and strived to enliven the basic design through the use of brightly colored bay doors, and a bold but contemporary front elevation featuring an art installation by artist Susan Zoccola. The interior of the station is no less engaging, highlighted by a spacious kitchen and dining area, with floor to ceiling windows that look out over an outdoor deck and the hillside beyond.