SAN DIEGO - Three new City of San Diego facilities won Orchids last night at the annual Orchids and Onions Awards ceremonies hosted by the San Diego chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The projects reflect the quality of the City's major efforts to expand and upgrade the facilities it maintains to serve the public.

• Fire Station 37 - Architecture. The 8,500 square foot, $2.5 million fire station Fire Station #37 on Spring Canyon Road in Scripps Ranch was dedicated in November 2001. The station's Orchid came as a result of its craftsman style of architecture. It is part of a continuing expansion and upgrade of City fire facilities that includes Fire Station 44 dedicated in July 2002, and new fire stations being planned for Mission Village, Paradise Hills, and Black Mountain Ranch.
  
  
• Kroc-Copley Animal Control Center - Public Art. The innovative Kroc-Copley Animal Control Center on Gaines Street was built by the City of San Diego, is operated by the San Diego County Department of Animal Control, and shares space with the San Diego Humane Society. The $9 million facility has several public art components, including a beautiful and playful fountain with animal sculptures, decorative gates, and large murals covering the walls in the main lobby.
  
  
• Mission Valley Branch Library - Lighting. Opened on July 20, the Mission Valley Branch Library in Fenton Market Place won an Orchid for overall lighting. The $7 million library, 19,760-square-foot facility has already received awards from the San Diego chapter of the American Institute of Architects for "Best Institutional Design" and "Best Divine Details" for the library's design. It is the first City library to stay open until 10 p.m. and is open more hours of the day than any other City library branch. The new branch library is part of an overall improvement program that will build 13 new libraries and expand 11 others.

The City also received two Onions in this year's awards ceremony. One for Landscape Architecture for landscaping in medians along Palm Avenue in Nestor community and another for the graphic design of the Clairemont community's monument signs on Balboa Avenue.

Two Balboa Park proposals were also considered. The American Society of Landscape Architects' proposal for historical designation of Balboa Park's landscape won an Orchid and the San Diego Zoo's proposed parking lot expansion received an Onion.

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