County Building Nominated for Orchid

Keep your fingers crossed. General Services submitted an entry for the annual Orchids and Onions contest and won a nomination for the Ohio Street Probation building. Now it’s in the running for an Orchid for public architecture.

The San Diego Architectural Foundation presents the prestigious Orchid awards to outstanding buildings, parks or plazas that enhance the beauty of our region.

Onions are the opposite of Orchids, and they are awarded to projects that well, come nowhere near Orchids.

The new Ohio Street Probation facility features modern architecture and a positive, welcoming open interior with plenty of natural light. The building includes a kitchen for cooking classes, a public food pantry and space for community meetings.

The facility is LEED Gold certified for sustainable building construction and design. And Zero Net Energy which means the building produces more energy than it consumes over the course of a year.

The public is invited to weigh in on the Orchids and Onions contest. Voting ends Friday. Winners will be announced at the Orchids and Onions Awards Gala in October.