orchids and onions 2012

i can't remember if i've ever posted about this,
but because this most recent one was special,
i'm spending a few minutes tonight to complete a post i started 2 wks ago.

orchid and onions is an annual event which draws architects, designers,
students and really anyone who really cares about san diego's built environment.

in a nutshell, here's how it works.

projects from all over the city are nominated by san diegans for either an orchid or an onion, 
and a jury made up of architects, designers, professors, students, etc. review the submissions,
and narrow them down.  next, they spend an entire day visiting these projects and afterwards,
they sit and discuss their merits and inadequacies and make their final votes.

several weeks later, an awards ceremony is held at some hip venue in san diego,
but not before owners are notified of their award {good or bad} and invited to the event,
to accept their award. it's all done in a respectful way, and though poorly designed projects
often get groans, the ones that show up to receive their 'onion' get applause for having balls
to get up there in the first place, especially when the owner insists their project isn't deserving
of an onion.

two years ago, christopher and his team took home an orchid for high tech high chula vista {9-12},
and this year, high tech high chula vista k-8 received an orchid as well.

here's what the jurors said about the school:

Taking several cues from its Orchid-awarded high school neighbor, High Tech High K8 borrows colors and sweeping roofs while adding a funky “quilt” pattern of corrugated metal cladding, and sharing the inspiration of rich ranching traditions and the rolling landscape of its setting.

K8’s entry is announced from the campus walk by a forest of wing-shaped shade cloth awnings which provide protection for outdoor lunch areas. The lively patterns, layout and colors in the play yard reflect collaboration with the middle school students, making it “very easy to understand why a kid would want to learn here.” With generous windows framing views to the nearby hills, and its precise orientation, the building and overhanging roofs provide protection from the sun’s glare while maximizing natural daylight within. Huge bay windows also flood the elementary classroom wing with light, and enliven the room by cleverly serving a dual purpose as reading nooks. The connection of classrooms to the natural environment allows the outdoor area to acts as bonus space for group and individual activities.

The design is simple and straightforward, yet utterly engaging. Everything about High Tech High K8 makes so much sense, and money was spent in all the right places; every school should apply these wonderful design concepts!”

i love the last few sentences. it sums up the project so well.

HTH is a non-profit corporation, and i remember hearing c talk
often about how little money there was to build this school.
yet, the team was still able to pull off an orchid winner,
and more than that, a LEED platinum building!
for those not in the industry, this is the highest rating given
to a building for green/sustainable design {it's kinduva big deal}

c gave me a private tour before it opened last fall {2011},
and i toured it again with a group of san diego architects months later.
i remember hearing several in the group say i wish i could have gone to
a school like this.  my sentiments exactly.
{my schools seriously looked and felt like jails}