The Orchids and Onions awards, a fundraising program hosted by San Diego Architectural Foundation (SDAF), is back again this year with nominees for this year’s beauties and stinkers. SDAF’s awards program promotes both positive and negative community dialogue on architecture, sustainability efforts, interior design, historic preservation and landscape architecture by offering San Diego citizens the opportunity to nominate and comment on recently completed or developing projects. This year, UCSD has planted the seeds for a crop of orchids on its campus, winning three nominations so far for promising architecture and interior design while also promoting sustainable development. Nominees include UCSD’s Rimac Annex and The Village at Torrey Pines East for orchids in architecture and the UCSD Sustainability Resource Center for an orchid in interior design. All of the projects also share a commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency in its designs. Architectural nominee Rimac Annex, built by Bauer and Wiley Architects, provides additional recreational facilities including lounges, meeting areas and retail space to the existing three-story building on the hilltop overlooking Torrey Pines Cliffs. Natural ventilation circulates throughout the building and wooden-paneled screens control solar heat gain in an effort to reign in excessive energy usage. “We are thrilled to hear that the Rimac Annex has been nominated for an Orchid Award,” said Don Chadwick, director of UCSD’s Facilities Planning and Management. “Prior to the construction of the Rimac Annex, the north campus of UCSD contained a variety of very fine, but loosely knit sports facilities. The center and south end of the campus contained the Price Center and Student Center — nice gathering spots for students, but north campus needed it’s own ‘sticky place.’” Since its completion in 2009, the annex has served as the social hub for students and faculty at the north end of campus. Another notable architectural nominee adhering to UCSD’s campus-wide sustainability efforts is The Village at Torrey Pines, an eight-building, 148-unit student-housing complex with full-service restaurant and retail market. The project was designed by architect Boone Hellmann to meet LEED certification standards, setting a standard in identifying and implementing measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. “The Village is more than just a housing complex,” said Mark Cunningham, executive director of Housing and Dining Services. “From the first day of move-in, students and their parents have raved about the apartments and their sustainable furnishings as well as many architectural features of the project.” UCSD’s interior design nominee, the Sustainability Resource Center by CitiZen Design Studio, boasts an LEED gold certification from its use of sustainable materials and services in every facet of its construction. The library, meeting room and office space is home to UCSD’s Student Sustainability Collective, located in the Price Center. The environmentally friendly workspace features reclaimed and recycled flooring, countertop and casework materials, recycled glass wall tiles and a glass storefront to maximize natural lighting. UCSD officials say they adhere to high standards in sustainable practices, including the Green Building Policy and Clean Energy Standard for all proposed and renovated buildings to improve the university’s effect on the environment and reduce its dependence on non-renewable energy. For more information about building projects at UCSD, visit physicalplanning.ucsd.edu/projects or call (858) 534-2230. SDAF is accepting nominations for 2011 Orchid and Onion Award nominees until Aug. 31. Project award recipients will be recognized at the annual Orchids and Onions Awards ceremony and silent auction on Oct. 27 at Balboa Theatre. To nominate or comment on projects, visit www.orchidsandonions.org or call (619) 232-1385.