About Orchids & Onions
Orchids & Onions is an educational program dedicated to promoting outstanding architecture, planning, and urban design throughout the San Diego region, and it stands as the only interactive, community-based initiative focused on raising awareness and encouraging meaningful discussion about the city’s built environment.
Each year, a jury of design professionals and artists reviews public submissions across categories such as architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and historic preservation to determine the official Orchids & Onions recipients. The program’s success depends heavily on the participation of San Diego residents, as public nominations and feedback play a crucial role in shaping the planning, growth, and future development of the city, so community members are strongly encouraged to take part in this shared process and contribute their voices.
View selected scenes from the a Orchids & Onions Jury Tour
How it works
Nominating
Nominations will open around May. Visit the nominations page to nominate your favorite projects. Categories include architecture, interior design, urban planning, landscape architecture, historic preservation and “miscellaneous”- anything not covered by other categories. Share and comment on your favorite entries as those that get the most attention from the community will make the shortlist for consideration for the People’s Choice award. View our evaluation criteria.
Jury Process
After nominations close, a multidisciplinary jury convenes to cull the nominations for the year’s harvest for best and worst. Made up of design professionals, plus one student and one member from the general public, the jury tours the cream of the crop, traveling to each project for firsthand evaluation. Jurors then deliberate on which entries earn a spot at the winner’s table (our orchids) versus those that need to be composted (the onions).
Cast Your Vote for People’s Choice
You and other San Diegans determine the nominees and winners for each year’s People’s Choice Orchid and Onion*. This is how it works. All nominated projects are fair game for the People’s Choice Award. Votes are cast online to determine the year’s People’s Choice Orchid and Onion*.
Awards Gala
Join us for a fun-filled, thought-provoking night of commentary and discussion about San Diego’s built environment as we award the orchids and onions. Attendees include design enthusiasts, industry professionals and city leaders who all bring their energy and insights. The Orchids & Onions Awards Gala is held each year in October, we hope to see you there!
Past Winners
Orchids & Onions 2026 is October 2nd!
Since 1976, Orchids & Onions has invited San Diegans to reflect on the buildings, spaces, and places that shape daily life in our region. At its core, the program is grounded in public participation. Each year, community members submit nominations, celebrating projects that elevate our city and identifying those that prompt us to ask how we can do better.
The season culminates each October with the Awards Gala, where the built environment community gathers to recognize excellence and continue the dialogue about how San Diego grows.
In its 50th year, Orchids & Onions stands as both a celebration of impact and a reaffirmation of the shared responsibility to shape our region thoughtfully in the decades ahead.
Sponsorship Opportunities
When you become a sponsor for this vital and vibrant program, you not only support its continued and future success, you also make your organization visible to a unique audience of professionals and fellow citizens committed to inspired place making.