Orchid 
Since 1938, the San Diego County Administration Center has served as the center of County government and one of the city’s most recognizable architectural landmarks. Rather than reinventing the building, this renovation carefully preserved the qualities that have made it an enduring civic icon while thoughtfully adapting it to serve future generations.
Completed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, the 315,000 renovation project prioritized repair before replacement, restoring character-defining features including WPA-era murals, marble corridors, terrazzo floors, bronze doors, mosaic domes, and historic finishes. Restoration-period paint colors were accurately reinstated through archival research and laboratory analysis, while in-kind materials and traditional craftsmanship preserved the building’s historic character. Modern accessibility, life safety, seismic, and major building system improvements were carefully incorporated within the existing structure, ensuring the building’s historic architecture remains its defining feature.
Today, visitors experience the County Administration Center much as they have for generations. Its restored historic materials, historically accurate finishes, and carefully integrated modern improvements preserve the building’s original character while extending the life of one of San Diego’s most recognizable civic landmarks.