Miller Hull

By Ray Huard

It’s that time of the year again, when architects and members of the public get to praise the best of building projects that debuted in 2019 and pan the worst in the Orchids and Onions award presented by the San Diego Architectural Foundation.

Orchids go to projects deemed praiseworthy and onions to those deemed less so.

Some might see onions as discouraging innovation but Ben Dalton, co-chairman of the program, said that’s not the intent.

“I do think onions are delivered on occasions to risk takers who may have just missed the mark, but onions should never discourage bold risks,” Dalton said. “Our hope is the conversation started by this award can make the next risk more successful, not discourage design courage.”

Dalton’s firm, The Miller Hull Partnership, has been graced with several orchids, including a 2019 award for the remodeling of its own San Diego office. It’s also up for a 2020 orchid for the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry, Phase 3 developed by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Miller Hull has avoided the dreaded onion.

“An orchid has become a coveted award in the industry over the 40-plus years of this event, and with so much great architecture being built in our city, it is difficult to achieve,” Dalton said.

Read the full story at San Diego Business Journal