San Diego, the southern Californian coastal city, has seen a surge of growth in its downtown and nearby areas in the last 10 years, as the city pushes ahead to accommodate a younger, growing population. Areas such as the East Village, Little Italy, Bankers Hill, Hillcrest and beyond, reflect this growth, much of it haphazard, as condominium towers compete with each other for space, location and signature. Some have been deemed ‘Onions’; others, ‘Orchids’ by the voting membership of the San Diego Architectural Foundation. A notable aspect of some of this new architecture is color; bold reds, blues and yellow which inject a vibrancy into what otherwise may be considered ordinary.

Absent this color, these B&W images capture the boldness of design and juxtapositions of some of this 21st century architecture. One 20th century exception is included, and is notable for its dramatic, circular design: the Evan V. Jones Parkade, constructed in 1964.