Modern Libraries in San Diego County
September 2009
Manuel Oncina was born in Casablanca, Morocco of Spanish parents. He was educated at the Universite de Luminy in France and California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. He spent his senior year in Florence, Italy. After working seven years with local San Diego architectural firms, Oncina opened his own firm in 1994. His history is one of architectural excellence with a keen sense of aesthetics and environmentally-sensitive design. He is known for his consensus-building nature and works extensively with many other architectural and landscape architect firms on a diverse range of projects.
In 1993 Mr. Oncina talked to Friends of San Diego Architecture about Two Libraries. This presentation will be about Modern Libraries in San Diego County. Libraries have changed over the years from a place where one goes for books to a place where one goes for many different reasons. The Earl and Birdie Taylor Branch Library in Pacific Beach, designed by Oncina to resemble the shape of a nautilus shell, has a meeting room that serves as a Gallery and features exhibits of local artists, rotating every 6-8 weeks. The Malcolm X Library, another Oncina design, offers a Performing Arts Center. Encinitas Library, sited on a hill with an ocean view and outdoor patio with lounge chairs, and Cardiff, a little library with a “great vibe” and special lectures and children’s events are two of the newest Oncina-designed libraries. Fallbrook and Ramona will have new libraries in the next year or two designed by a design/build team with contractor C. W. Driver, Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects and Manuel Oncina Architects. They will be state of the art and community gathering places.
Mr. Oncina recently replaced Teddy Cruz on the Centre City Development Corporation Board of Directors. As an avid draftsman and water colorist, Oncina has had a lifelong interest in fine arts. He is currently in the San Diego Foundation’s Arts and Culture Working Group. He was also inducted as a Fellow of the Society of American Registered Architects (FARA) in 2008.