Kevin deFreitas, president of the San Diego Architectural Foundation (SDAF), will keynote the Friends of San Diego Architecture’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of Orchids & Onions, San Diego’s annual awards program. It honors the best in local architecture with Orchids, while other projects that come up short – they get Onions.

DeFreitas will share the podium with Mike Stepner, who joined other architects in founding the awards program in 1975. Both speakers have been active in local groups for decades, striving to elevate the quality of San Diego’s built environment.

Besides architecture, O&O includes landscape architecture, historic preservation, lighting, signage, urban design, and public policies. Projects in the Tijuana metropolitan area as well as San Diego County are eligible.

DeFreitas and Stepner will cover the history of O&O, the 50th anniversary gala, and the current state of design in the region.

Kevin DeFreitas, FAIA, a native San Diegan, graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.A. in architecture in 1992. He worked for various firms before starting his own in 1998. He has served as president of the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects and on the City of San Diego’s public arts commission. He also was an adjunct professor at the NewSchool of Architecture & Design.

Mike Stepner, FAIA, a board member of the Friends of San Diego Architecture, earned his architectural degree in 1964 at the University of Illinois and moved to San Diego after serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He planned for the city for 27 years, during which he served as the official City Architect. He oversaw the revival of the Gaslamp Quarter, among many other assignments, before starting his own consulting firm. He also taught at every major college and university in the region and was a member of many boards and civic groups, including the AIA and SDAF, the official Balboa Park Committee, the Balboa Park Committee of 100 support group, and the Parks & Recreation Board.