La Mesa Police Station Receives “Onion Award”

What does receiving an “Onion Award“ imply? The San Diego Architectural Foundation’s “Onions and Orchids” jury bestowed the name upon the behemoth new La Mesa Police Department building and station. The Foundation found it to be an “aesthetic stinker,” and gave it the 2010 “Onion Award.” The huge police station is the most expensive construction of a public building ever in the history of the city.

The designers chose to opt for the practicality of having no windows in the holding cells or evidence lockers, reflecting an austere but practical site plan and façade.

History of the La Mesa PD

Beginning in 1927, there were many iterations, expansions and developments of the La Mesa Police Station over the years. In fact, in 1951, the City Council approved plans for both a new police and fire station at the mere price of only $85,000. And that was for both! The facility of that time offered the latest technology which included a fingerprinting lab, dedicated radio room and photo lab. 

In 1966, construction of a  two-level, modern style police station got underway. It offered sub-level structure with more options, six-cell jails and indoor firing range. The 15,000 square foot space accommodated the ever increasing La Mesa police force. The City had always aimed at practical application. The cost for this expansion was $200,000.

Construction of the newly modern facility was approved by La Mesa voters in 2004 and was completed in the fall of 2010.  The new station has approximately 45,000 square feet of office/station space and 49,000 square feet of subterranean level garage space. The cost for the construction was approximately $14.7 million. 

The new La Mesa Police Department can comfortably accommodate a staff force of over 100 along with 50 volunteers. And it still has room to grow.  The new building is equipped and ready to serve the city with ever increasing protection, public safety and technology as they move forward.

Congratulations on the Onion Award. And here’s “winking” at ya.

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