By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–The American Institute of Architects, San Diego presented Michael J. Stepner, FAIA with the prestigious Robert Mosher Lifetime Achievement award, the honor the San Diego Chapter can bestow upon its members.
Mosher, the award’s namesake, was a prolific architect with a career that spanned 50 years in San Diego. His work included the San Diego and Coronado Bridge, the Golden Door Spa, many homes, commercial buildings, UCSD Campus buildings, and art institutions. The award was presented at the AIA San Diego Awards Ceremony on November 13.
After developing a profound appreciation for architecture from his early years in Chicago, Stepner has shared and expanded his dedication to the profession here in San Diego for over five decades. He is a licensed architect, certified urban planner, and consummate educator.
Stepner started at the City of San Diego Planning Department where he was on a team with Bruce Appleyard and Kevin Lynch to help develop the foundational planning document for the San Diego region, Temporary Paradise. He went on to become the City of San Diego’s architect and then on to assistant planning director. During his tenure, he worked on many significant projects including the transformation of Naval Training Center into Liberty Station and the Downtown San Diego Centre City Community Plan.
After 27 years at the City of San Diego, Stepner started his consulting firm. From there he took on the most influential position of his career as the Dean of the New School of Architecture and Design. He also taught at major educational institutions in San Diego including UCSD, USD, and SDSU.
Stepner has received dozens of awards over the years including the Lambda Alpha Society’s Crystal Globe Award and Thurgood Marshall Award for Community Leadership. His leadership, perseverance, and vision have led to several monikers including Godfather of the Gaslamp, Mr. Planning, City Planning Philosopher, and the 9th Wonder of San Diego by several local newspaper columnists.
He always encouraged architects to get involved in their communities on issues that impact design and the urban experience. Over the years he has volunteered for many organizations including the Urban Land Institute, the Federal Department of General Services Administration’s Design Excellent Program, and the AIA’s Regional Design Advisory Council. His longest-serving volunteer work has been dedicated to Balboa Park.
Stepner has served on the Balboa Park Committee, the Committee of 100, and the Park and Recreation Board. He serves on the Balboa Park Design Review Exploratory Committee and is Chairman of the Balboa Park/San Diego High School Connections Working Group.
“Mr. Stepner’s role in large-scale urban projects, decades of teaching and inspiring young minds, and his continued volunteering engagements on issues critically important to our region, are an important part of San Diego’s planning, design, and development history. It’s as if the Robert Mosher Lifetime Achievement Award was particularly designed for him,” Jamie Intervalo, AIA, president of AIA San Diego Board of Directors noted.
