Latitude 33 Planning & Engineering Projects in San Diego County Earn Nine Awards in First Half of 2025

Sustainable and Civic Projects Honored with Regional and National Awards

San Diego, CA – Garnering widespread recognition, Latitude 33 Planning & Engineering’s projects earned nine (9) awards in the first and second quarters of 2025.   Located in San Diego County, award-winning projects include: Pacific Highlands Ranch Library, Torrey Pines Fire Station, the County of San Diego Public Health Lab, The Hacienda at Mission San Luis Rey, and Aperture Del Mar Phase II. Projects were recognized for their civil engineering excellence, successful partnerships, and innovation.  These awards continue to substantiate Latitude 33’s standing as one of the region’s leading civil engineering firms for community-focused and environmentally responsible developments.

Award-Winning Projects

Pacific Highlands Ranch Library

• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) San Diego Award: “Outstanding Community Improvement Project” 
• ASCE San Diego Award: “Outstanding Structural Engineering”
• American Public Works Association (APWA)San Diego & Imperial Counties Award:“Structures: Project of the Year”

The $28 million, 18,000-square-foot Pacific Highlands Ranch Library includes study and conference rooms, computer areas, a large community room with a catering kitchen, outdoor areas, a public art installation, and an “IDEA lab” with high-tech tools and software. The eco-friendly project has achieved LEED Silver certification.  Latitude 33 provided Sustainability, Planning, and Civil Engineering services.  The Pacific Highlands Ranch Library is one of the final elements of the 2,652-acre Pacific Highlands Ranch community.  For more than 25 years, Latitude 33 has been part of the planning and development of Pacific Highlands Ranch.  

Torrey Pines Fire Station (City of San Diego Fire Station #52)

• ASCE San Diego Award: “Outstanding Architectural Engineering Project”
• APWA San Diego & Imperial Counties Award: “Structures: Honor”

The $22.2 million Torrey Pines Fire Station is the result of a partnership between the City of San Diego and UC San Diego.  Designed to achieve LEED Silver certification, the 14,000-square-foot facility features three apparatus bays, sleeping quarters for nine personnel, two offices, an exercise room, a kitchen, a “ready” room, and on-site parking.  Torrey Pines Fire Station is home to San Diego’s first all-electric fire apparatus and a rapid electric vehicle charging station.  A decade in the making, Latitude 33 helped in the pre-planning for this fire station, and provided Civil Engineering services for the development.

 County of San Diego Public Health Lab

• Gold Nugget Award of Merit: “Best Commercial Project”

San Diego County’s new $93 million public health laboratory greatly expands the County’s ability to test for infectious diseases, monitor food and water safety, and test for dangerous pathogens. The 52,000-sq.-ft. facility serves as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Lab for San Diego and Imperial Counties, and is anticipated to achieve LEED Platinum certification.  Latitude 33 provided Civil Engineering and Sustainability services for this development.  The Public Health Lab is one element of the County of San Diego Operations Center, which Latitude 33 has supported since its inception in 2008.

The Hacienda at Mission San Luis Rey

• Gold Nugget Award of Merit: “Best Service Enriched 55+ Community Independent Living/Assisted Living/Memory Care”

The Hacienda at Mission San Luis Rey features 213 for-rent units offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, and short-term stays.  Developed by Oppidan, the senior living facility encompasses approximately 250,000 building gross square feet on eight (8) acres of land in the Oceanside community.  Amenities include an outdoor pool, pickleball court, multiple dining venues, a spa, piano bar, chapel, educational center, multiple courtyards, salon and barber services, theater and more.  Sustainable features include solar panels, efficient design, and eco-friendly technologies. Latitude 33 provided Civil Engineering services.

Aperture Del Mar Phase II Research and Development

• The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) San Diego Project Achievement Award: “Buildings, Renovation or New Construction: Constructed Value over $50 Million”
• CMAA San Diego Project Achievement Award: “Project of the Year”

Developed by Gemdale USA, Aperture Del Mar is a world-class life science campus which will serve as the new corporate headquarters for Neurocrine Biosciences, a San Diego-founded company.  The hospitality-inspired campus includes four (4) sustainably-designed buildings, an event lawn, sports courts, an amphitheater, a gym, and outdoor fitness areas.  Phase II consists of two, 140,000-sq.-ft. buildings.  Latitude 33 provided Planning, Civil Engineering, Survey & Mapping, and Sustainability services.

Matt Semic, PE, President & Principal at Latitude 33, states, “This recognition is a testament to the dedication and creativity of each project’s team.  We are honored to work with such outstanding clients and partners, who have envisioned a better, more sustainable future for San Diego.”

About Latitude 33 Planning & Engineering

Founded in 1993 and headquartered in San Diego, Latitude 33 Planning & Engineering offers a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to design.  The firm provides public sector planning, land use planning, public outreach, entitlement services, civil engineering design, and surveying/mapping to public agencies, developers, and property owners. The firm’s breadth of expertise includes aviation, life sciences, residential, education, healthcare, military, commercial/retail, civic, hospitality, and design-build projects.  Thirty-five percent of the engineers at Latitude 33 are women.  For more information, visit latitude33.com.