Michael J. Stepner Receives the Lifetime Achievement Award for Life-Long Career of Dedicated Commitment to the Build Environment

Michael J. Stepner, AIA, receiving the Robert Mosher Lifetime Achievement Award

The American Institute of Architects, San Diego presented Michael J. Stepner, FAIA with the prestigious Robert Mosher Lifetime Achievement award, the highest honor that the San Diego Chapter can bestow upon its members. Robert 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/Coronado Bridge and the Golden Door Spa as well as many homes, commercial buildings, UCSD Campus buildings and art institutions.  The award was presented at the 2024 AIA San Diego Awards Ceremony on November 13, 2024.

After developing a profound appreciation for architecture from his early years growing up in Chicago, Mr. 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. 

Mr. Stepner started out 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 City 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 Mr. Stepner started his own consulting firm. From there he took on his most influential position of his career as the Dean for the New School of Architecture and Design. Mr. Stepner also has taught at all the major educational institutions in San Diego including UCSD, USD and SDSU. 

He 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 has 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.

Mr. Stepner has 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. 

He has served on the Balboa Park Committee, the Committee of 100 and on the Park and Recreation Board. He is currently serving on the Balboa Park Design Review Exploratory Committee and is Chairman of the Balboa Park/San Diego High School Connections Working Group.

Jamie Intervalo, AIA, President of AIA San Diego Board of Directors noted, “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.”