Ottawa’s housing industry continues to draw acclaim, capturing five trophies at the 2017 provincial Awards of Distinction gala organized by the Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA). The prestigious awards, featuring prizes in 39 categories, were presented Tuesday night in Niagara Falls, Ont. In all, 11 projects by 10 local firms were finalists for the awards.
Veteran trophy-winner RND Construction saw both its nominations turn into top honours. The company took the custom home award in the 3,001-5,000-square-foot category for its Revelstoke Drive project. The home is designed by Christopher Simmonds Architect and features a striking wall of glass in the family room with a sweeping view of the large rear yard.
A second award
RND also won the home renovation award ($250,001 – $500,000) for its transformative Stairway to Haven project with Ha2 Architectural Design.
In 2016, both projects were winners at the local Housing Design Awards, where RND walked off with an astounding nine trophies. The Revelstoke Drive home also won in the custom category earlier this year at the Canadian Home Builders’ Association awards.
“My team and I are very happy to win awards at the provincial level,” said RND’s Roy Nandram. “We are also very proud to be trusted by the architects and designers who we share these honours with.”
Repeat wins
Ha2’s Houry Avedissian, who was a co-winner with Nandram on the Stairway to Haven home, was excited by the project’s fourth award. “Putting Ottawa on the map and in the conversation against the bigger cities is definitely gratifying.”
Art House Developments won a custom home prize for its Grand View project in the 3,000-square-feet-and-under category.
The company has been ramping up its profile on the awards scene lately, with three wins at this year’s National Kitchen and Bath Association local chapter design awards, a quartet of top honours at last year’s Housing Design Awards in Ottawa, and others.
“I’m really proud of the win in a very competitive category, and excited for the homeowners having an award-winning house,” said Art House’s Alex Diaz.
The company is also a finalist in four categories at this year’s Housing Design Awards, which are organized by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association and culminate in a gala presentation later this month.
Two for one
Renovation pacesetter OakWood won prizes in two categories for its Entertainer’s Dream project: outstanding home renovation up to $250,000; and bathroom renovation. The project includes a serious basement makeover complete with pool table and cosy home theatre area.
Entertainer’s Dream is also a finalist in the upcoming design awards in Ottawa.
Like RND, OakWood is a past winner at the local, provincial and national levels. Those wins include the design centre award from the Canadian Home Builders’ Association earlier this year for the company’s vast new design centre and headquarters in Orléans.
“Winning two Awards of Distinction from the Ontario Home Builders’ Association is a great honour for the OakWood Team,” said OakWood president and CEO John Liptak. “We are particularly pleased with how these projects delivered on our clients’ vision – that’s always the ultimate reward.”