The Greater Ottawa Home Builders' Association celebrated the pinnacle of residential design excellence at the 42nd annual Housing Design Awards gala on November 1, 2025. A record-breaking 867 guests gathered at the Rogers Centre's Canada Hall, which was transformed with a The Secret Garden-inspired theme featuring towering twinkling trees and lush greenery.
Record-Breaking Recognition for Local Talent
This prestigious event, one of the largest of its kind in the city, recognized outstanding achievements across numerous categories including kitchens, bathrooms, new homes, renovations, and design details. More than 340 entries were evaluated through blind judging by 18 industry experts from across Canada.
Chris Hewett, an architecture professor at Algonquin College and the only local judge, noted the exceptional quality of submissions. "Homeowners looking for a renovation or new-home buyers have such a wealth of quality options available to them in Ottawa," Hewett observed during the judging process.
Standout Winners and Multiple Award Recipients
Flynn Architect emerged as the night's biggest winner, taking home eight trophies including the prestigious Designer of the Year special achievement award. The firm's principal, Jason Flynn, expressed both surprise and delight at the recognition. "The competition was incredibly strong, so I'm genuinely pleased," Flynn said. "When your name keeps being called, it takes a moment to sink in."
Collaborating with Flynn Architect on several winning projects was Casa Verde Construction, which secured six awards including Custom Builder of the Year. Casa Verde's Laura McElligot described the evening as "an incredible night for our team."
Other multiple award winners included:
- Laurysen Kitchens (six awards), celebrating its 55th anniversary
- Sonya Kinkade Design (six awards)
- RND Construction (four awards), including the Innovation Award for Renovation of the Year
- Nathan Kyle Studio (four awards)
- Amsted Design-Build, named Renovator of the Year for a record 12th time
- Minto, named Production Builder of the Year
Celebrating Design Excellence and Innovation
Linda Oliveri Blanchard, chair of the awards committee, emphasized the significance of the program for Ottawa's construction industry. "The Ottawa Housing Design Awards program is our way to highlight our local residential construction businesses, who continue to set the bar higher and higher every year, creating some of the most beautiful spaces, homes and communities that can be found across Canada," she stated.
Notable winning projects featured innovative elements such as hidden spaces, indoor basketball courts, abundant wood features, and seamless indoor-outdoor connections. One particularly acclaimed custom home by Flynn Architect and Casa Verde Construction won three awards across the custom home category, housing details, and best adaptive/inclusive design.
The awards demonstrate Ottawa's growing reputation for architectural innovation and quality craftsmanship in residential construction, setting new standards for design excellence throughout the region.
