Ottawa’s always-plucky housing industry is taking on the rest of the province with 18 finalists for the coveted 2025 OHBA awards.
Presented by the Ontario Home Builders’ Association, the OHBA Awards of Distinction honour Ontario’s best across a spectrum of categories, from production and custom homes to green building, renovations, room design, marketing and more. There were more than 400 entries this year (down from 560 last year) vying for 50 awards as well as several special awards.
Three finalists are named in each category, with the exception of the OHBA People’s Choice Award, where five finalists compete for top honours.
Winners will be announced at the annual gala on Sept. 30 in Blue Mountain, Ont.
Here’s a look at the Ottawa finalists:
Amsted Design-Build
Amsted Design-Build leads the pack with a total of six finalist nods. A regular winner at the national, provincial and local levels, Amsted is up for awards in both new-home and renovation categories as well as being tapped for both Ontario builder of the year (small volume) and Ontario renovator of the year, which it’s already won a record six times.
“We’re honoured to be recognized among Ontario’s leading builders and renovators, with this year’s selections celebrating our commitment to both custom homes and renovations,” says Amsted’s Stephanie Haw. “It’s a proud moment that reflects the trust our clients place in us, the strength of our team, and the relationships that make our work so rewarding.”
Pointing to Accessible Elegance, Amsted’s finalist for a renovation project between $250,001 and $500,000 (see photo at top of the page), Haw says the project transformed a dated bungalow into an elegant, fully accessible main floor where design and function work hand in hand.
“A hardwood ramp with frameless glass blends seamlessly into the layout, while the open plan encourages effortless movement and connection. Walnut-slatted detailing and a refined mid-century palette bring warmth and sophistication, ensuring the home feels welcoming for family and friends alike. Every feature — from barrier-free transitions to generous clearances — was thoughtfully planned, proving that accessibility can be as beautiful as it is practical.”
The project was part of the 2024 RenoTour.
Minto
Minto, another regular award winner at all levels of competition, is weighing in heavily with Oasis, its 2024 Minto dream home, the top prize in the annual CHEO Dream of a Lifetime lottery.
In keeping with its name, health, wellness and sophistication underpin the design of the 5,000-plus-square-foot home in Minto’s Mahogany development in Manotick. The home, which saw its interior designed by Tanner Vine Interiors, is up for three awards:
- production home, two to three storeys, 2,501 square feet and over;
- new-home kitchen, new low-rise home, 2,501 square feet and over (with Laurysen Kitchens); and
- new-home bathroom (with Laurysen).
Sporting a yoga studio, a private spa, a massive 13-foot kitchen island and rooftop solar panels among its cavalcade of features, the home took home two trophies at the 2025 national housing awards.
Minto is also in the running for the mid-rise building prize with its rental development 88 Beechwood and for model home, 2,501 square feet and over, with the Quinton, which includes a guest suite and was a finalist in last year’s Ottawa Housing Design Awards.
“Being named a finalist in five OHBA Awards of Distinction categories is a proud achievement for the entire Minto team,” says Mark Arnold, the company’s division president for Ottawa. “It’s a testament to the collaboration, innovation, and care that every department and individual brings to building better communities.”
MORE: 2025 national housing awards
Lagois Design-Build-Renovate
Lagois Design-Build-Renovate is competing in four categories, with its South of the Mountain renovation in the running for three of the awards:
- home renovation, $250,001-$500,000;
- kitchen renovation; and
- bathroom renovation.
Lagois is also up for the prestigious Ontario renovator of the year award.
“We are beyond thrilled to hear the incredible news that we’ve been named finalists for the Ontario Home Builders’ Association Awards of Distinction in four categories, including renovator of the year,” says Lagois owner, Jacob Kirst. Being named a finalist reflects “…the passion, expertise, and unwavering dedication that each of our team members brings to our work every single day.
“The South of the Mountain project was a very special renovation due mainly to the homeowners we were able to work with. They loved the property and area that they lived in, but the interior of the house never suited them or their lifestyle.
“We reimagined the interior layout to enhance flow, light and usability without adding square footage. Strategic wall removals opened the main living spaces, allowing for better sightlines and circulation. A reconfigured kitchen introduced a spacious island that now serves as the social and functional heart of the home.”
Architectural details and finishes further elevate the home, he adds.
“The result is more than a renovation. It’s a complete transformation that reflects not just what the homeowners wanted, but how they wanted to live.”
Lagois took home renovator of the year honours at the 2023 Ottawa Housing Design Awards.
MORE: Explore South of the Mountain
RND Construction
A finalist in three categories, RND Construction is another multi-award-winning business, which specializes in renovations and custom homes with a green emphasis and a flair for style.
“The RND team is very exited to be finalists at the provincial level,” says president Roy Nandram. “It is a testament of the caliber of work that we do.”
Ironspot Modern, with Simmonds Architecture, is a finalist in OHBA’s categories of custom home 3,001-5,000 square feet and low-rise green building one to three stories. A double winner at last fall’s local housing design awards and a finalist in this year’s national awards, the net zero, contemporary split-level home features mid-century design, walnut and iron-grey millwork, and strong visual connections between the interior and exterior (a Simmonds trademark).
RND’s second project named a finalist is battling for the new-home kitchen, new low-rise home 2,501 square feet and over trophy. Rideau Gardens, as it’s known, was also a finalist in this year’s national awards, and the overall project won three trophies at last year’s Ottawa’s local awards.
“This kitchen was designed to maximize functionality while maintaining an open, seamless connection to surrounding spaces,” says Nandram. “The careful balance of open sightlines, smart storage solutions and functional design elements transforms this kitchen into the heart of the home, enhancing both daily living and entertaining.”
