Seventeen Ottawa companies have been named finalists in 24 categories for this year’s provincial housing awards. The 2026 Awards of Distinction put on by the Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA) saw more than 600 entries across 51 categories, representing everything from new homes and renovations to sales and marketing.
This year “has seen a record-breaking number of projects submitted,” says Scott Andison, CEO of the OHBA. “It speaks to where our industry is right now — we have faced several tough years, but we are seeing improvements across the board due to policies put in place by all levels of government. I am incredibly proud of our members and their work.”
Leading the pack locally is Amsted Design-Build with eight nominations, including being named a finalist for both renovator of the year and small volume builder of the year. It’s the second year in a row that Amsted was nominated in both categories. The company has also won the renovator of the year category a record seven times, including last year.
“Being recognized year after year is something we’re incredibly proud of, and never something we take for granted,” says Stephanie Haw, Amsted’s director of human resources and marketing. “Every project is deeply personal, shaped by the home itself and by the people who live there, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see a broad range of our work recognized at the provincial level.
“To also be named a finalist for both Ontario renovator of the year and Ontario builder of the year (small volume) is a reflection of the experience, care and commitment our team brings every day. It’s a standard we’ve worked hard to build, and one we remain committed to with every home.”
Amsted’s other nominations are for two renovation projects — one valued up to $250,000 and the other valued between $250,001 and $500,000 — an additional dwelling unit in a renovation (a new category in these awards), a bathroom renovation, and the amenity space for a basketball court built into the basement of a custom home.
Linebox Studio had the second-most nominations locally with four: the category of custom home over 5,000 square feet for a zed-shaped home with Sanchez Homes; and three with CLV Group for the office-to-apartment conversion of 360 Laurier that included the categories of high-rise building (11+ storeys), lobby entrance and amenity space.
“We’re thrilled to see Zed House named a finalist for this year’s OHBA awards,” says Linebox principal architect Andrew Reeves. “The design started with a simple problem: a boxed-in lot and a (request from the client) for natural light all day. Our answer was to bend the house into a ‘Z’ shape, opening the centre of the home to light from every angle. It’s wonderful and rewarding to see this innovative thinking recognized.”
The building 360 Laurier is Linebox’s second completed adaptive-reuse project with CLV, adds Josée Anne, partner and project architect. “We took the 1968 office tower and reimagined it, preserving its embodied carbon and character while helping re-enliven downtown Ottawa. It was important to us that the lobby connect to the street and feel inviting, and that the amenity spaces act as a true extension of the residences, not just an add-on.”
Three companies each netted double nominations. RND Construction got the nod in the low-rise green building category for Cunningham Park Modern, a bungalow renovation that was named the All Things Home People’s Choice Award winner in the 2025 Ottawa Housing Design Awards.
“This is our speciality, so it makes sense that we are a finalist,” says RND founder Roy Nandram, referring to the company’s focus on energy-efficient and sustainable construction.
He was also thrilled to be named a finalist for renovator of the year, joining Amsted among the three finalists in the category. “We are excited that RND made two finalists among 600-plus submissions.”
Also registering two nominations was Lagois Design-Build-Renovate, for home renovation up to $250,000 (competing against Amsted) and in one of the marketing categories for its website. Earlier this year, Lagois won the website category in the Canadian Home Builders’ Association National Awards for Housing Excellence.
Builder eQ Homes also got a nomination for its website in the Ontario awards, as well as being named a finalist in another marketing category for the branding and identity of a collection of penthouse suites at its Spencer condo building at Greystone Village in Old Ottawa East.
Other local nominees
Other local nominations included:
- Minto: a production home category for the 2025 dream home in the CHEO Dream of a Lifetime lottery
- Urbandale Construction with Laurysen Kitchens: attached multi-unit home for the Knightsbridge at Leitrim Flats
- Corvinelli Homes: new-build additional dwelling unit
- The Conscious Builder with ARCA-VERDE Architecture: low-rise green building, competing against RND
- Glenview Homes: new-home kitchen over 2,500 sq. ft.
- Caivan with Q4 Architects: model home over 2,500 sq. ft. for the Stonehaven Loft at The Conservancy in Barrhaven
- Land Ark Construction: small volume builder of the year, competing against Amsted
Winners will be announced at a gala at the OHBA’s annual conference in Collingwood, Ont., on Sept. 29.
See the full list of finalists.
