Ottawa’s builders and renovators scored nine trophies Sept. 29 at the 2026 OHBA Awards of Distinction, including the coveted renovator of the year and small volume builder of the year. Organized by the Ontario Home Builders’ Association, the gala event was held in Blue Mountain, Ont.
The coveted awards recognize the province’s best in production and custom homes, renovations, room design, marketing and other categories. This year saw a record 600-plus entries (a big jump from last year’s 400) competing for 51 trophies as well as several special awards. Ottawa was represented by 24 finalists.
Here are the Ottawa winners:
Amsted Design-Build
Amsted Design-Build led the Ottawa pack with three awards, including Builder of the Year — Small Volume. The company has won provincial Renovator of the Year a record-setting seven times, including last year.
The renovator/custom builder also won Home Renovation/Addition with a value up to $250,000 for its Sage & Soul project. The renovation in a heritage-designated home entailed a makeover of the entryway, kitchen and bathroom while remaining within the original footprint. The renovation included the creation of a bright, open-concept main living area by removing a dividing wall between the kitchen and dining room and widening an existing arched opening.
Amsted’s other win was in the Amenity category for a basketball court built into the basement of a custom home.
Amsted was a finalist in seven categories this year, outdistancing all other Ottawa finalists.
RND Construction
Natural light from skylights that filters through the loft net brightens the living room in RND’s award-winning green home. Photo: Kevin Belanger Photography
RND Construction — like Amsted, a regular multi-award winner at the national, provincial and local levels — took home two trophies: one as Renovator of the Year and a second for and Low-Rise Green Building, 1-3 storeys.
“This is the first time RND has submitted for Renovator of the year at OHBA,” says company founder, Roy Nandram. “I feel my team has always done a good job in renovations and new-build while focusing on sustainability. This is our advantage in the market.”
RND’s green win was for Cunningham Park Modern, a bungalow renovation that last year won both the All Things Home People’s Choice Award and an innovation award in the 2025 Ottawa Housing Design Awards. The project saw a complete exterior and interior reworking of a 1950s bungalow, including the reconfiguration of the roof to allow for installation of solar panels as part of a net zero plan for the home, the addition of a vaulted ceiling and massive stone fireplace in the new main living area, and the creation of an attention-grabbing loft with a “floor” made of a flexible steel net.
The net loft is a unique feature, says Nandram, designed by a structural engineer with a steel perimeter concealed behind finishes. “It is like a hammock for several people, including adults and kids. As well, children can play above while the adults are relaxing below.”
Minto
Another multiple award winner, Minto captured the trophy for Production Built Home, Two Storeys, 2,501 square feet and over with The Sterling. The home was Minto’s 2025 dream home in the CHEO Dream of a Lifetime lottery.
The 5,360-square-foot home, described by its interior designer, Tanner Vine, as a “contemporary reinterpretation of the Art Deco style,” boasts a cavalcade of features, from a two-storey foyer and a first-floor office with an 11-foot-ceiling to primary suites on both the main and second floors and a plush home theatre with a massive sectional couch in the basement.
The home was a finalist in this year’s Canadian Home Builders’ Association’s National Awards for Housing Excellence.
Caivan and Q4 Architects
This year’s Model Home/Suite, 2,501 square feet and over, was won by Caivan (with Q4 Architects) for the builder’s Stonehaven Loft single-family home in its Conservancy development.
The six-bedroom model weighs in at 4,379 square feet and includes 5.5 bathrooms. The open-concept main living area is outfitted in dark tones and finishes while a third-floor loft retreat offers additional living space. The basement walk-up steps provide a secondary entrance to the home and its lower-level bedroom and bathroom.
The home is also a finalist in this year’s Ottawa Housing Design Awards, both in a production home category and for the All Things Home People’s Choice Award.
Linebox Studio and Sanchez Homes
Dubbed the Zed House because of its unconventional end-of-the-alphabet shape, the home’s design arose when the clients told Linebox they wanted a home where they didn’t need to turn on any lights during the day, regardless of the season. Because the home was to be built on a narrow lot, Linebox opted to maximize exterior walls and to pull the core out of the middle of the design so light would penetrate. The result is a home that provides access to sunlight while protecting the owners’ privacy.
“This is a huge win for this project and for Linebox Studio,” says Melissa Reeves, the company’s chief operating officer. “We were up against the country’s top architects designing in the country’s biggest market and we won. Zed House is incredibly unique and demonstrates the full benefit of great design. We’re proud of this project and proud of our team.”
The home is also a multiple finalist in this year’s Ottawa Housing Design Awards, including for the All Things Home People’s Choice Award.
CLV Developments and Linebox Studio
CLV Group Developments Inc., with Linebox Studio, won the award for Lobby Entrance in its 360 Laurier project.
The lobby is part of an adaptive reuse project that saw a 1960s downtown office building converted into innovative residential apartments. The project, which was nominated in three categories, coupled sustainable building practices with high-end amenities.
“Winning Best Lobby for 360 Laurier Avenue is a tremendous honour for our team,” says Josie Tavares, CLV’s senior development planner and project manager.
“We envisioned the lobby with warmth and attention to all the finer details — every element was intentionally chosen to create a unique, cosy place our residents can be proud to gather in. This recognition feels like a celebration of our team’s commitment to creating welcoming spaces that bring new energy to the resident experience and to the Ottawa community.”
The project is also a finalist in four categories in the Ottawa Housing Design Awards.
Full list of winners here.
