Empire Communities captured top honours when it was named 2015 Ontario Home Builder of the Year by the Ontario Home Builders’ Association (OHBA) in the association’s annual Awards of Distinction. The GTA-based company won the award as a result of its commitment to building high-quality Energy Star qualified homes, corporate responsibility initiatives and an exceptional customer-service experience.
With more than 20 years of experience as a leader in the new home and condo industry, Empire has built their reputation on their core values of caring, optimism, confidence and trust – their customers come first and they are constantly striving to create desirable and green communities for families to live work and play. Empire employees are active volunteers throughout the province and have participated in several fundraising initiatives including: Habitat for Humanity, $250,000 sponsorship to Brantford’s Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre, $33,000 to David Hornell Jr. School for an outdoor classroom and $40,000 to the Brantford Home Builders’ Association (BHBA) Annual Luncheon. Empire’s commitment to build environmentally-friendly communities has placed the firm at the top-tier of the industry in Ontario, an OHBA news release reported.
Empire Communities is a member of BILD, Brantford HBA, Durham Region HBA, Hamilton-Halton HBA, Niagara HBA and
Waterloo Region HBA.
OHBA also presented Amsted Design-Build with the 2015 OHBA Ontario Renovator of the Year Award. Based in Ottawa, Amsted DesignBuild emphasizes the importance of customer satisfaction while designing and building up to the highest industry standards. With more than 25 years of experience, Amsted has established itself as one of the most recognized custom residential specialists in Ottawa. Amsted has received accolades in areas such as green building, heritage preservation, distinctive kitchen design and overall design-build projects.
Amsted also believes in the importance of giving back and is an active member of the Ottawa community, supporting organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa and Hospice Care Ottawa.
Both Ontario Builder and Renovator of the Year Awards are presented to the companies that demonstrate outstanding professionalism and integrity within their business, industry and community.
Other Prestige Award winners include:
Project of the Year – Low Rise: Aspen Ridge Homes for Upper West Side – Thornhill
Project of the Year – High or Mid-Rise: Fusion Homes for The Metalworks – Guelph
People’s Choice Award: Marz Homes Holdings Inc. for South Coast Village – Crystal Beach
There are 39 categories in the 2015 OHBA Awards of Distinction program honouring innovation and excellence in the areas of design and sales and marketing and the following companies took home first place awards in 2015:
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
Most Outstanding Production Built Home (One storey)
Rinaldi Homes for: Westhaven – St.David’s (credit to: Aristocrat Floors of the World, Burnstein Brick)
Most Outstanding Production Built Home (Two storeys up to 2500 sq. ft.) Devonleigh Homes for: Settler’s Ridge “Yorkton II” – Huntsville
Most Outstanding Production Built Home (Two storeys 2501 sq. ft. and over) Mattamy Homes Limited for: St. John’s Forest “The Snapdragon” – Aurora (credit to: Q4 Architects Inc.)
Most Outstanding Attached Multi-Unit Home (semi/town home/stacked) Granite Homes Inc. for: Arkell Lofts “Monterey” – Guelph
Most Outstanding Custom Home (Up to 3000 sq. ft.) Doug Tarry Homes for: Roy Country Residence – Talbotville (credit to: Ambrose Plumbing & Heating Ltd., Arriscraft International)
Most Outstanding Custom Home (3001-5000 sq. ft.) Woodcastle Homes Ltd. for: Old Muskokan – Muskoka Most
Outstanding Custom Home (5001 sq. ft. and over) Timberline Custom Homes for: Rustic Stoney Lake Home – Douro-Dummer (credit to: Friendly Fires, Hickory Lane Kitchens, Drain Brothers Excavating)
Most Outstanding Mid-Rise Building (4 – 10 storeys) Tribute Communities for: Varley Condominium Residences – Unionville (credit to: Graziani Corazza Architects Inc.)
Most Outstanding High-Rise Building (11+ storeys) Great Gulf for: One Bloor – Toronto (credit to: Hariri Pontarini, Cecconi Simone, Community, L.A. Inc.)
Most Outstanding High or Mid-Rise Condo Suite (4+ storeys up to 800 sq. ft.) FRAM Building Group for: 150 Fairview Mall Soul Condos “soul 5” – Toronto (credit to: CORE Architects Inc., UNION31 INC.)
Most Outstanding High or Mid-Rise Condo Suite (4+ storeys 801 sq. ft. and over) Minto Communities for: Minto@Lansdowne “2002” – Ottawa (credit to: Barry J. Hobin & Associates Architects)
RENOVATIONS
Most Outstanding Home Renovation (Actual Retail Value up to $250,000) RND Construction for: Double Decker Deck – Ottawa (credit to: Christopher Simmonds Architect Inc.)
Most Outstanding Home Renovation (Actual Retail Value between: $250,001 – $500,000) Amsted Design-Build for: Transformation for a New Generation – Ottawa
Most Outstanding Home Renovation (Actual Retail Value over $500,001) Men At Work General Contractors Ltd. for: 34 Playter Cres. – Toronto
Most Outstanding Kitchen Renovation Mountainview Homes for: Confederation Heights – Kitchen Renovation – Thorold (credit to: Distinctive Designs & Cabinetry Inc.)
Most Outstanding Bathroom Renovation Timberworx Custom Homes for: Diamond in the Rough – Hamilton (credit to: The Ensuite Guelph/ Emco Corp, Barber Design Group)
ROOM DESIGN
Most Outstanding New Home Kitchen (New home up to 2000 sq. ft.) Bridlewood Homes for: Bridlewood Homes- Elmwood – London (credit to: Woody’s Custom Cabinetry)
Most Outstanding New Home Kitchen (New home 2001 sq.ft. and over) Timberworx Custom Homes for: Black Tuxedo – Aberfoyle and Crown Homes of London for: Crown Homes-Bailey – London (credit to: Woody’s Custom Cabinetry)
Most Outstanding High or Mid-Rise Condo Suite Kitchen New Horizon Development Group for: Bridgewater Residences on the Lake – Burlington (credit to: Page + Steele / IBI Group Architects, McOuat Partnership)
Most Outstanding New Home Bathroom Homes By Hendriks for: Spa Luxuriance – Welland
PROJECT IMAGE & ADVERTISING
Best Video Low-Rise Project (1-3 storeys) Minto Communities for: Quinn’s Pointe – Barrhaven
Best Video High or Mid-Rise Project (4+ storeys) Concert Properties Ltd. for: The Kip District – Toronto (credit to: 52 Pick-Up Inc., Zero Fractal Studio Inc.)
Best Use of Social Media Fusion Homes for: The Metalworks – Guelph Best Website (Builder or Renovator) Empire Communities for: Eau Du Soleil – http://eaudusoleil.empirecommunities.com
Best Low-Rise Ad Campaign (1-3 Storeys) Branthaven Homes / Minto Communities for: Oakvillage – Oakville (credit to: Montana Steele Strategic Marketing)
Best High or Mid-Rise Ad Campaign (4+ Storeys) Fusion Homes for: The Metalworks – Guelph (credit to: Blackjet Inc.) Best Project Logo Branding (For individual community logo) Signature Communities for: East United – Toronto (credit to: Blackjet Inc.)
ON-SITE SALES PRESENTATION
Best New Home Sales Office (Up to 1500 sq. ft.) Concert Properties Ltd. for: The Kip District: One – Etobicoke (credit to: Union31, 52 Pick-up Inc.)
Best New Home Sales Office (1501 sq. ft. and over) Spallacci Group for: Residences of Royal Connaught – Hamilton
Best Design/Decor Centre Eastforest Homes Ltd. for: Design Studio – Kitchener
Best Interior Decorating – Model Home/Suite (Up to 2000 sq. ft.) Geranium Homes for: Uptownes at Cardinal Point – Whitchurch-Stouffville (credit to: Colours & Concepts, Builder Insight Group Inc.) and New Horizon Development Group for: Bridgewater Residences on the Lake – Burlington (credit to: McOuat Partnership)
Best Interior Decorating – Model Home/Suite (2001 sq. ft. and over) Timberworx Custom Homes for: Chanel No. 41 – Aberfoyle Best Low-Rise Project Sales Brochure (1-3 Storeys) Aspen Ridge Homes / CountryWide Homes / Lakeview Homes for: Queensville – East Gwillimbury (credit to: BAM Builder Advertising & Marketing Inc.)
Best High or Mid-Rise Project Sales Brochure (4+ storeys) Empire Communities for: Eau Du Soleil – Toronto (credit to: Montana Steele Strategic Marketing)