2026 Winners: Excellence in Offsite Design
A closer look at some of the 2026 winners in offsite construction’s premier architectural competition
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recognizes excellence in residential and commercial architecture each year with its prestigious Best in American Living Awards (BALA). Through these awards, the NAHB’s Building Systems Council (BSC) highlights outstanding achievements in offsite construction — residential, multifamily and commercial projects that use modular, log home, timber frame and panelized building systems.
The awards also serve to elevate national awareness of offsite construction and demonstrate its architectural versatility.
According to Devin Perry, NAHB staff liaison to the BSC, selecting winners for the 2026 competition was “especially challenging given the quantity and quality of the participants.”
This year’s awards were presented during the BALA Ceremony at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Florida on February 18, 2026.
The projects profiled here represent selected Gold and Silver winners in each category.
A full list of award winners is available on the NAHB website.
Log Home Design (Gold Award Winner)
Teton View
Project Company: PrecisionCraft Log and Timber Homes
Location: Wilson, Wyoming
System: Log Home Design
Appropriately named “Teton View,” this luxury log home captures sweeping views of Wyoming’s Grand Teton Mountains while offering multiple environments for both indoor and outdoor mountain living. Intimate gathering spaces for conversation and dining are complemented by a grand great room featuring timber-supported vaulted ceilings and expansive picture windows.
The home includes a gourmet kitchen with an oversized island and large pantry, as well as two owner’s suites located on opposite sides of the floor plan, each having access to outdoor decks. Two additional bedrooms with ensuite baths provide ample accommodation. Outdoor living is enhanced by five covered decks, open-air spaces and a fire pit for cooler evenings.
Modular Home Design (Gold Award Winner)
Classic Muncy
Project Company: Champion Homes
Builder: River Valley Builders
Location: Muncy Valley, Pennsylvania
System: Modular Home Design
Square Footage: 1370
Overlooking a tranquil forest in the Endless Mountains region of northeast Pennsylvania, this custom chalet-style modular home has been designed to bring the outdoors in. Large windows frame scenic views, while patio doors extend the living space onto an oversized wraparound deck.
Inside the home, the open floor plan features a loft area and a custom kitchen with an oversized island, quartz countertops and custom lighting. Luxury vinyl plank flooring has been used throughout.
Concrete Home Design (Gold Award Winner)
Concrete Residence
Project Company: Trinity Custom Homes
Location: Sarasota, Florida
System: Concrete Home Design
Square Footage: 8562
This striking concrete residence required extensive coastal engineering and wave-impact studies before construction could begin. More than 2000 cubic yards of concrete had to be poured to create the reinforced structure.
The home offers over 8500 sq. ft. of interior living space, complemented by 5000 sq. ft. of balconies and a 10,000 sq. ft. driveway.
The solid concrete design provides natural shading and energy efficiency. The first living level includes a continuous 360-degree wraparound balcony, guest suites, a kitchenette and mechanical services. The second level houses the owner’s suite, office, gym, kitchen and an elevated pool with spa and swim jet. Exterior amenities include shuffleboard and tennis courts.
Commercial Construction Design (Gold Award Winner)
The Edes
Project Company: KTGY
Location: Morgan Hill, California
System: Timber Frame Construction
Square Footage: 6880
“The Edes” is a one-of-a-kind timber frame structure housing a fine art gallery, an artist workshop and a restaurant. It’s located at the southern tip of Silicon Valley. The building’s dramatic street presence is defined by a screen of vertical battens that shield the gallery from the western sun.
The structure’s location in a floodplain required it to be raised. This requirement was turned into an architectural design opportunity: the raised foundation was extended beyond the building to create concrete planters. The planters add interest by mirroring the shape of the building, and by create a link between the sidewalk and the gallery.
Inside, the building includes open spaces, warm wood tones and exposed timber elements.
Timber Frame Design (Gold Award Winner)
Davis Timber Frame Home
Project Company: Timberhaven Log & Timber Homes
Location: Trout Run, Pennsylvania
System: Timber Frame Construction
Square Footage: 4365
Set in the picturesque Allegheny Mountains of central Pennsylvania, the “Davis Timber Frame Home” features a transitional exterior accented by a recessed stone entry and refined timber frame details. Inside, the home showcases exceptional craftsmanship, with mortised primary beams, notched secondary beams and traditional wooden peg joinery.
Designed to host large gatherings, the centerpiece is a great room with a cathedral ceiling, large timber trusses and a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace. The open-concept layout includes family gathering spaces, a chef’s kitchen with a furniture-style island, dining room and a spacious primary bedroom suite.
Log Home Design (Silver Award Winner)
Lakeview Log Home
Project Company: Timberhaven Log & Timber Homes
Location: Lakeview, Pennsylvania
System: Log Home Design
Square Footage: 5412
Designed as a family gathering and entertainment retreat, the “Lakeview Log Home” combines traditional craftsmanship with modern livability. The residence is constructed of 8×12 Premium-Grade Eastern White Pine engineered logs featuring a Dutch lap profile and a rustic handhewn finish. Timber elements are used throughout the structure, scaled appropriately to enhance both form and function.
The floor plan was designed so that the owners can age in place and one day live on a single level. Highlights include a vaulted foyer with dramatic timber trusses, guest suites, hidden bookcase doors and a primary suite accented by a granite feature wall.
The lower level expands the home’s entertainment capacity with the inclusion of a small performance stage, along with a bar and a game room. There are also terraced outdoor living areas complete with a fireplace, waterfall and hot tub.
Timber Frame Construction Design (Silver Award Winner)
Twin Creeks
Project Company: PrecisionCraft Log and Timber Homes
Location: Bonner, Montana
System: Timber Frame Construction
Square Footage: 2474
“Twin Creeks” is a contemporary timber frame residence designed to maximize natural light and western Montana’s scenic views. Expansive glass walls along the rear of the home frame the surrounding landscape while flooding the open great room with daylight. A wood-burning fireplace and exposed timber trusses serve as focal points, showcasing the home’s structural craftsmanship and construction.
The functional layout includes a generously sized kitchen with an oversized island and direct access to an outdoor patio featuring a kitchen and lounge area. The primary suite offers a spa-inspired bathroom with its own fireplace and access to a private patio. Three additional bedrooms provide comfortable accommodations for guests.
Modular Home Design (Silver Award Winner)
Tanglewood Strata
Project Company: AURA Dwellings & Hospitality
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
System: Modular Home Design Square Footage: 3300
Drawing inspiration from mid-century modern architecture, the “Tanglewood Strata” home blends wood, stucco and both smooth and rough stone to create contemporary yet warm living spaces. Horizontal rooflines and generous overhangs pay homage to the neighborhood’s architectural heritage while providing beneficial shading.
Inside, skylights bring natural light deep into the living spaces, while expansive perimeter windows offer views of the surrounding tree canopy, porch and pool. The open kitchen, dining and living areas are designed for seamless indoor-outdoor living, with direct access to a covered deck and pool area.
Panelized Home Design (Silver Award Winner)
Goldwire Heights
Project Company: EPS Buildings
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
System: Panelized Home Design
Square Footage: 1200
Designed for affordability and sustainability, this Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) home is one of four residences constructed by the builder in “Goldwire Heights,” a residential subdivision in Birmingham, Ala. The development was conceived to address the growing need for high-quality, energy-efficient housing in cost-sensitive markets, where traditional construction methods have increasingly proven unsustainable.
Project timelines were tightly coordinated between offsite manufacturing and on-site assembly. In addition to SIP construction, the homes incorporate high-performance windows and other energy-efficient building details. All four homes were completed within 45 days and achieved impressive performance metrics (HERS 57, ACH50 1.01), resulting in reduced utility costs and long-term affordability.
Panelized Home Design (Silver Award Winner)
Half Light House
Project Company: Trinity Custom Homes
Location: Sarasota, Florida
System: Panelized Home Design
Square Footage: 8730
The contemporary “Half Light House” showcases modern design sensibilities while delivering panoramic views of Florida’s Sarasota Bay. The exterior features aluminum cladding with a wood-grain finish, adding warmth and texture to the home’s sharp horizontal and vertical lines.
Outdoor living spaces include multiple decks, a rooftop terrace and a large pool. Inside, expansive windows and dramatic open living spaces define the interior. The great room flows seamlessly into a minimalist kitchen featuring two-toned European-style cabinetry and a stainless “bowtie” countertop. A floating oak staircase frames a striking 30-ft. chandelier on the ascent to the primary suite, which offers 180-degree bay views.
Durable and sustainable materials were selected throughout, including recycled TimberStrand framing, FSC-certified flooring, LEED-certified siding and VOC-free finishes.
Multifamily Offsite Construction Project Design (Silver Award Winner)
Goldwire Heights
Project Company: KTGY
Location: Fair Oaks, Virginia
System: Multifamily Offsite Construction
Unit Sizes: 696 to 1163 sq. ft.
Addressing the affordability needs of the 55-plus market, “The Lodge at Autumn Willow” blends contemporary design with sustainability while maintaining a strong connection to its natural surroundings. Inspired by National Park architecture, the project makes deliberate use of natural materials, timber and wood elements and earth-tone finishes that integrate the building into its forested setting.
The signature feature is a spacious three-story glass lobby that serves as both a welcoming entryway and a central gathering space, visually connecting the interior to the outdoors. Additional amenities include social lounges, landscaped outdoor spaces, and fitness and activity areas.
The community consists of 150 one- and two-bedroom independent living units, along with 15 ADA-compliant residences. Designed to prioritize affordability, accessibility and long-term sustainability, the project incorporates efficient building systems and durable materials, achieving multiple certifications including EarthCraft Gold, ENERGY STAR® and Zero Energy Ready Home.
Reed Dillon is a content brand specialist, marketing consultant and freelance writer that focusses on offsite and new construction. He is the owner of Creative Brand Content in Moneta, Virginia creativebrandcontent.com
