2018 Fraser Valley Housing Awards of Excellence
February 13, 2018
It was a gala evening in Abbotsford on Feb. 3, 2018, when some 200 builders, developers and renovators gathered to discover who would be named best of the best at the second annual Fraser Valley Housing Awards of Excellence. The awards are a celebration of the innovation, skill and diversity that define the Fraser Valley’s residential building industry, and the message was clear: The bar has been raised.
Taking home an impressive seven of the evening’s 23 awards — including the prestigious Custom Home Builder of the Year — this year’s runaway winner was White Rock-based Forge Properties. The Beachcomber, a single-family residence overlooking the ocean at Crescent Beach, wowed the judges with its chateau-inspired architecture, elegant yet welcoming interiors, and sheer creativity — including a Comic Vault that garnered top honours for Best Innovative Feature.
“The clients have an extensive collection of comic books and other superhero memorabilia that they wanted to showcase,” explains Cory Saran, principal. Temperature, humidity and light controlled to preserve the fragile paper, the vault displays magazines dating back as far as a 1928 edition of Amazing Fantasy. “Now instead of being packed away in boxes, the clients can enjoy their still growing collection every day.”
Influent Group, one of only four companies to strike gold twice, was named Single Family Production Builder of the Year while Highland Springs Lot 10, a Whistler-inspired home in Chilliwack, got the nod for Detached Home over $650,000. Richard Tam, president, says the home’s post-and-beam construction, extensive terracing of the hillside site and a double-sided indoor-outdoor fireplace were just three of the winning factors.
Best Outdoor Living Space went to first-time entrant GoldEdge Properties for 33248 Widden. An entertainer’s delight, the design incorporated an outdoor kitchen and bar, pool, hot tub and even a putting green that’s already a favourite year-round hangout both for the golf-aficionado owner and the local kids (who think it’s even cooler than the pool).
In multi-family, Hayer Builders Group added Best Multi-Family Townhouse Development to their already lengthy list of awards for Summit in Surrey. According to Brandon Trent, development manager, part of Summit’s popularity comes from its innovative split-level design and modern, angular architecture in a neighbourhood dominated by craftsman style. And there’s the hot-tub friendly rooftop patios, a feature that clearly resonated with judges and homebuyers alike. “As backyards get smaller, having private, usable space is often a deciding factor in the buying process,” Trent says.
Best Multi-Family Mid/High Rise Development was awarded to Quantum Properties for Orchid Riverside Condos in Port Coquitlam. Located adjacent to the Traboulay Trail, Orchid’s construction process included relocating the site’s massive Monkey Puzzle tree onto City-owned parkland. The weight of the tree and root system almost tipped over the arborist’s truck, but the rare and much-loved tree has been preserved.
For a complete list of all of this year’s winners, visit the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Fraser Valley at chbafv.com/events/awards
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