Innovation is essential in any industry, especially so in home building. But at Trico Homespurposeful innovation is what is at its heart.

The Calgary-based homebuilder has always been at the forefront of introducing new home designs, and this fall they are bringing in more new ways to improve the way we live through efficient home design.

The key has always been to focus on the livability of design. Trico Homes’ President, Michael Brown, says that changing designs just for the sake of change is pointless. “For us, the home has to be livable,” he tells Calgary New Home + Condo Guide. “We strive to build homes that can give the owners not only peace of mind but a home they can be proud of.”

Today, with showhomes in 31 communities in the Calgary region, their mindful approach makes their showhomes stand out in any parade. And this is plain to see in their latest offerings, including the front-garage showhomes – The Braxton and Concord – in Heartwood in the southeast, and theKingsley and Oakridge in the recently-launched community of Huxley in the northeast.

Concentrating on the essentials

The way Trico approaches homebuilding is by concentrating on the essentials, on the details that make a home work. And that is mainly though larger windows; wider staircases; upgraded kitchens that all come standard; and, of course, superior materials and construction afforded by their more than 30 years of experience as a homebuilder in Calgary.

“The windows in all our rooms are never afterthoughts, and are the largest offered in the industry,” Brown says. “We use a different frame for our windows and higher-grade structural frame support, as well,” adds Laura Love, Estimating Manager for Single-Family Homes at Trico. “This allows homes to feel even more spacious with tons of natural light coming into the home.”

The wider staircases allow for easier movement within the home, a major convenience for growing families.

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and this is where Trico’s design efforts always shine. “The kitchen is where the home comes alive and we concentrate on elevated appliances and features that make our kitchens stand out,” Brown says.

For kitchen cabinets, buyers can select from textured melamine, MDF, maple, or oak – with 42-inch upper cabinets. Also included are crown moulding, light valance, and LED under-cabinet lighting. “Storage space is important, and we provide plenty of that in the kitchen, but they also look incredible,” Love says.

“With superior materials, meticulous craftsmanship, and our Elite Specifications, Trico delivers some of the best quality homes in Calgary — homes designed to last and to improve everyday living,” she adds.

Brown says these features carry through Trico’s entire product line of townhomes, duplex, laned and front-garage homes.

Flexibility is key

These essentials form the building blocks on which Trico frames their designs, where once again the key ingredient is livability. Trico does keep on top of popular design trends, and today, there is a huge demand for homes designed for multi-generational families, and homes that are flexible enough for homeowners to make use of their full potential.

The main floor bedroom with full bath is a recent innovation in design that fits the needs of families that want to accomodate their aging parents, Brown says. The private, side entrance is also popular these days that gives owners the ability to rent out a developed basement suite.

“Many of our single-family models – and even some duplex – can come with a main floor bedroom - many as a standard already,” Love says. “We also have community-specific models that even have spice kitchens as a standard.”

“Our homes also retain a higher resale value because of the flexibility of the plans,” Brown says.

Their designs have not only won hearts and minds of buyers, but acclaim from the industry as well. The Encore, one of Trico’s most popular front-garage homes, just won Best Single-Family Home 2,000-2,200 square-feet category at the 2025 BILD Alberta Awards. “This has been a consistent best-seller since it was introduced as one of our 30th anniversary models,” Brown says.

Future forward

Trico is also aiming to lead in the field of home automation, and their homes can come equipped with solar panels, electric car charger rough-ins, electrical fireplace, doorbell camera, LED recessed pot lights in the kitchen and smart home control panels.

“If the buyer isn’t quite prepared to have those systems installed when they move in, we provide the rough-in wiring already so that they have the ability to do so easily in the future,” Brown says. “That’s the kind of flexibility we offer.”

The importance of community

No matter how well designed the home is. They can only be as good as the communities they are located in. Brown says Trico is mindful in choosing communities where they build.

“We do have a say in what communities we build in, and it is essential that these communities also reflect the values that Trico itself holds – family-friendly amenities, shared areas where the bonds of community are built, that brings neighbours together. We design our homes to be part of these communities.”

They are bringing these values themselves to the brand-new community of Wentworth in the southwest, where Trico is both a developer and a builder. Launched last fall, Wentworth is set on 33 rolling acres at the intersection of 85th Street and 12th Avenue SW. This community will feature a variety of home options, including Executive-Style Bungalow Villas, Semi-Estate, and Estate Homes, all with double- and triple-car garage options.

Trico Homes builds in communities in all of Calgary’s four quadrants, plus Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere, Okotoks, DeWinton, Okotoks and Harmony.

Cultivating a winning corporate culture

Trico’s strong corporate vision is what holds the entire enterprise together. A healthy bond with the community and high-quality craftsmanship that exceed clients’ expectations has made Trico one of Canada’s best, but its backbone has always been the strong corporate culture it has nurtured.

Since its founding in 1992, Trico Homes has established a name as one of Calgary’s most reputable homebuilders, and one of the city’s brightest success stories if ever there was one.

It prides itself as a family-run, entrepreneur-driven operation that has won several awards recognizing its achievements. They’re a Platinum Club member of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies from 2004 to 2025, named 13 times as Canada’s Best Workplaces, and eight times Great Places to Work Certified, and many more.

Trico Homes is also western Canada’s first homebuilder to become a certified B Corp. This international designation is earned by those who are redefining the ways success is measured in business. “We’re committed to our industry and our city. And we are conscious about creating a lasting legacy as a company that helps make the world a better place,” Brown says.

Find out more at tricohomes.com