The 2019 HAVAN Ovation Awards

It is the celebration Metro Vancouver homebuilders, renovators, designers and new-home marketers wait for: On May 4, almost 500 industry insiders and well-wishers gathered to celebrate the crème-de-la-crème of Metro Vancouver at the 10th annual HAVAN Ovation Awards.

Ron Rapp, HAVAN’s new CEO, noted that while there is only one winner in each category, every finalist exemplifies the exceptional quality and dedication to craft that makes the Lower Mainland a respected leader in the residential construction industry. Selina Robinson, BC’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, added her congratulations to the people who are “working together to create innovative, sustainable housing solutions” for today’s homebuyers.

And the Winners Are:

Longtime heavyweight Adera Development Corp was the big winner at this year’s celebration, taking home five Ovations including Multi-Family Builder of the Year Award. Granview at South Ridge Club in South Surrey garnered three awards including Best Residential Community, while Virtuoso, a state-of-the-art cross-laminate timber (CLT) midrise at UBC was named Best Low-Rise Development.

“Wood is such a sustainable, renewable building product,” says Eric Andreasen, Adera’s vice-president of sales and marketing, referring to the company’s commitment to building with this sustainable product.

“Many people don’t realize it, but CLT also outperforms concrete in strength, seismic stability, and fire resistance. And besides, it just looks beautiful.” This is part of the reason Adera now refers to it as Luxury Wood.

Hot on Adera’s heels with a total of four awards including Single-Family Home Builder of the Year was South Surrey-based Miracon Developments Inc. After bursting on the homebuilding scene five years ago, this is the third consecutive year Miracon has taken home top honours in the single-family category.

“We are fortunate to have had three major subdivisions — 133 homes in total — under construction in the same neighbourhood,” says Ryan O’Shea, vice-president of sales and marketing. “There aren’t a lot of new, single-family homes being built, even though I believe there will always be a demand for them.”

O’Shea says Miracon’s focus on quality, great curb appeal, and incorporating standard finishings that are often pricey upgrades elsewhere help create the loyal following this young, dynamic company enjoys.

Also, in South Surrey, Zenterra Developments added another accolade for Fairways, this time for Best Marketing Campaign.

“The Douglas neighbourhood is a place where people choose to live because it’s removed from the hustle and bustle, but it’s still close to all the urban conveniences people want. We focused our marketing on buyers who appreciate this type of lifestyle — a safe, walkable lifestyle in a community where you actually know your neighbours,” says Derek Fenton, development manager.

At Shaughnessy Residences in Vancouver’s Marpole neighbourhood, Alabaster Homes wowed the judges in two categories — Best Townhome and Best Interior Design. The architecture is stately and timeless, reminiscent of early 20th century Westside Craftsman homes with a curved gable-roofline enhanced by a secondary curved shed roof, a combination of rough stucco and single siding, and details that include long rafter tails, knee braces, and dentils.

“Many features, like direct access to underground parking and a secured private garage (a rarity for Vancouver townhomes), blend the benefits of single-family living with the conveniences of a townhome,” notes Yosh Kasahara, executive vice-president. In the display home, he adds, a Savant-powered Smart Home backbone (activated through voice control via Amazon Echo built into the Sonos sound system), integrated music/lighting and security, plus carefully selected botanicals and natural scents create seamless integration between technology, nature, and wellness.

To view all the 2019 winners, visit ovationawards.ca.