The Structural Insulated Panel Association announced the winners of the 21st annual Building Excellence Awards at its member meeting on March 7. As industry professionals are challenged to deliver comfortable, healthy and more resilient structures, the off-site construction awards program recognizes outstanding residential and commercial projects that use structural insulated panels in walls, roofs and floors to create a nearly impermeable building envelope. SIPs are a reliable and practical building system that can help eco-conscious builders and designers meet today’s energy performance standards without compromising on architectural creativity and aesthetic appeal.
“Shifts in the global conversation on sustainability have brought a wave of builders, designers and developers who are willing to put forward-thinking construction methods like SIPs to the test,” said Jack Armstrong, Executive Director and COO for SIPA. “This year’s award-winning projects are a testament to the key role that SIPs will play in the sustainable advancement of the construction industry, making it possible for industry professionals to meet criteria of a high-performance structure: energy-efficient, all-electric and airtight for healthier indoor air quality.”
More than a demonstration of the versatility and performance of SIPs, the Building Excellence Awards underscore the importance of advanced building and design methods that maximize job site operating efficiencies. Efficient and effective, SIPs, which are pre-cut on the factory floor to meet project specifications and arrive on the job site ready to install, can help the construction industry mitigate ongoing challenges posed by supply chain issues and labor shortages.
The annual awards program gives SIP builders, designers and manufacturers an opportunity to showcase outstanding residential and commercial projects completed between Jan. 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2022. To be eligible for an award, SIPs must have been used on at least 50 percent of the building envelope, determined by square footage of the exterior walls and roof. The 2023 Building Excellence Awards judges evaluated each entry on multiple criteria, including design and structural engineering innovation, creative use of SIP construction, environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.
The 2023 Building Excellence Award winners are as follows:
Affordable Housing
HP Winner: High-Performance SIP Affordable Multi-Habitat Homes in Salt Lake Valley, Utah
Agricultural
Classic Winner: SIP Fish Hatchery Building in Spearfish, South Dakota
Classic Runner-Up: SIP Agronomy Center in Rolfe, Iowa
Commercial/Industrial/Institutional Over 10,000 Square Feet
Classic Winner: SIP Dental Clinic and Offices in Waukee, Iowa
Classic Runner-Up: SIP School Campus in Hailey, Idaho
Photo courtesy of the Structural Insulated Panel Association
Commercial Under 10,000 Square Feet
Classic Winner: SIP Shop Garage in Renton, Washington
Honorable Mention: SIP Campers Cabin in La Honda, California
Multifamily
HP Winner: High-Performance SIP Senior Cottage in St. Cloud, Minnesota
Classic Winner: SIP Smart and Green Apartments in Luverne, Minnesota
Renovations
Classic Winner: SIP Community Center in Escalante Area, Utah
Photo courtesy of the Structural Insulated Panel Association
Homes Over 3,000 Square Feet
HP Winner: High-Performance Energy Step SIP House in Lake Country, British Columbia, Canada
HP Runner-Up: High-Performance SIP House in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Classic Winner: SIP Secondary House in Lake Metigoshe, North Dakota
Classic Runner-Up: SIP Lake House in Marion, Illinois
Homes Under 3,000 Square Feet
HP Winner: Zero Energy Hillside House in Oak Harbor, Washington
HP Runner-Up: High-Performance SIP Passive House in Kansas City, Missouri
HP Honorable Mention: High-Performance SIP Retreat in Lutsen, Minnesota
Classic Winner: Energy Star SIP House in Berkeley, California
Classic Runner-Up: Net-Zero Energy SIP House in Placitas, New Mexico
Homes Under 900 Square Feet
Classic Winner: Solar SIP House ADU in Seattle
Classic Runner-Up: SIP Sunflower House ADU in Minneapolis
Photo courtesy of the Structural Insulated Panel Association
Best Overall HP Residential Winner
Zero Energy Hillside House in Oak Harbor, Washington
Best Overall Non-Residential Winner
SIP Smart and Green Apartments in Luverne, Minnesota
Photo courtesy of the Structural Insulated Panel Association
Congratulations to the 2023 award winners. To discover more SIP structures, visit the SIP Project Library, which includes more than 700 projects compiled from the last 21 years of Building Excellence Award entries.
SIPA is committed to the sustainable advancement of the construction industry and provides an industry forum to increase the acceptance and use of SIPs. The leading source in structural insulated panel news, training materials and free resources, builders and design professionals can visit the association’s landing pages to prepare for a building legacy of the highest standard.
