2015georgieawardssaturday, march 21 | 2015 | EdItOr BarBara GuNN | hOMES@VaNcOuVErSuN.cOM E7

leslie PetersonSpecial to the Sun

T he lights havedimmed, the musicsilent, the stage

empty. Accolades delivered,congratulations accepted,golden statues proudlycarried off to offices andshowrooms across theprovince, testimonials tothe diligence and excep-tional talent of membersof B.C.’s residential home-building industry.

At last month’s 23rd AnnualGeorgie Awards Gala, more than500 of the province’s developers,architects, builders, designers,renovators, marketers and sales-persons gathered to celebrate theirconsiderable achievements at theHyatt Regency Vancouver Hotel.Established in 1992 by the Cana-dian Home Builders’ Association ofB.C., the awards cover every aspectof the residential homebuildingindustry, from landscape designto sales and marketing and reno-vation. Categories include town-house developments, low and high-rise developments, single-familyhomes (from less than $500,000to more than $3 million) and con-dominium renovations. Three newawards this year recognize environ-mental excellence in certificationprograms.Each year, there’s a healthy mixof veterans and new faces. Lead-ing the field over the years with43 Georgie Awards, Adera Devel-opment Corporation took fivetop honours, two Grand GeorgieAwards for Residential Commu-nity of the Year for Sail (Phase ll) atUBC, and for Multi-Family HomeBuilder of the Year.

continued on Page e8Naikoon Contracting’s Midori Uchi, above, means ‘green home’ in Japanese. It produces more energy in a year than it consumes.

Portrait Homes’ award-winning Hampstead Phase 2 project.

Annual event

covers every aspect

of residential

homebuilding industry

NaikoonContractingwon sevenawards,many for itsMidori Uchiproject.

A celebrationofexcellence

Visit us today at...3388 SwedenWay—Near IKEA

Expansive 22,000 sq ft Showroom

Thousands of Appliances. Available TodayOur Stunning

Has Arrived!

RichmondShowroomN

EW

VAN01197776_1_1

E8 BrEaKING NEWS: VaNcOuVErSuN.cOM | Saturday, March 21, 2015|| sponsor content

G r and Geo r g i eAwards were alsogiven to Portrait

Homes for Single FamilyProduction Home Builderof the Year, Fifth AvenueReal Estate Marketingfor Marketing Campaignof the Year, My HouseDesign/Build Team forResidential Renovatorof the Year and Naik-oon Contracting for Cus-tom Home Builder of theYear.Last year, Naikoon’spresident Josef Geluchcollected one GeorgieAward; this year the tallycame to an impressiveseven, the majority forMidori Uchi, or “greenhome” in Japanese, oneof the first Net-Zerohomes in B.C., produc-ing more energy in a yearthan it consumes.For the fifth time — amajor accomplishment— Concert Real EstateMarketing won the cov-eted Customer ChoiceGeorgie Awards Poweredby AVID™, this year forMulti-Family (Mid/HighRise). Portrait Homesreceived two CustomerChoice Georgie AwardsPowered by AVID™ forSingle Family Productionand Multi-Family (LowRise). Clay Constructionalso earned a CustomerChoice Georgie Award forSingle Family Custom.Residential renovationin B.C. represents $8.1billion in investmentvalue. This year, 11 reno-vation companies earned13 renovation awards,two given to Sarah GallopDesign for A New Dawn,

in Delta, a major trans-formation. NewcomerMiccaro Designs wonBest Renovation — AnyRoom for “Purple withEnvy”, a wine-lover’s par-adise, and another firsttimer, ARYZE Develop-ment and Construction,took top honours for BestResidential Renovation$100,000 — $299,999for Broadmead.Innovation tests theingenuity and creativityof designers and build-ers. This year, GeorgieAwards newcomer Vine-yard Developments with

associate Hybrid Eleva-tors won Best Innova-tive Feature for an air-actuated vacuum system,a round steel-and-glasselevator assembled onsite to serve three floors,from master bedroom tolake level.Entries in this year’sGeorgie Awards, frommember companies incommunities through-out the province, were up30 per cent, notes CHBABC CEO Neil Moody.“This signals a healthyeconomic climate forB.C.’s homebuilders.

The awards continue tooffer the residential con-struction industry a trulyfantastic opportunity toshowcase their innova-tive and industry-lead-ing work and highlightthe spectacular projectsbuilt and submitted byour members, from smallbuilders and renovatorsto larger multi-familydevelopers.”

A complete list of the 2014Georgie Awards winners,finalists and photos can befound at: www.georgieawards.ca.

continued from e7

Awards cover it all — from sales to renosto landscape design

Left to right: presenter Jennifer Yu with Adera winners Kerri Zanussi, Stephanie Sonnenberg and Eric Andreasen.

As President of the CanadianHome Builders’ Association ofBC (CHBA BC), it is with greatpleasure that I extend my con-gratulations to this year’s win-ners of our 23rd Annual GeorgieAwards.The excitement in the roomduring this year’s awards galawas a reflection of the remark-able projects entered by all of thefinalists and winners. The teamsbehind these exemplary projectscontinue to set the bar and rede-fine the standard for best prac-tices, leading trends, and inno-vation in home building andrenovation.There was a 33 per cent growthin the number of entries thisyear, demonstrating increasedcompetition and a healthy resi-dential construction industry inB.C. We are looking forward tothe 2015 entries, which open thisJuly.Visit the Georgie Awards®website at georgieawards.ca forthe full listing of finalists andwinners.

Simon HowsePresidentCanadian Home Builders’Association of British Columbia

A messagefrom thepresident

entries in thisyear’s georgieawards, frommembercompanies incommunitiesthroughout theprovince, wereup 30 per cent,notes chBa Bcceo neil moody.

VAN01197849_1_1

E9sponsor content ||Saturday, March 21, 2015 | BrEaKING NEWS: VaNcOuVErSuN.cOM

I t was an enterprise that wasbound to succeed — andhow could it not, with all

the right ingredients? An oldSurrey landmark with a sto-rybook history and one of thearea’s largest conservation proj-ects. Add to that a premier B.C.marketing enterprise to spreadthe word and a collection of newcountry residences built by RDGRidge Development that incor-porate the best of their heritage.The judges at the recent Geor-gie Awards were impressed, somuch so that they gave RDG andFifth Avenue Real Estate Mar-keting three top sales and mar-keting awards for The Ridge atBose Farms, including Market-ing Campaign of the Year.RDG’s principals, Henry andJohn Rempel, have applied theirtalents to develop exceptionalresidential and commercial com-munities for 50 years. The firstphase of this master-plannedcommunity came on to the mar-ket on Thanksgiving weekendin 2013 at the first annual Har-vest at the Ridge. With an aver-age of 13 sales a month since theopening, Phase 1 sold out aheadof projections. Now only a fewhomes remain from Phase 2 andPhase 3 — launched in October— is close to 70 per cent sold, apace three to four times fasterthan other developments.Four condominium buildingswith 253 homes sit on eight acresof land, adjacent to 12 additionalacres of protected forest donatedto the city for the new Bose For-est Park. The new residenceshave been designed to appeal tofirst-time buyers, young familiesand downsizers alike.

Pioneered in 1892 and a work-ing farm until 2009, the Bosefarm produced 1,000 tons ofpotatoes, hay and grain at itspeak, pasturing a herd of 75purebred Holstein milk cowsand horses to till the soil.The Ridge at Bose Farms alsowon Georgie Awards for BestSales Centre and Best ProjectIdentity through the creativeefforts of Kevin Louie Design,which conceived the materialthat contributed to Fifth Ave-nue’s Georgie Awards success.Both concepts were focused ona deft blend of nostalgia and avision for the future, contem-porary homes set in a localerich in history. The past is verymuch present here, the legacyof three generations of the Bosefamily reflected by Roger Bose,spokesperson for the history ofthe farm. A fifth-generation Bosealso purchased their first homehere.From their new condo, hom-eowners will walk past farmbuildings of days gone by. Crafts-men have meticulously restoredthe old dairy shed built in 1948and turned it into a tool and pot-ting shed for residents using thecommunity garden. They trans-formed the Meadowridge barn

into a communal amenity cen-tre and, after housing four gen-erations of Boses, including for-mer Surrey mayor Bob Bose, thefamily farmhouse was moved toa new foundation and will even-tually include a kitchen, diningand living area, plus two guestsuites on the upper floor.Fifth Avenue’s Ridge salescentre, website, logo, signageand brochure (all included inthe Georgies’ Project Identitycategory) have capitalized onreclaimed barnwood and archi-val photographs while story-boards speak of the farm’s his-tory and the family’s deep-rootedcommunity involvement. In thesales centre, innovative tablettechnology generates 3D imagesoffering visitors a virtual walkthrough the community.Two full-sized display suitesshowcase contemporary interiorstyle, with airy, light-filled livingareas, quartz countertops, mod-ern kitchen islands with drawerstorage, stainless-steel appli-ances and high ceilings. Dis-tressed wide-plank flooring givesan antique ranch feel.Fifth Avenue was founded inSurrey by a family of marketingprofessionals with an extensivebackground in market-housing

development. In the business ofdelivering great communities for35 years, the company has sold$8 billion worth of new homestotalling approximately 25,000new homes so far. Its diverseportfolio covers all forms ofmarket housing, from concretehighrise condos, wood-framecondos, townhomes, mixed-usedevelopments, hotel strata own-ership and single-family homes,to master-planned and resortcommunities.Over the years, Fifth Avenue’sventures have won numerousGeorgie Awards. In addition toRidge at Bose Farm honours thisyear, the company received 20finalist nominations, for six sep-arate communities: Brixton, TheWoods, Jacobsen and The Ridge,all in Surrey, Village Green, inMaple Ridge and Radius in Lan-gley. Brixton, Village Green andJacobsen were all in the runningfor Residential Community ofthe Year.Company president Scott

Brown believes the GeorgieAwards make a major contri-bution to the residential-home-building industry.“As a longtime supporter, par-ticipant and winner on behalfof our developer clients at FifthAvenue we place a great deal ofvalue on the Georgie Awards. Theaim of winning a Georgie oftenserves to organize the image orvision for our work together withour clients. It focuses and moti-vates our clients as we encour-age and support them in theirpursuit of home/communitydevelopment excellence. Andfor new developers, it becomesan instant source of credibilityin the consumers’ minds, givingthem added confidence in theirdecision to buy.”

This story was produced by PostmediaWorks on behalf of RDG RidgeDevelopment for commercial purposes.Postmedia’s editorial departments hadno involvement in the creation of thiscontent.

surrey

Past and present merge at theaward-winning Ridge at Bose Farms

Some of the farm buildings remain on the site, such as theMeadowridge barn, which was transformed into an amenity centre.

The Ridge at Bose Farms earned RDG Ridge Development and FifthAvenue Real Estate Marketing three top awards.

master-planned com-munity proving to bepopular among buyers

PHASE 1SOLD OUT!

PHASE 23 AVAILABLE

PHASE 3 OVER60% SOLD OUT!

THERIDGEATBOSEFARMS.COM 604.888.5514

15

2nd

St

16

8th

St

16

0th

St

64th Ave

THE RIDGEPRESENTATION

CENTRE

16390 64th Avenue,Surrey

Presentation Centre Open Daily12–5 (except Fridays)

FINAL PHASE COMING SOON. REGISTER TODAY FOR A VIP PREVIEW.

Old Landmark. New Life.

COUNTRYCLUBHOUSE

HERBGARDEN

GARDENPLOTS

RESTOREDPOTATO BARN

HERITAGEFOREST

Prices quoted exclude taxes, are subject to availability at time of visit and/or to change without prior notice. E.&O.E.

OCCUPANCY PHASE ONE SPRING 2015OCCUPANCY PHASE TWO SUMMER 2015OCCUPANCY PHASE THREE WINTER 2015

AVAILABLE FROM $247,900*

The historic Bose Farm. Past. Future. Right now. It’s a story 123 years in making. And nowit can be yours. A great range of floor plans from 1 Bedroom + Den up to large 2 Bedroom +Den with courtyard and mountain or heritage forest view. Country Clubhouse and amenitiesoffer fitness centre, yoga studio, media theatre, fireside lounge with kitchen, crafts room, guestsuites, herb garden, viewing platform and more. Selling fast. Visit and experience our virtualtours at presentation centre.

AWARD WINNING COMMUNITY!Proud recipient of 3 Georgie Awards. Find out why today!

VAN01197454_1_1

E10 BrEaKING NEWS: VaNcOuVErSuN.cOM | Saturday, March 21, 2015|| sponsor content

It is a given that customers love Por-trait Homes; but the pendulum swingsboth ways. Time and time again, the

Richmond developer has proved thatdelivering a flawless customer-care expe-rience is one of its defining features. Thisyear, for the second time in the past threeyears, Portrait was honoured with theAvid Diamond Award for Best CustomerExperience in Canada, in addition to twoGeorgie Customer Choice Awards Pow-ered by AVID™ for Single Family Pro-duction and for Multi-Family Low-Rise.Portrait was also judged Single FamilyProduction Homebuilder of the Year andBest Single Family Detached Home over2,000 Sq. Ft. Under $750,000.The two latter awards were given forHampstead (Phase 2), which has soldout, part of the immensely successful,master-planned Silver Ridge communityin Maple Ridge.“All of the wins were very exciting,” saysSue Rutledge, the company’s vice-presi-dent, sales and marketing. “The awardsthemselves are impressive, but we areespecially proud of winning the CustomerChoice by Avid, as it tells us that we’redoing the right thing. It is a time for thewhole company to celebrate the effortsthat we have put in throughout the year.”Portrait is poised to launch Nelson Peak,the much-anticipated final phase in Por-trait Homes’ 166-acre Silver Ridge com-munity. With three show homes openingin May, this collection of 77 single-fam-ily homes represents the final and mostdesired property at Silver Ridge, 65 percent of which has been designated greenspace comprising forest, creeks, walking,bicycle and horse trails.“People have been waiting for this prop-erty for years,” Rutledge says. “The site ison the top of a hillside, with phenome-nal views. Looking to the north from ourshowrooms, you see Golden Ears andAlouette Mountains and from NelsonPark the views go on forever, to Coquit-lam, New Westminster and beyond toBurnaby.”Not only is the location remarkable,but the West Coast contemporary-stylehomes themselves promise to attract sig-nificant attention — all new designs, with

new floor plan and designer finishings.Nelson Peak will be built in three phases:all fee simple, the majority detached sin-gle-family homes, but also a selectionof row homes, all with seven distinctiveexterior colour selections and two differ-ent elevations for each home. Front andback yards will all be professionally land-scaped, with many homes backing on to aprotected green space.Single-family models range from 2,700to 3,550 square feet in a variety of floorplans. All include unfinished basementsand 10-foot ceilings throughout the mainfloor, some vaulted to capitalize on spec-tacular views. Most homes have gener-ous mud rooms off the garage, some largeenough for three cars. Family-sized kitch-ens with stainless-steel appliances openinto great rooms. Row houses — someduplexes, some fourplexes — includingbasements average 2,150 square feet.The ridgetop setting, diversity of homestyles, sizes, exterior colours and lot sizescombine to create a real community land-scape, with a small-town charm. NelsonPark, anchoring the community at theend of the Nelson Peak cul-de-sac, will beaccessible to all and should prove to be aperfect gathering place. There are strongindications this may be Portrait’s mostsuccessful endeavour to date. You canregister now at nelsonpeakliving.ca.

This story was produced by Postmedia Works onbehalf of Portrait Homes for commercial purposes.Postmedia’s editorial departments had noinvolvement in the creation of this content.

maPle ridge

Portrait Homes earns multipleawards — includingCustomer Choice nods

Three show homes are scheduled to openin May for the Nelson Peak project.

builderwins prestigioushonour for the second timein the last three years, asfinal phase launched

This year marked the best GeorgieAwards in over a decade, according tomembers and guests of the CanadianHome Builders’ Association in atten-dance at the awards gala on Feb. 27 atthe Hyatt Regency Hotel Vancouver.With more than 500 guests at the sold-out event, the evening began with a spec-tacular entertainment performance thatset the tone for the night. In his open-ing remarks, Robert Capar the outgoingpresident, spoke on the long-anticipatedmandatory builder licensing that estab-lishes new qualifications and continu-ing education requirements as a condi-tion of renewing a builder licence. Hehighlighted some of the achievementsduring his term before introducing thenew incoming president of the Cana-dian Home Builders’ Association of B.C.,Simon Howse.During the course of the evening, thespotlight was on the innovative, creativeand stunning projects in the running fora coveted Georgie Award. The level ofanticipation and excitement of finalistsreached a feverish pitch and explodedinto exuberance with the announcementof the winners by MCWayne Cox.With an increased level of participationfrom smaller builders to the larger multi-family residential builders, we congrat-ulate the winners for their outstandingwork, professionalism and commitmentto building homes for British Columbi-ans — the ultimate winners.

Neil MoodyChief executive officerCanadian Home Builders’ Associationof B.C.

A messagefrom the CEO

2 0 1 5 G E O R G I E A W A R D S P O N S O R S

Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of British ColumbiaArchitecturalPhotographer.com

Avid Ratings CanadaBuilt Green Canada

Federated Insurance CanadaFortis BC

Fraser Valley Real Estate BoardLafarge Canada Inc.R.hazeldine press ltd.TaymorWall2Wall MediaWolrige Mahon

PRINT MEDIA SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

PLATINUM SPONSORS

Proud winner of 4 Georgie Awards!

COMING SOON

PortraitHomes.ca

Sales & Marketing by Coldwell Banker Tri-Tel Realty.This is not an offering for sale. Prices are subject to changewithout notice and exclude taxes. E&O.E

• Customer ChoiCe AwArds, Powered by Avid Ratings:

Single Family Production

• Customer ChoiCe AwArds, Powered by Avid Ratings:

Multi-Family (Low Rise)

• single fAmily produCtion homeBuilder of the yeAr: Hampstead Phase 2

• Best single fAmily home over 2,000 sq. ft.

under $750,000: Hampstead Phase 2

Nature’s Neighbourhood.

Homes starting inthe low $500’s.Register at: nelsonpeakliving.ca

VAN01197648_1_1

E11sponsor content ||Saturday, March 21, 2015 | BrEaKING NEWS: VaNcOuVErSuN.cOM

Photographs on the Georgie Awardswebsite show a handsome, solid,West Coast contemporary home,

well suited to its North Shore hillside loca-tion. Substantial materials in the form of aheavy-gauge steel roof, old-growth cedarsiding and large timber framing give thehome a feeling of permanence. Natural-stone rockwork anchors the home to thesurrounding landscape.Awarded best Custom Home valuedbetween $750,000 and $1,500,000, theHendry home was designed and builtby Westpeak Developments. “It was ourfirst time entering and to win was a hugeaccomplishment, a testament to our hardwork and attention to detail,” says ownerSean Stofer. “Building high-quality,unique homes is my passion, and receiv-ing a Georgie Award is a real honour.”Stofer says his goal was to build a housethat would complement the mountainousNorth Vancouver neighbourhood with thehighest quality materials and craftsman-ship, a house built to last. The six-bed-room, 4,585-square-foot, open-conceptdesign features a seamless transitionfrom the great room to the outdoors, with12-foot vaulted ceilings upstairs and sky-lights bringing natural light to the stair-well, hallways and bathrooms.Wood features are used generouslythroughout this beautifully built home,namely the vertical-grained fir millworkand mouldings, while eight-inch-plank,silver-oak floors provide contrast tothe accenting woodwork. There’s a for-mal dining area and office on the mainfloor, with a large family room and infor-mal dining area surrounding an over-sized kitchen designed with entertainingin mind. Upstairs features an impres-sive southwest-facing master bedroom,ensuite and walk-in closet.Downstairs, there’s an open recreationroom, movie room and bar, well bufferedfrom the main floor, while the separatebasement suite is accessed from a privateback entrance.A civil and structural engineer, Stofer

moved from working on a variety oflarge-scale projects to pursue his passionfor designing and building custom sin-gle-family homes. Stofer views Westpeakas a boutique, full-service custom-homebuilder. “Our highly skilled team takesgreat pride in bringing a consistent levelof quality to all of our homes,” he says.Currently working on a variety of uniquehomes, he is already making plans to sub-mit several projects for next year’s Geor-gie Awards.Sylvan, one of the homes Westpeakdesigned and built and scheduled forcompletion this year, is particularlyunique. This ultracontemporary, open-concept view home was designed to trackthe sun’s path and maximize ocean andmountain views. Its distinctive architec-ture and long list of features, including asteel roof, aluminum panelling, curtain-wall windows and doors, elevated viewdeck, concrete pool and spa, could wellput Stofer back on the Georgie Awardspodium next year.

This story was produced by Postmedia Works onbehalf of Westpeak Developments for commercialpurposes. Postmedia’s editorial departments had noinvolvement in the creation of this content.

custom home

North Shore Westpeakhome showcasesWest Coast winning designimpressive property makesthe most of mountainsidelocation, and the builderensures the house isconstructed to last

A large family room opens to aninformal dining area surrounding anoversized kitchen that was designed withentertaining in mind.

An impressive southwest-facing masterbedroom with ensuite and walk-in closet.

Sean Stofer of Westpeak Developments wins for Custom Home valued between$750,000 and $1,500,000

The team from My House Design/ Build Ltd., which won two awards, including Residential Renovator of the Year.

Award-winner Robert Grimm from Portrait Homes, which took multiple honours this year.

WE BUILD AWARD WINNING CUSTOMHOMES TO SUIT YOUR UNIQUE LIFESTYLE.At Westpeak we bring the highest level of quality to every home. We providea full package of services from financing, budgeting, land aquisition, zoningand design through to project completion. As a Design Build company wehave the insight of construction experience during the design process. Theadded efficiency of our designs provides economical solutions to the mostcomplex of problems. Whether we are designing your home or working withan Architect of your choice, our years of experience will benefit your nextproject. Currently accepting custom home projects for 2015. Contact us fora free consultation.

604-787-1715info@westpeakdevelopments.comwestpeakdevelopments.com

2014 AWARD WINNERBest Single Familyover 2,000 s/f$750,000 - $1,500,000

HENDRY DERBYSHIRE

SERVING WEST VANCOUVER,NORTH VANCOUVER & VANCOUVER

DERBYSHIRE

HENDRY

HENDRY

SYLVAN

VAN01197907_1_1

E12 BrEaKING NEWS: VaNcOuVErSuN.cOM | Saturday, March 21, 2015|| sponsor content

F ifteen years ago, luxury home-builder Gary Tiwana embarked onhis mission to create dream homes,

homes as he describes it, “of extraordi-nary beauty and excellence.” A third-gen-eration builder, he first entered the Geor-gie Awards last year, winning Best SingleFamily Kitchen under $100,000 for theBaughen Kitchen, in North Vancouver.This year, his company Paramax Homesreceived five finalist awards, includingCustom Home Builder of the Year andtwo for Best Interior Design Custom Res-idence — The Grove, as well as ForestHills, which was judged the winner at lastmonth’s Georgie Award Gala.In Forest Hills, a three-storey,5,400-square-foot luxury home in NorthVancouver’s Edgemont Village, Tiwanaand his team have artfully blended tradi-tional and contemporary elements, pre-dominantly marble and white oak, withclean interior lines.All the millwork is done on site, fromdecorative wood panelling — some white,some stained and some left plain — to animposing 10-foot-wide red-walnut bar.The interior opens effortlessly to the out-door patio area with fire pit, in-groundhot tub and backyard water feature.“We wanted to build a West Coast con-temporary house that combined conven-tional with transitional, using materialsin a different way, with certain elementsthat give it character,” Tiwana explains.A third-generation builder, following inthe footsteps of his father and grandfa-ther, Tiwana and his team have built morethan 70 custom homes. Current projectsinclude magnificent British Propertiesview homes overlooking Stanley Park andVancouver’s west side.Tiwana sets high standards for his teamof 15, which creates everything in-house.He attributes much of his success to hisgroup’s expertise and experience, fromthe trades to interior designers, basicallythe same group building each Paramaxhome. “It’s one-stop shopping and wework hard to maintain the quality to meetthe homeowner’s expectations, to bring tolife his or her vision.” Many of his clientsare repeat customers, some commission-ing second and third homes.Last year, Paramax Homes announceda partnership with BONE Structure®,a Quebec-based manufacturer of

contemporary steel-structure homes.The innovative technology uses pre-cut,light-steel pieces that clip together toform a strong frame, all prefabricatedand without nails. Within the next fewmonths, Paramax will begin work on theteam’s first BONE homes, one in the Brit-ish Properties, 10,000 square feet with afive-car garage, theatre, infinity pool anda magnificent gourmet kitchen.“BONE homes are a really good fit forthe West Coast,” he says. “It’s a greatproduct, very green, with no shrinkage,sealed properly, so no moisture or mouldproblems. It’s an upscale product.”Winning a Georgie Award again thisyear keeps him striving to do even betternext time, he says. “I like to build nicerhomes each time, to create somethingnew, to focus on quality and design. Theaward makes us work better for next yearso we can enter more houses and winmore awards. It keeps you on your toes.”

This story was produced by Postmedia Workson behalf of Paramax Homes for commercialpurposes. Postmedia’s editorial departments had noinvolvement in the creation of this content.

luxury home

North Vancouverresidence earnsParamax a trip tothe podium

Paramax Homes’ Forest Hills was judgedBest Interior Design Custom Residence atlast month’s Georgie Awards Gala.

the interior opens effortlesslyto the outdoor patio area withfire pit, in-ground hot tub andbackyard water feature.

Entertainment by Westcoast Contortion and Acrobatics.

Naikoon Contracting’s Midori Uchi, one of the first Net-Zero homes in the province.

Two awards were given to Sarah Gallop Design for A New Dawn in Delta.

t : 604.281.2232www.paramaxhomes.com

2014 Best Interior DesignCustom Residence

Georgie Awards Winner

VAN01197199_1_1

E13sponsor content ||Saturday, March 21, 2015 |

T all, elegant and slender, the 31-sto-rey Salt Building adds architecturalinterest to Vancouver’s downtown

south neighbourhood, an area in need ofrevitalization. Located at the corner ofDrake and Hornby Streets, the 194-suitedevelopment, not surprisingly, sold outin six months and recently earned Con-cert top Georgie Awards honours as BestMulti-Family High-Rise Development.Over the years, Concert has won animpressive 28 Georgie Awards, not theleast of which is the much-sought-afterCustomer Choice Georgie Awards® pow-ered by AVID™, this year in the Multi-Family (Mid/High-Rise) category andthe fifth time Concert has been so recog-nized. These awards are based on third-party surveys of each new homebuyer andspeak to overall homebuyer satisfaction.Salt was designed to meet LEED Goldgreen-building standards and to furtherthe objective of a revitalized commu-nity, the second-floor rooftop terrace wasdesigned for relaxation and socialization.Selective “shadow boxes” create a canvasframework of subtly coloured glass andrandom window mullions, which emu-late the work of 1920s Dutch modernistpainter Piet Mondrian. The north exteriorfacade houses a bold public-art piece enti-tled Idea for a Trellis, by RhondaWepplerand Trevor Mahovsky.In pre-sale, Salt offered 28 homes under$300,000 and 125 homes from $295,000to $495,000 — appealing to first-timebuyers looking for quality, value and awalkable downtown location. With all ofthe homes at Salt pre-sold in less thansix months, Salt was the most success-ful downtown condominium offering of2011.“Developing top-notch buildings andstanding behind them with the best cus-tomer service in the business is whatConcert is all about,” says Brian McCau-ley, Concert’s president and chief operat-ing officer. “The Georgie Awards directly

recognize these efforts and serve to fuelour ongoing commitment to maintainingsuch high standards.”Founded in 1989, Concert has special-ized in developing rental apartments,condominium homes and retirementcommunities, acquiring and develop-ing commercial, industrial and infra-structure properties and in propertymanagement, with operations in BritishColumbia, Alberta and Ontario. To date,the company has developed more than10,000 homes in Vancouver, Victoriaand Toronto with a further 7,000 in theirdevelopment pipeline.Concert’s next Vancouver project — TheCreek —will begin selling later this year, amulti-phase, master-planned communityon the corner of Quebec and First Streets,on the water’s edge adjacent to the sea-wall and one of the last pieces of the puz-zle in Southeast False Creek.

For more information, go to:www.TheCreekByConcert.comThis story was produced by Postmedia Works onbehalf of Concert Properties Ltd. for commercialpurposes. Postmedia’s editorial departments had noinvolvement in the creation of this content.

downtown

Concert’sSalt earnstop industryhonours

The show suite at Salt, Concert’s 194-unitVancouver project, which won Best Multi-Family High-Rise Development at lastmonth’s awards.

Natural gas. Good for savingmoney.

Are you looking to buy a new home?Choose one with high-efficiency naturalgas for space and water heating. Com-pared to other energy sources such aselectricity, using natural gas for space andwater heating can help you save moneyon your long-term energy costs. Whenyou consider that space and water heat-ing together account for a whopping 74.7per cent1 of your total household energyuse, you can see how cost savings can addup when you use natural gas.Another factor to consider is FortisBC’snatural gas rates are among the lowest ina decade, making it an even better timeto choose natural gas for your home. For-tisBC has an online home energy calcula-tor that lets you compare the costs of dif-ferent home heating energy sources andapproximate annual operating costs forvarious appliances. Visit fortisbc.com/energycalculator.Beyond the cost savings, a natural gasfurnace provides cosy, comfortable heat,while a natural gas water heater keeps upwith your family’s demand for plenty ofhot water when you need it. Other naturalgas appliances can offer even more life-style benefits. Cooktops and ranges, forinstance, come in many stylish optionsand provide instant on and off heat andprecise temperature control.

Natural gas is good indoorsand out.

The natural gas that keeps you comfort-able indoors can extend to your livingarea outdoors. Natural gas fireplaces andfire pits provide warmth and ambience,whether you’re just relaxing on the patioor entertaining with friends. Also look for‘quick connect’ outlets in your new home,or ask a licensed gas contractor to installthem. These outlets allow you to useyour home’s natural gas supply for out-door appliances. Hook up a patio heateror barbecue and grill year round, with noworries of running out of fuel again. Youcan also use natural gas to heat a pool orhot tub.

Home renos?Thinking of renovating your existinghome or upgrading your appliances thisyear? FortisBC offers a variety of rebates.Take advantage of a $300 EnerChoice®fireplace rebate and up to $1,000 offENERGY STAR® water heaters. Youcan even qualify for $1,000 rebate whenyou switch from oil or propane heating tohigh-efficiency natural gas heating.Watch FortisBC’s video to learn aboutthe benefits and savings of natural gas inthe home at fortisbc.com/gasappliances.

This story was provided by Fortis BC for commercialpurposes. Postmedia had no involvement in thecreation of this content.

Buying a home?

for theFirst30 DAYS

plustaxes

*

more toseemoreto readwith digital access

*$9.95 every 30 days thereafter

Subscribe now at:vancouversun.com/subscribe

ADVERTISEMENT

For 25 years, Concert has built homes of exceptional quality and providedhomeowners with outstanding customer service. It’s what sets usapart and results in a long list of repeat buyers who recognize the value ofa Concert home.

This year we are especially proud to have received one of the industry’smost coveted awards, the Customer Choice Georgie for the fifth time. Tocontinually be rated the best by BC homebuyers is truly an honour. The winfor Best Multi-Family High Rise Development recognizes Salt, our recentlycompleted 31-storey tower in downtown Vancouver.

With over 7,000 new homes currently in the pipeline across Vancouver,Victoria and Toronto, we look forward to many more opportunities todemonstrate how we are ‘a developer with a difference’ in the years ahead.

www.ConcertProperties.com

#1 customer choicefor 5 years and counting

TAKESTOP HONOURS AT THE

2014 GEORGIE AWARDS

Best Multi-FamilyHigh Rise Development

Quietly Celebrating Our 2 Big Successes

Customer Choice Georgie Award(2014, 2011, 2010, 2009 & 2008)

FortisBC uses the FortisBC name and logo under license from Fortis Inc. (15-121 13/2015)

Build with natural gasBuilding a new home?Choose natural gas.Natural gas is a good choice for space and water

heating. It’s convenient, comfortable and affordable.

In fact, our rates are among the lowest in a decade.

That’s good news for your homebuyers.

And with FortisBC’s New Home Program* you may

qualify for valuable rebates.

Let us work with you every step of the way.

Contact a FortisBC energy solutions manager at

fortisbc.com/energyteam.

*In collaboration with BC Hydro Power Smart.

VAN01197122_1_1

VANSAG13917_1_1

E14 BrEaKING NEWS: VaNcOuVErSuN.cOM | Saturday, March 21, 2015|| sponsor content

Whether the competi-tion is local, national orinternational, Vancou-

ver’s Adera Development Corpo-ration has proved time and timeagain that it can bring it home.“It has been a pretty spectac-ular run for us this past year,”says Eric Andreasen, vice-presi-dent, marketing and sales. “Thecompetition in this town is abso-lutely phenomenal. If you look atany of the winners or finalists,they all have spectacular prod-uct. The state of our construc-tion and design in B.C. is excep-tional.” Adera came away fromlast month’s Georgie Awardswith five major wins, includingMulti-Family Home Builder ofthe Year.Breeze, a vibrant townhomedevelopment in South Surreyacross from Morgan Crossing,was awarded Best TownhouseDevelopment. Cedar detailingand floor-to-ceiling glass wallsare designed to bring the outsidein and enhance living experience.The focal point and the heartof this community is the WestCoast Club, a 3,700-square-foot,stand-alone amenity building,which includes a fitness centre,yoga studio and entertainmentroom. “Breeze is airy and freshand a little ahead of its time,”Andreasen says. “Customers raveabout it; it’s really nice to havethat. With fewer than 15 homesremaining, the award comes justat the right time.”remix, a mixed-use commu-nity of 60 urban homes in NorthVancouver, won Best InteriorDesign Display Suite, beautifullydesigned by Danielle Lareau

of Giraffe Design. This is a fineexample, Andreasen says, of therole our trades, consultants andpartners play in the company’ssuccess. “Without them — everysingle one of them—we couldn’tdo what we do. We’re a leancompany and they’re invested inevery project.”The second phase of Sail,located in the University ofB.C.’s Wesbrook Village, wontop honours for ResidentialCommunity of the Year and BestMulti-Family Low-Rise Devel-opment, which it also won lastyear for the first phase. Sail hasachieved many local, nationaland international accolades,including a UDI Award forExcellence for Best ResidentialLow-Rise (in Vancouver/NorthShore), a national SAM Awardfor Best New Home, as well as aB.C. Wood Design Award in theMulti-Family category.“Sail was competing againstsome pretty big players asa Georgie finalist, so we areextremely proud of those awardsand humbled by them,” Andrea-sen says. The 172 homes thatconstitute Sail represent thefirst residential building certifiedREAP Platinum (the university’sproprietary sustainability-certi-fication program) and the firstsix-storey wood-frame build-ing at UBC, built on time and onbudget. “It’s an icon for us andit’s exceptionally beautiful, withall the wood,” he says.Architecturally designed ascontemporary West Coast Mod-ern homes, Sail features sustain-able technology such as a WasteWater Heat Recovery Systemfrom North Vancouver’s Ener-pro, renewable wood productsfrom Penticton’s Structurlam,Energy Star-rated windows,energy/water-efficient appliancesets and a co-op car at the curb.

Always moving forward, Ade-ra’s Prodigy, neighbouring Sailin Wesbrook Village and over-looking UBC’s Mundell Park,has recently embarked on itssecond stage, with 70 homessold. Prodigy has been referredto as “Sail’s big brother”. Every-thing learned from the award-winning development has beenapplied and enhanced, includingcovered, private rooftop terracesfor all penthouse-level homesand an expansive water-featurecourtyard.As a result of customers’ feed-back, some of the homes havebeen combined into three andfour-bedroom layouts, justunder 1,400 square feet. “There’s

a sizable move-down market,”Andreasen explains. We’ve beentalking to a number of peoplewho have come out of single-family detached homes andwant larger layouts.” Prodigy’sbrand-new on-site presentationcentre and display homes, alsodesigned by Danielle Lareau, arenow open to view.Adera’s newest North Vancou-ver community, located adja-cent to Mosquito Creek, is TheShore, an enclave of one-, two-,and three-bedroom homes southof Marine Drive. The Shore hasthe distinction of being the firstwood-frame building in B.C.,and likely across Canada, to per-form acoustically as well as, if

not better than, a concrete build-ing with Adera’s new SuperiorAcoustic Specification system.This increased acoustic per-formance means that both air-borne and impact sound trans-ferred between floors and wallswill be significantly decreased. Anew collection of the last creek-side homes will soon be released,which also includes exception-ally spacious rooftop lanais forall top-level homes. The grandopening of this next phase willbe held on April 11.One of B.C.’s leading multi-dis-ciplinary real-estate organiza-tions, Adera’s world-class port-folio includes the developmentof more than 10,000 homes, andmore than 3.5 million square feetof commercial space. For morethan 45 years, the company hasbeen building trust and homeswith innovation, sustainability,partnership and passion. Aderais an industry leader in sustain-able development as reflected innumerous awards.

This story was produced by PostmediaWorks on behalf of Adera Group forcommercial purposes. Postmedia’seditorial departments had no involvementin the creation of this content.

lower mainland

Adera awardedmultiple top honourscompany takes fivemajor awards, namedmulti-family homebuilder of the year

Adera’s Breeze is a vibrant townhome project in South Surrey.

VAN01197585_1_1