The Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) announced the winners of the 21^st annual Building Excellence Awards at its member meeting on March 7, 2023. As industry professionals are challenged to deliver comfortable, healthy and more resilient structures, the offsite construction awards program recognizes outstanding residential and commercial projects that use structural insulated panels (SIPs) 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 jobsite operating efficiencies. Efficient and effective, SIPs, which are pre-cut on the factory floor to meet project specifications and arrive on the jobsite 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 January 1, 2022 and December 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, UT

Agricultural

Classic Winner: SIP Fish Hatchery Building in Spearfish, SD

Classic Runner Up: SIP Agronomy Center in Rolfe, IA

Commercial/Industrial/Institutional Over 10K Sq. Ft.

Classic Winner: SIP Dental Clinic and Offices in Waukee, IA

Classic Runner Up: SIP School Campus in Hailey, ID

Commercial Under 10K Sq. Ft.

Classic Winner: SIP Shop Garage in Renton, WA

Honorable Mention: SIP Campers Cabin in La Honda, CA

Multifamily

HP Winner: High Performance SIP Senior Cottage in St. Cloud, MN

Classic Winner: SIP Smart and Green Apartments in Luverne, MN

Renovations

Classic Winner: SIP Community Center in Escalante Area, UT

Homes Over 3K Sq. Ft.

HP Winner: High Performance Energy Step SIP House in Lake Country, BC

HP Runner Up: High Performance SIP House in Chapel Hill, NC

Classic Winner: SIP Secondary House in Lake Metigoshe, ND

Classic Runner Up: SIP Lake House in Marion, IL

Homes Under 3K Sq. Ft.

HP Winner: Zero Energy Hillside House in Oak Harbor, WA

HP Runner Up: High Performance SIP Passive House in Kansas City, MO

HP Honorable Mention: High Performance SIP Retreat in Lutsen, MN

Classic Winner: Energy Star SIP House in Berkeley, CA

Classic Runner Up: Net Zero Energy SIP House in Placitas, NM

Homes Under 900 Sq. Ft.

Classic Winner: Solar SIP House ADU in Seattle, WA

Classic Runner Up: SIP Sunflower House ADU in Minneapolis, MN

Best Overall HP Residential Winner

Zero Energy Hillside House in Oak Harbor, WA

Best Overall Non-Residential Winner

SIP Smart and Green Apartments in Luverne, MN

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.