Passive Projects Design Competition

Recognizing the best passive projects in North America and beyond.

Get Your Project Recognized

Winners of the 2025 Phius Passive Projects Design Competition will be announced during PhiusCon 2025 opening plenary Oct. 7 in Milwaukee. The juried competition recognizes Phius Certified passive building projects of all types in all climate zones.

Competition Details

  • Winning and honorable mention awards will be given in the following categories:   

    • Single-Family
    • High-rise Multifamily (5 stories and above)
    • Low-rise Multifamily
    • Affordable
    • Commercial/Institutional
    • Source Zero
    • Retrofit

    Additionally, two projects from the above winners will be awarded:

    • Best Overall Project of this year’s competition
    • Best Project by a Young Professional (CPHC 35 or younger)

Sample Entry Form

We reccomend you review a read-only version of the Design Competition entry form prior to filling out the official form. NOTE: This form is for reference only. Entries must be submitted using the official entry form.

Meet the Jurors

Below are the esteemed jurors for the 2025 Phius Passive Projects Design Competition.

Jonathan Bean

Assistant Professor of Architecture, Sustainable Built Environments, and Marketing and Chair of the Sustainable Market Transformation program, University of Arizona

2023 Winners

Below are the projects recognized as winners in the 2023 Passive Projects Design Competition

Best Overall Project

Vital Brooklyn | Brooklyn, New York

Architect: Dattner Architects; CPHC: Carmel Pratt – Bright Power Inc.; Builder: Monadnock Construction; QA/QC: Elise Fabbri – Bright Power Inc.; Owner/Developer: MDG Design and Construction

Project Listing

Single-Family Winner

Iowa City Nest | Iowa City, Iowa

Architect: Sol design + consulting; CPHCs: Sanyog Rathod & Carl Sterner; Builder: Oak Tree Homes; QA/QC: Chris Dwyer

Project Listing

Single-Family Honorable Mention

Wildewood Residence | Nederland, Colorado

Architect: Shape Architecture Studio; CPHCs: Morgan Law & Ryan Abendroth; Builder: MTS Holdings, LLC; QA/QC: Trevor Donnely – EnergyLogic; Owner/Developer: Manny Sarmina

Project Listing

Source Zero Winner

Shawme Lake Passive House | Sandwich, Massachusetts

Architect: Kaplan Thompson Architects; CPHC: Kai Fast; Builder: The Valle Group; QA/QC: Chris Mazzola – Home Energy Raters; Owner/Developer: Diane and Denis Boucher

Project Listing

Source Zero Honorable Mention

Red Clay Passive | Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

Architect: Jeremy Avellino; CPHC: DSB Energy -- Ilka Cassidy & Jeremy Avellino; Builder: Hugh Lofting Timber Framing; QA/QC: David Berg – DSB Energy

Project Listing

High-Rise Multifamily Winner

Chestnut Commons | Brooklyn, New York

Architect: Dattner Architects; CPHCs: Ayse Sen & Emily Durso – Bright Power Inc.; Builder: Lettire Construction; QA/QC: Elise Fabbri – Bright Power Inc.; Owner/Developer: Cypress Hills Local Development Corp, Urban Builders Collective LLC and MHANY Management Inc.

Project Listing

High-Rise Multifamily Honorable Mention

Melrose North | Bronx, New York

Architect: Curtis + Ginsberg Architects; CPHCs: Thomas Moore & Victoria Yee – Steven Winter Associates; Builder: HomeBuilders 1 LP; QA/QC: Michael Schmidt – Steven Winter Associates; Owner/Developer: Bronx Pro Group and Services for the UnderServed

Project Listing

Low-Rise Multifamily Honorable Mention

Ellie Passivhaus | Seattle, Washington

Architect: NK Architects/ Balance Architects PLLC; CPHC: Nicholaus Baxter; Builder: John Dickinson -- Cascade Built; QA/QC: Greta Tjeltveit; Owner/Developer: Sound West Group

Project Listing

Affordable Housing Winner

Verdant | St. Paul, Minnesota

Architect: Kaas Wilson Architects; CPHC: Elizabeth Turner – Precipitate, Inc.; Builder: Frana Companies; QA/QC: Jake Selstad, CEE; Owner/Developer: Sherman Associates

Project Listing

Affordable Housing Honorable Mention

Squirrelwood - Building L | Cambridge, Massachusetts

Architect: Davis Square Architects; CPHCs: Maciej Konieczny & Alena Parunina – New Ecology, Inc.; Builder: Callahan Construction Managers; QA/QC: Mark Norton – New Ecology, Inc.; Owner/Developer: Just-A-Start

Project Listing

Retrofit Winner

Ames Residence | Chicago, Illinois

Architect: Farr Associates Architecture & Urban Design; CPHC: Gabe Wilcox; Builder: Zoetic Building Consultants, LLC; QA/QC: Lindsey Elton – EcoAchievers, LLC

Project Listing

Retrofit Honorable Mention

Yannell Residence | Chicago, Illinois

Architect: HPZS; CPHC: Scott Farbman; Builder: MK Construction, Inc.; QA/QC: Ibrane Juarez; Owner/Developer: Yannell Foundation for Sustainable Development Michael Yannell

Project Listing

Community Development Winner

2nd and Delaware | Kansas City, Missouri

Architect: Jeffery White Architect; CPHC: Prudence Ferreira; Builder: Crossland Construction; QA/QC: Erik Henson; Owner/Developer: Arnold Development / Yarco

Second and Delaware Apartments (East)

Community Development Honorable Mention

The Zorra | Embro, Ontario, Canada

Architect: Michael Wilson Architect; CPHC: Ed Marion – Passive House Ontario; Builder: Hartman Construction; QA/QC: Greg Leskien – Zon Engineering Inc.; Owner/Developer: Langlois Ecohomes Ltd

Project Listing

Recognition for Excellence in Multi-Use

Chestnut Commons | Brooklyn, New York
Project Listing

Recognition for Excellence in Multi-Use

Melrose North | Bronx, New York
Project Listing

Recognition of Excellence in Multi-Use

Vital Brooklyn | Brooklyn, New York
Project Listing

Best Project by a Young Professional

Chestnut Commons | Brooklyn, New York
Project Listing