‘This is one of my proudest moments’
Calbridge Homes named Builder of the Year
Looking back more than 40 years ago, Joe Ferraro remembers knowing he was going to go one of two routes — open a restaurant or start a home building company.
“I still don’t know how to cook,” joked the chairman and founder of Calbridge Homes, who started the company with his father Raimondo.
It was the right decision. For the second time in less than a decade, Calbridge has been crowned Builder of the Year for the Calgary region. Its last time with this title was 2012.
Calbridge also won Multi-Family Builder of the Year in 2014.
“This is one of my proudest moments,” said Ferraro, who credits his president and CFO Bev Higham-Linehan, and what he calls a “young, passionate team.”
Calbridge’s win was announced during a gala event at the Telus Convention Centre for the BILD (Building Industry and Land Development) Calgary Region Awards — formerly known as the SAM (Sales and Marketing) Awards — on April 14.
Builder of the Year is one of five Grand Awards, which are the top prizes in the competition. The others were Shane Homes winning Multi-Family Builder of the Year, Riverview Custom Homes winning Builder of Merit, Kon-strux Developments as Renovator of the Year, and 3HD Building Systems as Partner of the Year.
Finalists for Builder of the Year were Jayman Built, Excel Homes, Mattamy Homes, and Baywest Homes.
“Our product development, we have taken a turn on that, and have tried to come up with some new, innovative ideas,” says HighamLinehan. “Our team has been working really hard on that.”
Calbridge currently builds in the Ridge at Sage Meadows, Rocky Vale Green, Cranston’s Riverstone, Legacy, Mahogany, Artesia at Heritage Pointe, and Fireside.
Along with the Builder of the Year title, Calbridge picked up honours in two individual New Home Awards categories. A custom private residence in Cranston’s Riverstone won for Best New Home $1,500,000-$2,299,999, and its Brooklyn model in northwest Calgary’s the Ridge at Sage Meadows won for Best New Home - $485,000-$549,999.
Higham-Linehan says the Brooklyn is “truly about family.”
“It feels good, warm, inviting — like that is where a family belongs.”
On Calbridge’s success, Higham- Linehan points to the builder’s customer service performance as a catalyst.
“We are currently sitting at the best rating that we’ve had ... I can’t even tell you the last time I’ve seen it do so well,” she adds. “That’s made a huge impact for us.”
Overall, Higham-Linehan says the work and dedication of her team were key, and tips her hat to the leadership of Ferraro.
“He has lived and breathed Calbridge for most of his life and it’s such a huge part of who he is,” says Higham-Linehan. “He has the most amazing wisdom ... And he’s always there if we need him.”
Joining Calbridge for New Home Awards was strong representation from Jayman Built. The builder picked up three prizes for single-family homes, with entries from northwest Calgary, southeast Calgary, and Cochrane.
Jayman’s Emerge 26-4 in Evanston won for Best New Home - $295,000-$349,999, while its Lauren 26 in Legacy topped the category for Best New Home - $350,000-$414,999, and its Edgecombe 28 in Riviera won for Best New Home — $415,000-$484,999.
Jayman was also recognized with awards for multi-family design, marketing, and best sales and information centre - detached.
Dream Ridge Homes also won multiple new home awards at this year’s competition. An entry dubbed the Johnson residence picked up honours for Best New Home - $720,000-$849,999, and its Show Home Elbow Park submission led the pack for Best New Home - $1,000,000-$1,499,999.
For Mattamy Homes, an entry from its new northwest Calgary community of Carrington earned the builder one of two pieces of hardware on the night.
Its Berkley Corner Showhome won for Best New Home - up to $254,999. Mattamy ’s other award was for its sales team in Hillcrest/ Southwinds, picking up Sales Team of the Year - Single-Family.
The Laurier III in the Airdrie community of Ravenswood won Broadview Homes the category for Best New Home — $255,000$294,999.
Baywest Homes’ Ellington in the southwest Calgary community of Dressage in Silverado set the pace in the segment for Best New Home -$550,000-$619,999.
From the Builder of Merit, Riverview was a winner with its Casa Blanca private residence entry, leading the class for Best New Home $620,000-$719,999.
Urban Indigo Fine Homes and McKinley Masters Custom Homes also earned recognition for entries from private residences.
Urban Indigo’s Elbow Valley West submission led the way for Best New Home - $850,000$999,999. McKinley Masters won the highest-priced category in the competition, with its entry dubbed City Lights Residence landing the bird for Best New Home $2,300,000 and over.