Calbridge Homes crowned BUILDER OF THE YEAR
For the second time in less than a decade, Calbridge Homes has been crowned Builder of the Year for the Calgary region.
“This is one of my proudest moments,” said Joe Ferraro, chairman and founder of Calbridge, crediting his president and CFO Bev Higham-Linehan, and what he calls a “young, passionate team.”
Calbridge also earned the top builder title in 2012, and Multi-Family Builder of the Year in 2014.
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,” he joked, adding getting into home building — a company he started with his father Raimondo — was certainly the right call.
“We love what we do,” Ferraro added.
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, HighamLinehan points to the builder’s customer service 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 singlefamily 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.