Premier SIPS Projects Shine at 2026 SIPA Building Excellence Awards

Each year, the Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA) recognizes exceptional projects built with structural insulated panels (SIPs) that demonstrate energy efficiency, design innovation, and real-world performance in residential, commercial, agricultural, and civic construction. In 2026 — SIPA’s 24th annual Building Excellence Awards — Premier SIPS projects earned honors across multiple categories, showcasing the versatility and measurable benefits of SIP construction.

What Are the SIPA Building Excellence Awards?

The SIPA Building Excellence Awards celebrate design and construction excellence using SIPs, judged on energy performance, structural innovation, sustainability, and creative SIP application. To be eligible, projects must feature SIPs on at least 50 % of the building envelope.

2026 Premier SIPS Award Winners & Recognized Projects

Affordable Housing Winner

Governor Mike O’Callaghan Legacy Apartments — Las Vegas, NV

This 68,436 sq. ft., four-story affordable senior housing community uses 6" EPS Premier SIPS walls to deliver a high-performance building envelope and rapid enclosure in a demanding desert climate. The 40 one- and two-bedroom apartment homes were framed in just one month, reducing material waste while achieving an efficient, durable envelope tailored to Las Vegas’s extreme conditions.

• SIPs Used: 6” EPS Walls
• Architect: Winston Henderson Architects
• Contractor: Community Development Programs Center of Nevada (CDPCN) 

⇒ View complete project details and photos for this award‑winning SIPs Affordable Housing Complex 

Affordable Housing Runner-Up

Stratton Flats, Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley – Gypsum, CO

A Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley affordable housing development created to address the critical need for stable, energy-efficient housing in Colorado’s mountain communities. The project reflects Habitat’s mission to deliver durable homes while keeping long-term operating and ownership costs low for income-qualified residents. Premier SIPS’ panelized system was installed quickly by Habitat volunteers, and the SIPs deliver a tight, high-performance building envelope that significantly reduces heating and cooling loads—supporting long-term affordability through predictable, efficient energy performance.

• SIPs Used: 6" EPS Walls
• Architect/Contractor: Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley 

⇒ Get the full story (and more photos) about this Habitat for Humanity development 

Agricultural Winner

Yamhill Barn — Yamhill County, OR

The Yamhill Barn, a flexible agricultural building, reimagines what a modern barn can be. This mixed-use structure supports organic hazelnut farming while also providing flexible spaces for creative work, gatherings, and professional use.

The building includes a full drive-in concrete basement for equipment access and harvest storage, a main floor and greenhouse for community-oriented use, and a loft dedicated to meetings and office space. A combination of 8″ & 6″ walls and 10″ roof SIP assemblies were used for durable comfort and thermal stability. 

• SIPs Used: 8" & 6" Walls, 10" Roof
• Architect: Maple Brook Engineering Co
• Contractor: MD Haney & Co.

⇒ See all the details and photos behind this award‑winning SIPs barn project

Commercial Over 10,000 sq ft Winner & Overall Commercial Winner

Yellowstone Airport Terminal — West Yellowstone, MT

Designed to be a resilient gateway to Yellowstone National Park, the new Yellowstone Airport Terminal replaces an aging facility with a modern, high-performance building suited to extreme winter conditions, heavy snowfall, and high winds.

12″ GPS SIP roof helped the project achieve LEED® Silver certification, demonstrating how SIP construction can support high-performance public infrastructure in demanding climates.

• SIPs Used: 12" GPS Roof

• Architect: AE Design

• Contractor: Martel Construction

• Structural Engineer: Cushing Terrell

⇒ Dive into the full story and photo gallery for this impressive LEED Silver award‑winning SIPs Airport project

Commercial Over 10,000 SF Runner-Up

Pitt Barn at Pecan Lake — Queen Creek, AZ

The Pitt Barn at Pecan Lake is a commercial destination combining a restaurant, arcade, and entertainment venue under one roof. Designed for large open spans and high occupancy, the project required a roof system that could deliver both structural efficiency and energy performance in a desert climate.

By using Premier SIPS GPS roof panels, the project team created a continuous, high-performance roof assembly that helps manage heat gain and support interior comfort—demonstrating how targeted, roof-only SIP applications can deliver meaningful performance benefits without complicating wall construction.

• SIPs Used: 12” GPS Roof

• Architect: CW Architecture

• Contractor:  Lux of Arizona

• Structural Engineer: Cushing Terrell

⇒ View full project details and photos of this award winning SIPs restaurant project

Commercial Under 10,000 SF Winner

Vail Valley Public Rest Area — CO

In a high-altitude climate, SIPs delivered superior roof performance and reduced long-term operational demands for this public facility.  Vail Valley Public Rest Area faces long winters, heavy snowfall, and wide temperature swings.

By incorporating Premier SIPs at the roof level, the project team addressed one of the building’s most critical performance challenges—heat loss through the roof—while supporting construction efficiency, occupant comfort, and reduced long-term operational demands.

• SIPs Used:  12-1/4" EPS Roof

• Architect: GSG Architecture, Inc

   

• Contractor: Taylor Khors Construction & Lamwood Timberframe

⇒ See the story, and more photos, behind this award winning SIPs public rest area project

Single-Family Homes Over 3,000 SF, High-Performance Runner-Up

The Hangout | Montana

Designed as a highly efficient, multi-use retreat in an extreme mountain climate, this project includes an airplane hangar, pilot’s lounge, lodging, kitchen, and indoor recreation space. Premier SIPS helped create a tight, durable building envelope capable of maintaining stable interior conditions across large open volumes in a cold-climate, rural setting.

This project is filled with performance and sustainability features like foundation and slab insulation, high-performance windows, radiant floor heating, high-efficiency mini-split HVAC systems, energy-efficient lighting and more!

• SIPS Used: 6" EPS Walls | 10" EPS Roof

• Architect: Artisan Homes

• Contractor: Tamarack Construction

• Structural Engineer:  Cushing Terrell

⇒ See the full details and photos of this unique, award winning SIPs airplane hanger project

Multifamily Winner

Sherman Street Duplex — CO

This high-performance duplex shows how SIP construction can elevate small-scale multifamily housing. By prioritizing envelope performance from the start, the project delivers low energy use, right-sized mechanical systems, and long-term operational savings—without adding complexity to the build.

• SIPS Used: 6 1/2" EPS Walls | 12 1/4" EPS Roof

   

• Architect: Guthrie + Buresh Architects

   

• Contractor: Erik Santiago

⇒ View full project sustainability details and more photos of this award winning SIPs multi-family duplex project

Single-Family ‘Small Houses’ Under 900 Sq. Ft. Winner

Comfort Casitas – Antioch ADUs — CA

This accessory dwelling unit (ADU) project proves that high-performance design scales down without compromise. Using Premier SIPS, the project delivers exceptional energy efficiency, comfort, and durability in a compact footprint—demonstrating that size doesn’t limit impact when envelope design comes first.

• SIPS Used: 6" EPS Walls | 10" EPS Roof

• Architect & Contractor: Comfort Casitas

⇒ See the details and photos of this award winning ADU SIPs project

Why Premier SIPS Projects Stand Out

Across building types — affordable housing, public infrastructure, agriculture, and residential — Premier SIPS constructions excel because they:

• Deliver tighter building envelopes with superior insulation
• Reduce heating and cooling energy demands
• Enable faster assembly and lower waste on site
• Support LEED, energy code, and sustainability goals

These award-winning projects prove SIPs’ effectiveness in real climates and varied building challenges, underscoring Premier SIPS’ role in high-performance construction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What criteria do the SIPA Building Excellence Awards use?
A: Projects are judged on energy performance (like HERS scores), structural engineering innovation, creative use of SIPs, sustainability, and overall design quality.

Q: Are SIPs suitable for all climates and building types?
A: Yes — as the 2026 winners demonstrate, SIPs perform well from mountain public facilities to desert affordable housing.

Next Steps: Discover High-Performance Building With SIPs

Interested in learning how Premier SIPS can elevate your next project? From custom residential homes to commercial and agricultural buildings, SIPs offer efficiency, durability, and performance that outperforms traditional framing.