Olson Kundig is pleased to announce that Aro Homes (led by principal Blair Payson, AIA, LEED AP) won an Energy Design Award at the 2025 AIA Seattle Honor Awards. This specific award recognizes projects that achieve measurable energy performance while maintaining the highest standards of design excellence.

Aro Homes achieve a better than net-zero performance and are designed to replace aging housing stock. The design accommodates a wide range of family sizes and fosters a high-quality architectural experience with an emphasis on indoor/outdoor living. The repeatable, hybrid off-site / on-site construction strategy shortens the delivery timeline from 18 months, which is typical for a standard single-family residence, to just 90 days. While the initial model is designed for the Bay Area specifically, the versatile approach is intended for widespread adaptation in other markets.

As one of two projects selected for this award, Aro Homes was chosen due to the project’s ability to scale energy performance through its modular and replicable design. The Jury noted, “As architects, we’re called upon to have a vision of extraordinary artifacts. In the case of Aro, that vision is scaled and disseminated into a system that others can deploy in many other areas. The scale of possibilities for a project like this is immense!”

For more information about the AIA Seattle Awards, or see the full list of 2025 winners, visit their website.