Phius Announces Winners of 2026 Passive Projects Design Competition

CHICAGO, Oct. 12, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Phius, the nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting high-performance passive building, has announced the winners of its 2026 Passive Projects Design Competition. The competition, which recognizes leading examples of Phius Certified passive buildings from across the world, highlights the growing application of passive building principles in a variety of building types and climate zones.

This year's winning projects showcase the evolution of passive building from an innovative concept to a widely adopted strategy. The competition received entries from affordable housing, multifamily, commercial, industrial, and community-serving spaces, demonstrating the versatility and scalability of passive building techniques. The winners were selected based on their performance relative to the Phius Certified standard, difficulty level and climate/site challenges, cost-effectiveness, design, craftsmanship, and health considerations, including the use of non-toxic materials.

Among the standout projects is The Faircliff in Washington, D.C., which won both the Affordable Housing and Best Overall Project categories. This project exemplifies how high-performance building strategies can be integrated into affordable housing, setting a new standard for energy efficiency, occupant health, and long-term affordability. The Faircliff demonstrates that passive building can be applied at scale, serving the needs of diverse communities.

GO Logic's Shop and Office in Belfast, Maine, received the Industrial Recognition award. This project illustrates the application of passive building principles to industrial and commercial spaces, showing how high-performance strategies can extend into the workplaces and production environments that make up a significant portion of the built environment.

Other notable winners include: - Ryerson Woods Education Center in Deerfield, Illinois, which serves the Lake County Forest Preserves District. - 2147 Washington Street in Roxbury, Massachusetts, a high-rise multifamily project. - Leland House in Waltham, Massachusetts, a low-rise multifamily project. - Beach Green Dunes III in Far Rockaway, New York, which received the Best Project by a Young Professional award.

These projects, along with others recognized in the competition, highlight the growing sector of passive building beyond the single-family residential market. They demonstrate that high-performance buildings can be both ambitious in their design and responsive to the needs of the people and communities they serve.

The competition underscores the increasing recognition of passive building as a viable and effective solution for a wide range of construction projects. With Phius providing a climate-specific, cost-optimized path to high-performance, zero-carbon-ready buildings, the organization is well-positioned to continue driving the adoption of passive building principles across the industry.