Fresno, CA. The US Green Building Council Central California (USGBC-CC) announced the first annual winners of the ADUs for all ages 2023 Design Competition.  The designs were displayed at this year’s Tiny House Expo at the Fresno Home and Garden Show.  A distinguished jury selected first, and second place awards and a public choice winner was voted by the public at the exhibition. 

The expert panel of judges including Andres Jaurique, Executive Director Gazarian Real Estate Center, Dan Fitzpatrick, President, Tiny Home Industry Association (THIA), Michelle Zumwalt, Architect, City of Fresno, and Dr. Ajith Weerasinghe, Assistant Professor Mechanical Engineering, voted Fresno architect Arthur Dyson’s entry for the First Place Award.  Additionally, Dyson was also awarded the Second Place Award. The People’s Choice Award went to Gladys Molina, an architect with the City of Fresno.

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a secondary housing unit that is either attached to or located on the same property as a primary residence. These units, also known as granny flats, in-law suites, or backyard cottages, provide additional living space while maintaining the character of the existing neighborhood.

The ADUs for all ages design competition asked participants to design a sustainable Accessory Dwelling Unit, to enable multigenerational living on an existing single-family. All designs were required to be sustainable and include passive design elements and fit the needs of aging individuals. The designs had to comply with the California State Building Code and be adaptable for accessibility. The focus was on multi-generational living arrangements and featured sustainable solutions.

The size was limited to 350 to 500 square feet with one-bedroom, bath, kitchenette and living area. The building systems included solar panels and batteries, HVAC systems with passive ventilation systems may be used to minimize HVAC operational time and additional passive design elements.

Additional sponsors were the Fresno Home Shows, AIA San Joaquin and the Tiny Home Industry Association. Funding was provided by the AARP Community Challenge Grant. 

About USGBC Central California

The US Green Building Council Central California is a 501c3 nonprofit organization located in Fresno, CA with the mission to engage San Joaquin Valley communities in the transformational development and promotion of ecologically healthy built environments. USGBC-CC’s work centers on community engagement, education, networking, and advocacy for solutions that are good for human health, communities, and the climate. USGBC-CC is a partner of the City of Fresno in its Transform Fresno project focused on creating transformative climate communities and led the design for the Circle V Indigenous and Environmental Resource Center in collaboration with the San Joaquin River Conservancy.