Each year, a panel of building-industry professionals chooses nominees for the Great American Living Awards. Sponsored by the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association, last year’s GALA Awards—held on October 8th in McLean—honor excellence in new-home architecture, interior design, sales and marketing in the Mid-Atlantic region. 

The 2025 jury reviewed 249 entries; the following list includes winners and awards of merit in residential design, architecture and custom-building.

CUSTOM HOME OF THE YEAR, GRAND

Arnon Meadow—James McDonald Associate Architects | Gulick Group

HOME OF THE YEAR, GRAND

Château de Rêve—The Building Group, Inc. | James McDonald Associate Architects

COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR, GRAND

Under 100 Home Sites: District Towns at St. Elizabeths East—The Knutson Companies | Wiles Mensch | Lessard Design

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE

DETACHED HOME (on lots under 7,000 square feet)

$700,000 to $849,999: The Stavanger III at Hazel Run Glen—K. Hovnanian Homes

$1,000,000 to $1,499,999: Konni at Parkside Village—Toll Brothers

$1,500,000+: Rouse at the Grove at Dominion Hills—Toll Brothers

DETACHED HOME (on lots 7,000 square feet and over)

$400,000 to $499,999: The Quincy II at Heritage Shores—Brookfield Residential
| Devereaux & Associates

$500,000 to $599,999: The Canterbury at Estates of Tuscarora—K. Hovnanian Homes

$850,000 to $999,999: Torrey at Hampstead—KTGY | Atlantic Builders

$1,000,000 to $1,399,999: Sorrento 2.0 at Glenn Dale Estates—Mid-Atlantic Builders

$1,400,000 to $2,999,999: Virginia Street—James McDonald Associate Architects | ACG Custom Homes  

$3,000,000 to $4,999,999: Churchill Road Model—Green Valley Custom Builders | Green Valley Design Group  

$5,000,000+: Château de Rêve—The Building Group, Inc. | James McDonald Associate Architects

ATTACHED HOME

Under $400,000: The Skyline at Snowden Bridge—Brookfield Residential | Pinnacle Design & Consulting, Inc.  

$400,000 to $499,999: The Hemingway at Hiatt Pointe at Snowden Bridge—Brookfield Residential | Devereaux & Associates, P.C.

$500,000 to $599,999: Edmond at Commonwealth Place—Lessard Design | Toll Brothers

$600,000 to $699,999: Louis Model at Commonwealth Place—Lessard Design | Toll Brothers

$700,000 to $849,999: Bellamy at Northpark Lofts—KTGY | Tri Pointe Homes

$850,000 to $999,999: The Lillian at Farmstead District—EYA LLC | Sutton Yantis Associates Architects

$1,000,000 to $1,399,999: The Chatfield at Reservoir District—EYA LLC | Sutton Yantis Associates Architects

$1,400,000+: The Nottingham at Northside—EYA LLC | Sutton Yantis Associates Architects

MULTI-FAMILY

New Construction, Mid-Rise

The Lowell—Lessard Design | Winthrop | McWilliams Ballard

New Construction, High-Rise

The Iris—CBG Building Company | MRP Realty | Moya Design Partners | Greystar

New Construction, Mixed-Use

Atwell on Spring—KTGY | Bozzuto