ADU Design Challenge Showcase

The Healey-Driscoll Administration launched the Massachusetts Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Design Challenge to make it easier and more affordable for property owners to move forward with an ADU. This page showcases winning and qualified designs to help property owners explore ADU designs that meet their diverse needs. Please note that by viewing and downloading any materials on this page, you agree to the ADU Designs User Agreement. Please review this user agreement before continuing.

1st Place: Fabricated Module, Local Dwelling: A New England ADU

Designed by: ICON Architecture - Ana Cheng, Aren Fenner, Jansen Meals
Contact: acheng@iconarch.com

2nd Place: Eco Gable

Designed by: Catalano Architects - Alexander Catalano, Starr Warner, Elena Stancheva, Garrett Avery, Maeve Kelley, Sarah Glennon
Contact: acatalano@catalanoarchitects.com

3rd Place: Good Fences, Good Neighbors

Designed by: Nidify Studio - Douglas Jack, Victoria Capaldo, Aslyn Padre, Nate Cole, Andrew Steingiser, John Mann, Milo Stella, Achan Sookying, Mike Browne
Contact: doug@nidifystudio.com

Awards for Category-Specific Excellence

In addition to the top three awards, jurors recognized five other exceptional ADU designs for excellence in specific categories of the ADU Design Challenge:

• Exceptional Accessible ADU: Recognizes an ADU with an outstanding approach to accessibility, including universal design, independence, and adaptability.
• Exceptional Innovative Construction: Recognizes an ADU with an outstanding approach to innovative construction methods that can improve speed, cost-effectiveness, and buildability.
• Exceptional Sustainable ADU: Recognizes an ADU with an outstanding approach to sustainable design, including energy performance, resilience, and efficiency.
• Exceptional Compact ADU: Recognizes a studio or 1-bedroom ADU up to 500 square feet that demonstrates overall design excellence.
• Exceptional Standard ADU: Recognizes a studio, 1-bedroom, or 2 or more-bedroom ADU up to 900 square feet that demonstrates overall design excellence.

Searchable Table of Designs

Use the table below to explore all qualified design submissions. You can filter by layout, square footage, self-identified areas of design excellence, and other filters to find options that best match your needs.

What's Included in Each Design Package

Each qualified submission includes a downloadable design package. Packages generally include:

• Cover sheet with designer name, contact information, and project information
• Design challenge posters that across multiple pages showcase the design concept, creativity and key components
• Scaled floor plan which shows all levels of the ADU, layout, and fixtures
• Exterior elevations that demonstrate all sides of the ADU and materials
• Wall section that shows the wall of the ADU from the foundation to the ADU's highest point
• Additional renderings and diagrams selected by the designer

Homeowners across Massachusetts can use the statewide ADU Resource Center to learn more about Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and the process of planning, permitting, and building one. The Resource Center is intended to help make ADUs easier to create and support the creation of more housing options across Massachusetts.

About the Massachusetts ADU Design Challenge

Accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, up to 900 square feet are permitted by right across Massachusetts. The Massachusetts ADU Design Challenge was created to give property owners access to free, high-quality detached ADU designs that are functional, appealing, and easier to use as a starting point for planning. The ADU Design Challenge Submission Guidelines outlined the requirements and standards that needed to be met by submissions to be considered a complete submission. The challenge received over 100 submissions representing professionals from nearly 50 municipalities across Massachusetts. Designs were diverse, ranging from compact ADUs under 500 square feet to larger units between 500 and 900 square feet and featuring sustainable, accessible, and innovative construction approaches. The challenge focused on detached ADU designs as they are generally less dependent on site-specific and structural conditions as compared to attached or internal ADU types.

Independent Professional Jury

The ADU Design Challenge Jury was made up of eight architects, builders, planners, and housing professionals from across Massachusetts. Jurors reviewed all eligible submissions and assigned scores. The Jury met to deliberate on the highest scoring entries and determined awards by consensus. We want to thank the 8 independent judges that graciously volunteered their time and efforts to review all designs.

Private Funding for Design Challenge Awards

Awards made to winning designs were made solely with privately raised funds and no public dollars were used for awards made to Challenge winners. The Commonwealth extends a thank you to the ADU Design Challenge funding partners who saw the value of quality, winning designs, and providing financial awards to winners:

• Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP)
• AIA MA
• Eastern Bank Foundation
• The Boston Foundation