Building a show home that will “wow” even the industry’s top builders — and building it in half the time of a typical project — is no small feat. But the build team of The New American Home® 2022 delivered just that: an impressive showcase of the latest techniques and products in residential construction.
“I really couldn’t have asked for anything more, except for maybe the amount of time we had to build the house,” said Steven Earl, president of Envy Homes, who oversaw the 2022 home. Because of a variety of permitting and design-related delays, the project could not get underway until late May of 2021. And like many other builders across the nation, Earl says countless supply-chain delays created a variety of scheduling challenges throughout the entire project.
Now a finished product, the 2022 home boasts numerous innovative designs and features, many of which not only enhance aesthetics but also boost energy efficiency and air quality. The home is expected to achieve net-zero status and Emerald-level certification from the National Green Building Standard. It will also earn certification from ENERGY STAR, Indoor airPLUS, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home Program.
An aerial rendering of the home shows the central courtyard and rooftop deck.
In contrast to many of the other New American Homes built in previous years, the 2022 home scaled back its total square footage to exhibit how to integrate as many new features as possible within a more attainably sized home.
“We wanted to build a home that is more realistic, as far as size, price and location, which would appeal to an even broader audience,” said Serena Hahn, CEO of Envy Homes. “It’s definitely not your typical show home, but we know there’s incredible demand right now in this segment of the market, so there’s a lot of excitement to see what can be done within a property like this.”
With 4,646 square feet of living space, the 2022 home is approximately one-third smaller than the average New American Home built within the last 10 years. “Although we were working within a smaller scope, we still found countless opportunities to create a ‘wow’ home and maintain a sense of luxury,” said Ed Binkley of BSB Design and one of the project’s lead designers.
Binkley says the home has an especially strong indoor-outdoor connection, as all of the primary rooms open toward the central courtyard to provide an abundance of natural light. The home also features a rooftop deck, as well as a bar and grill for additional dining and entertaining space. The design team also integrated multiple flex spaces in the home that could be used for a variety of activities.
“Home office space has re-emerged as an essential element, but it’s been redefined in a way,” Binkley said. “Now, it’s more about creating a space that’s flexible and can easily adapt to the unique needs of different buyer profiles, whether they need a home office, a gym or more space to entertain.”
All registered attendees of the NAHB International Builders’ Show® and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show® can tour the home during show hours via complimentary shuttle buses departing from the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). Timed tickets are distributed each day on a first-come, first-served basis at The New American Home booth in the West Concourse of the OCCC.
*All articles have been redistributed from NAHBnow.com*