Governor Maura Healey today announced the winners of the Massachusetts ADU Design Challenge, a statewide competition designed to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to build accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. across Massachusetts.

The administration is awarding eight winning submissions from architects, builders, designers, contractors and design-build teams across Massachusetts. Launched in December 2025, the challenge received more than 100 submissions from designers representing nearly 50 municipalities across the state.

Entries to the ADU Design Challenge ranged from compact ADUs of up to 500 square feet to larger dwelling units between 501 and 900 square feet. They featured sustainable, accessible and innovative construction methods designed to meet the needs of Massachusetts residents. Winners were selected by an independent jury of eight members representing expertise in architecture, construction, housing and sustainability. Jurors evaluated submissions for the top three overall awards based on design quality and vision, presentation, livability, feasibility and affordability, and sustainability. Category winners were selected based on criteria specific to each award, with final selections based on average scores from all judges.

The ADU Design Challenge was funded entirely through private dollars, with support from AIA Massachusetts, Eastern Bank Foundation, Massachusetts Housing Partnership and The Boston Foundation.

The winners of the Massachusetts ADU Design Challenge are:

• All-Challenge 1st Place: Fabricated Module, Local Dwelling: A New England ADU. Designers: Ana Cheng, Aren Fenner and Jansen Meals of ICON Architecture, of Boston.
• All-Challenge 2nd Place: Eco Gable. Designers: Garrett Avery, Alexander Catalano, Sarah Glennon, Maeve Kelley, Elena Stancheva and Starr Warner of Catalano Architects, of Boston.
• All-Challenge 3rd Place: Good Fences, Good Neighbors: A Symbiotic Approach to Unlocking ADU Development in MA. Designers: Douglas Jack, Victoria Capaldo, Aslyn Padre of Nidify Studio; Andrew Steingiser, John Mann and Mike Browne of RDH Building Science; Achan Sookying of AS Collective, Milo Stella of Star Contracting Company and Nate Cole.
• Exceptional Compact ADU: Bower:A (450 square feet). Designer: Michelle Oullette of Woolfall Architecture + Interiors LLC, of Lowell.
• Exceptional Standard ADU: Sunlit Haven (785 square feet). Designer: Yiren Weng, of Sharon.
• Exceptional Sustainable ADU: The 20-Foot House. Designers: J.R. Coffin, Chris Brooks and Charles Mesias of Studio Den Den, of Belmont.
• Exceptional Accessible ADU: ADU for All. Designers: Kevin Marblestone, Paul Gruber, Sandra Jahnes, Will Ruhl and Josh Pisors of Ruhl | Jahnes Architects, of Watertown.
• Exceptional Innovative Construction ADU: ChickADU: A Small and Mighty ADU. Designer: Marcel Merwin of studioMERWIN, of Cambridge.

Through the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) and its ADU Incentive Program, launching soon, homeowners will be able to access assistance to determine whether an ADU is feasible for their property. Through MassHousing and its affordable ADU financing program, income-eligible homeowners can access financing to help move projects forward.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) also just launched a Massachusetts ADU Resource Center at MyMassADU.org. Homeowners that are interested in building an ADU on their property can enter their address at the ADU Resource Center’s website to see what an ADU would look like on their lot, learn more about financing options, and access resources as they navigate the pre-development process. Homeowners in the Pioneer Valley can take advantage of the ADU Accelerator Pilot program, also run by the MassCEC, to obtain technical support for building detached, modular, all-electric ADUs in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties.

Together, these efforts are designed to reduce the cost and complexity of building small homes and to show how good design, practical support and clearer rules can make housing more accessible, sustainable and achievable across Massachusetts.

HLC’s ADU design repository at mass.gov/ADUdesigns features the winning designs from the ADU Design Challenge as well as all qualifying submissions. Homeowners can search by square footage, layout and features including accessibility, sustainability and innovative construction methods.