The Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation has announced the winners in the Low-Cost Housing Design Competition.

The winners were announced at an awards ceremony held on Tuesday, November 23.

The Competition, which was launched on May 7, closed on August 31 with a submission of three hundred and five applications (305).

Local architects, engineers, builders, and students of the built environment were called upon to submit low cost, sustainable, climate resilient architectural designs for the housing solutions which will be used as models for the New Social Housing Programme.

Of the three hundred and five applications received, forty-three (43) submissions met the full competition requirements and advanced to the Judging Panel.

The winners for the four categories are:

One Bedroom
• First Place – Richard Gazader
• Second Place – Anissa Blake
• Third Place – Michael James

Two Bedrooms
• First Place – Zane Finnikin
• Second Place – Ryan Gentles, Kelli-Rae Ashley, Leslie Gordon, Giovanni McEachron, Derron Barnett
• Third Place – Keisha Daley, Atrao Walker, Dave Hylton, Stephan Rampair

Three Bedrooms
• First Place – Fitzroy McIntosh
• Second Place – Glenford Henry
• Third Place – Dennis Douglas

Multi Family Unit
• First Place – Mlela Matandara-Clarke, Deon Clarke, Roni-Kaye McLaren, Suzette Adams–Rickards
• Second Place – Sheldon Duncombe, Wai Leung NG
• Third Place – Janoy Evans

The winning designs in each category were awarded $1Million for first place $500,000 for second place and $250,000 for third place. The Ministry also awarded four honourary mentions at $50,000 per recipient across three categories.

The winning models, from the Competition, will be incorporated in future designs for housing solutions to be built under the New Social Housing Programme.

The New Social Housing Programme seeks to provide shelter for indigent and vulnerable Jamaicans currently living in substandard conditions.