Award-Winning by Design: Yosemite Lake House Takes Two Honors

We have some exciting news to share — and we’re incredibly proud of this one.

The Yosemite Lake House in Groveland — a project many of you have followed from the ground up — has just received two international honors at the 2026 ICF Builder Awards, a global competition recognizing innovation and excellence in resilient construction.

PHNX3 in Yosemite was honored with:

• 1st Runner Up – Small Residential

• People’s Choice Award

The awards were presented at the World of Concrete conference in Las Vegas, where hundreds of builders, architects, and engineers from around the world gathered to celebrate projects that are pushing the industry forward.

So what made the Yosemite Lake House stand out?

It was the only project in the Small Residential category built to true Type IA noncombustible standards. PHNX uses Fox Blocks exclusively — the only ICF system currently on the market with the testing and approvals that meet Type IA requirements and PHNX’s rigorous standards.

And while ICF walls are inherently fire-resistant, Type IA construction goes far beyond the walls. It means a fully noncombustible structure from top to bottom: noncombustible-rated roofs and windows, no vents or ember-entry points, and no wood anywhere in the structure.

Set on a steep, rocky site near Yosemite, this home was designed to prove that wildfire-resilient, all-concrete construction can be both beautiful and livable. It’s fully noncombustible, all-electric, net-zero capable, and engineered to meet the realities of building in a high fire-risk region — without compromising comfort, architectural expression, or connection to place.

Judges cited the project’s architectural complexity, craftsmanship, and the challenges the team overcame to deliver a home that sets a new bar for residential construction.

Watch the video here.

The People’s Choice Award makes this recognition even more meaningful. It reflects not just industry acclaim, but the support of peers and professionals who believe — as we do — that the future of homebuilding must prioritize safety, resilience, and long-term performance.

This home was never intended to be just a single residence. It was built as a proof point — that homes can be designed to withstand wildfire while still feeling warm, modern, and deeply human.

Thank you for following this journey and for believing in what’s possible when we build differently.