The 2020 National Awards have been announced and Collecdev has received honours for six categories including Pinnacle Community of the Year for both Nørdic and TRETTI. The Scandinavian-inspired communities continue to make an outstanding impression in the industry thanks to an amazing transit-connected location, exceptional design, thoughtful amenity programming, and a strong connection to nature.

“The Nationals are the most prestigious awards of their kind, setting the benchmark for innovations in new home design, marketing and sales,” said Angela Harris, Nationals Chairperson.

Collecdev VP Sales and Marketing, Natascha Pieper, seconds. “We are extremely proud to be recognized by the NAHB’s largest and most prestigious awards competition. For nearly 40 years, the Nationals have recognized North America’s best new-home sales and marketing. The wins are truly an honour.”

During a 4-day judging process, TRETTI and Nørdic rose to the top from over 900 entries, winning Silver Awards for:

Pinnacle Community of the Year
TRETTI Condos

Best Landscape of a Community
TRETTI Condos

Best Email Marketing
TRETTI Condos

Pinnacle Community of the Year
Nørdic Condos

Best Print Campaign
Nørdic Condos

Best Email Marketing
Nørdic Condos

“The tremendous success of winning the 2021 Nationals Silver award in the esteemed category of “Multifamily Community of the Year” for both Tretti and Nordic is a testament of the hard work and dedication to building better communities” says Pieper.“Bringing new homes to 777 purchasers in the Wilson Heights area is a collective approach to development and we are dedicated to building better communities.”

The Silver award winners represent the highest votes in each category and are finalists for Gold. Stay tuned as the Gold winners will be announced on February 9^th, 2021.

One of the things we pride ourselves on at Collecdev is our ability to respond to changing market demands. Usually that means anticipating the needs and wants of homebuyers, future-proofing our communities with innovative amenity programming and advanced initiatives in sustainability and design. Recently, however, it’s also meant responding to the new normal amidst a global pandemic.

COVID-19 has had a large impact on the way we work, but despite the changes, we’re continuing to look to the future, moving forward to bring new Collecdev communities to life. Here we talk to members of our team and get their thoughts on working through these unprecedented times.

What’s one thing you miss about being in the office? 

The camaraderie with my colleagues. Our office is really collaborative and a lot of that happens informally, through a casual encounter with a teammate in the kitchen, or an impromptu meeting at someone’s desk. I miss those spontaneous moments, but we’re getting better and better at recreating them through technology that keeps us connected, even when we’re physically apart. 

Stuart Cooper, Director of Planning

What helps you stay productive when working from home?

For me it’s been really important to set up a designated work space at home, someplace I can stay organized and where I can be productive without too much distraction. Working from home has given me new appreciation for the coworking spaces we programmed into the amenities at TRETTI and Nørdic – of course we never anticipated a global pandemic, but having spaces that allow people to separate work and home I think will remain relevant long after social distancing.  

Hannah MacTaggart, Sales and Marketing Coordinator

How does collaboration look different when everyone is physically distanced? 

We’ve definitely mastered the art of the Zoom call! It was a little challenging at first, not to be in the same room, but over the last few months we’ve actually been able to create an entirely new way to communicate using a combination of Zoom, email,  Microsoft 365 applications like Teams, SharePoint, and Planner. We may not be in the office, but we’re still collaborating as if we were.

 Fernando Valenzuela, Director of Development

What would you say to purchasers who are worried about construction delays due to COVID-19?

I would say that they can rest easy knowing that our construction sites have been up and running over the last several months, of course with new measures in place to ensure our workers stay safe and healthy. Our team is passionate about what they do, and we’re immensely proud that they’ve continued to show up, day after day, to bring our communities to life. 

Jennifer Burstein, VP, Construction

What impact will COVID-19 have on future design? Have you learned anything about how people use their personal space?

I think the pandemic has reinforced that we’re on the right track with things like amenity programs that include coworking spaces and lots of outdoor and green space. Over the last few months, our homes have become so much more than the place we live – they’ve become our office, our school, our refuge. Moving forward it will be important that community design incorporate spaces where people can feel inspired to socialize and interact, but that will also keep them safe and healthy. I think outdoor space is going to be tantamount. Studies show that people are happier with a connection to nature, and after being locked down for months, I think that will resonate with homebuyers more than ever before.

Natascha Pieper, VP, Sales and Marketing

It’s that time of year again – the days get shorter, the temperatures drop, snow starts to fall, and many of us, faced with the long stretch of winter before us, begin to dream about spring. Add in a global pandemic and it might feel like this year, the winter blues have reached new levels of saturation, but don’t despair, there are ways to make it through the season with a smile. Take a page straight from a Scandinavian “bok” (that’s “book” in Norwegian) and let these five Scandi-inspired secrets help you embrace winter and beat the blues.

1. Start with good design.

The Scandinavian countries receive some of the fewest hours of daylight during the winter months, yet they are frequently cited as some of the happiest places in the world. Why? Because they start with good design, just like the Scandinavian-inspired spaces at Nørdic.

Expansive windows and wide, shallow layouts help flood spaces with natural light. Organic materials like quartz and wood, pair with light, neutral colour palettes to create a calming background. Spacious balconies, protected from the elements, provide a connection to nature even through the winter months. These details combine to create a home that brightens every day.

2. Get outside and connect with nature.

When temperatures drop below zero it may be tempting to hibernate under your duvet, but the best thing you can do is actually get outside. Scandinavians spend plenty of time outdoors in the winter months, embracing the concept of friluftsliv, a lifestyle based on freedom in nature and connectedness with the landscape.

At Nørdic that’s easier than ever thanks to architecture that allows for a series of terraced green roofs, where residents can get a breath of fresh air, or nearly 11,000 square feet of outdoor space across three communal courtyards. Connect with nature easily and often and watch your stress melt away.

3. Soak up the sun.

Time outdoors isn’t the only way to soak up the sun. If you’re one of the many people now working from home, make the most of natural light during daytime hours. Set up your home office next to a window, something that’s easy to do at Nørdic where windows stretch across the entire suite. Or, grab a spot with a garden view in the lobby lounge, outfitted with lightning-fast wifi and enough space to brainstorm and collaborate from a safe social distance.

4. Make time for exercise.

Winter is often the perfect excuse to indulge in deliciously rich dishes that will add an extra layer to keep us warm until spring returns. Of course, balance is key. Exercise will not only help counteract all those complex carbohydrates, it’s also a proven way to lower stress and boost your creativity and mood.

Bundle up and head out for a bike ride or a brisk walk (Scandinavians are even famous for taking a polar bear dip in the sea!). Grab your skates or your skis and enjoy the slopes of Earl Bales or the NHL-sized ice rinks at Scotiabank Pond nearby. Get your endorphins flowing in the state-of-the-art fitness centre. Find everything you need to beat the winter blues, close to home.

5. Embrace the season.

We live in Canada, where winter is a simple fact of life, so instead of fighting it, embrace the colder months and celebrate what makes this season so special – comfort food and cozy nights; quality time with family and friends; the season’s first snowfall; long evenings curled up on the couch. Slow down and breathe it all in. That’s the secret to a Scandinavian-inspired winter – welcoming it, exactly as it is.