2025 Winners

Governor Announces Winners of the 2025 Governor’s Award for Design and Construction Excellence

The Governor, Jane Owen, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Governor’s Award for Design and Construction Excellence, presented at Government House this week. Now in its fifteenth year, the Award recognises projects that demonstrate excellence in design innovation, sustainability and construction quality across the Cayman Islands’ built environment.

The 2025 Residential Award was presented to Aldine Franklin House, a carefully restored heritage residence in East End commissioned by owners Peter and Paula Dutton.

The 2025 Commercial Award was presented to John Gray High School, a major national investment in educational and civic infrastructure commissioned by the Ministry of Education.

The Governor stated, “The Governor's Award for Design and Construction Excellence celebrates buildings that make a genuine and lasting contribution to the Cayman Islands — not simply for how they look, but for how well they are built, how thoughtfully they respond to our climate and culture, and how well they serve the people who use them. I am pleased to support this awards programme, which showcases the talent, ambition, and confidence of the Cayman Islands to the wider world.”

Speaking at the ceremony, the Award Committee noted:

“Over the past fifteen years, the Governor’s Award has quietly but meaningfully raised expectations across Cayman’s construction industry. The projects recognised this year demonstrate that excellence is defined not by scale or spectacle, but by care, resilience and responsibility to place.”

The awards were presented at a reception held at Government House.

About the Residential Winner: Aldine Franklin House

Project Team:

Architect: Frederick + McRae Ltd.

Structural Engineer: APEC Consulting Engineers

Electrical Designer: TK Electrical Solutions

Mechanical Designer: M&S Air Conditioning

Plumbing Designer: Frederick + McRae Ltd.

General Contractor: Unit Construction Ltd.

Plumbing Contractor: AL Plumbing

Aldine Franklin House represents a sensitive restoration of a traditional East End timber home. Rather than demolishing the original structure, the project team carefully documented and reinterpreted its proportions, rooflines and verandahs, integrating contemporary resilience and environmental performance.

Elevated construction, operable shutters, and passive cooling strategies enhance durability while preserving the home’s architectural character. The judges commended the project for demonstrating that architectural excellence can be achieved through restraint, continuity, and respect for Cayman’s vernacular heritage.

About the Commercial Winner: John Gray High School

Project Team:

Client/Owner: Ministry of Education, Cayman Islands Government

Project Leadership/Lead Consultant: Chalmers Gibbs Architects

International Design Collaboration: Jestico + Whiles and RAD (UK)

Structural Engineer: APEC Consulting Engineers

MEP Designer: MCW Consultants Ltd.

Quantity Surveyor: JEC Property Consultants Ltd.

General Contractor: McAlpine Ltd. Cayman

Key Trade Contractors: BrittHay Electric Ltd., United Contracting Ltd., Cayman Mechanical Company Ltd., Precision Industries (Cayman) Ltd., Stafford Surfaces

The John Gray High School is a transformational campus designed to accommodate more than 1,000 secondary students. The project provides specialist teaching facilities, a 410-seat performance hall and community sports amenities, and is designated as a hurricane shelter capable of accommodating over 3,000 people.

Sustainability measures, including passive daylighting, rainwater harvesting, and energy-efficient building systems, are embedded throughout. The judging panel described the project as “a powerful example of civic architecture serving society.”

2025 Shortlist

The 2025 shortlist reflected the breadth and maturity of Cayman’s design and construction sector.

Residential shortlisted projects included:

• Salt Spray, South Sound

• The Meadows at Batabano, West Bay

Commercial shortlisted projects included:

• Cricket Square Pavilion East

• Hotel Indigo® Grand Cayman

Each project was recognised for its environmental performance, climate responsiveness, and long-term adaptability.

2025 Judging Panel
Projects submitted for the 2025 Governor’s Award were assessed by an independent jury comprising experienced professionals from across the built environment:

• James Bovell

• Michelle Butler

• Melanie Carmichael

• Lou Fox

• A. L. Thompson

The Governor and the Award Committee extend their sincere thanks to the judges for their time, diligence and professional insight in reviewing this year’s submissions.

Fifteen Years of the Governor’s Award

The ceremony also marked fifteen years of the Governor’s Award programme. A commemorative publication documenting all winners, shortlisted projects and nominations from 2010 to 2025 was presented at the event, capturing the progression of environmental performance, resilience and collaboration across Cayman’s built environment.

The Governor’s Award is conferred by the Office of the Governor in partnership with the Cayman Islands Society of Architects, Surveyors and Engineers (CASE) and the Cayman Contractors Association (CCA).

Sponsors of the Governor’s Award 2025:

Platinum Sponsors

• A. L. Thompson’s

• Apex Group

• Cayman National Bank

• Home Gas Ltd.

• James Bovell – RE/MAX Cayman Islands

• Rubis Cayman

Gold Sponsors:

• C. L. Flowers

• National Concrete

• MC2 Ltd. | REAL LIFE Magazine

The continued support of sponsors ensures that the Award remains rigorous, independent, and committed to raising standards within the Cayman Islands construction industry.