Small & Smart ADU Design Winners Announced!
“Chestnut ADU,” designed by Rare Forms
October 31, 2025
North Adams, MA — The North Adams Partnership is proud to announce the winners of the Small & Smart ADU Design Challenge, a community design competition that invited residents, students, and professionals to create innovative, age-friendly housing solutions for North Adams.
Launched with support from an AARP Community Challenge Grant, the design challenge asked participants to design Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)—small, flexible residential spaces located on the same property as a primary home. ADUs offer a potential housing solution for aging in place, intergenerational living, and increasing the local housing supply without changing neighborhood character.
After reviewing dozens of submissions, a selection committee of planners, housing experts, and community members chose three winning designs that exemplify creativity, accessibility, and feasibility.
“These designs demonstrate that good housing is not just about shelter—it’s about connection, independence, and belonging,” said Jenny Wright, Executive Director of the North Adams Partnership. “We need everyone from every discipline to help us figure out how to make ADUs a viable, affordable solution to the housing challenges in North Adams.”
Winners will each receive $2500. Winning concept designs will be made available to the public at no cost, giving homeowners access to concept plans they can work with a general contractor to turn into building plans.
Winning designs were submitted by:
Julie Reilly, a community member who served on both the advisory committee and the judging panel, was impressed by the remarkable talent and imagination displayed by local students. “The student response was extraordinary—thoughtful, inventive, and grounded in real community needs,” Reilly said. “The panel was so impressed that we decided to create a student category to recognize and encourage this next generation of designers. Their ideas show how creative problem-solving can shape the future of housing in North Adams.”
Student winners will each receive $500, made possible with generous support from Moresi Associates. The winning student designers are:
The North Adams Partnership will celebrate all contest entries and present awards at a public ceremony on Thursday, November 6 at 5:30 PM at Hotel Downstreet. The event will showcase the winning designs and highlight the community collaboration that made the challenge a success.
The Small & Smart ADU Design Challenge is part of a broader effort to promote creative, inclusive housing solutions that allow residents to remain rooted in North Adams while adapting to changing needs.
