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Chapel Hill Builder, Collins Design-Build Wins Prestigious STARS Award for Best Accessibility Residential Home in North Carolina

We are thrilled to announce that Collins Design-Build has once again been recognized for excellence in homebuilding! At this year’s North Carolina Home Builders Association (NCHBA) STARS Awards, we were honored to receive the award for Best Accessibility Residential Home in North Carolina. This marks the sixth consecutive year that we have earned this prestigious distinction, reinforcing our commitment to designing and building homes that are both beautiful and accessible for all.

A Commitment to Aging in Place & Accessibility

As a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), our mission has always been to create homes that allow homeowners to live comfortably, safely, and independently—regardless of age or mobility. This award-winning home embodies that philosophy, featuring barrier-free design, zero-entry showers, wider doorways, accessible countertops, and state-of-the-art smart home technology to enhance everyday living.

What This Means for Our Clients

Winning the STARS Award is more than just an accolade—it’s a testament to our passion for innovation and dedication to our clients. We understand that an accessible home is not just about functionality; it’s about preserving independence, enhancing quality of life, and creating a space that truly feels like home. Whether you’re planning for the future or looking for solutions to meet current mobility needs, we are here to help bring your vision to life.

Thank You to Our Clients & Team

This achievement would not be possible without our amazing team and the trust of our clients. Every project we take on is a collaboration, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to design homes that make a real difference in people’s lives in Chapel Hill.

If you’re interested in learning more about our aging-in-place and accessible home design services, please contact us today. Let’s build a home that fits your lifestyle—now and for years to come!

Want to see more photos of this award winner? Click Here

Chad & Emilee Collins

Chad Collins is an Unlimited Licensed General Contractor, Licensed Home Inspector, and award-winning custom home builder based in Hillsborough, North Carolina. As the founder of Collins Design-Build, Chad has earned a reputation for creating luxury, timeless custom homes throughout Orange County, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and the surrounding Triangle region. His projects are known for exceptional craftsmanship, high-performance construction, universal design, and premium client experience.

Recognized as one of the Triangle Business Journal’s top custom home builders, Chad blends extensive construction expertise with thoughtful design to build homes that are beautiful, durable, healthy, and highly energy efficient. His credentials include Accredited Master Builder, Master Certified Green Professional, and Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist—distinctions held by only a select group of builders statewide.

Chad’s 30 plus year career began in building materials, retail, and field operations, quickly earning him leadership roles with local, regional, and national home builders. His ability to streamline operations, lead high-performing teams, and deliver luxury homes with exceptional quality helped him close more than $6 million in custom home projects in a single year and win the 2001 Builder of the Year award.

As the founder of Collins Design-Build, Chad has earned numerous industry honors, including National Certified Green Professional Builder of the Year, Home Builder of the Year for Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties, MAME Building Company of the Year, multiple STARS Awards, Parade of Homes Gold Awards, and multiple Best Green Built Home recognitions. His firm also builds certified green homes and ENERGY STAR homes as a standard—not an upgrade.

Chad is widely respected as a leader in North Carolina’s building community. He has served as President of the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties, Regional Vice President for the North Carolina Home Builders Association, and President of the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce. In 2018, he was appointed by the Governor to the North Carolina Home Inspectors Licensing Board.

In addition to building award-winning custom homes, Chad is a residential construction expert witness, assisting attorneys, homeowners, and insurers in cases involving construction defects, building standards, and accessibility issues. His professional background and extensive field experience make him a trusted authority in courtroom, arbitration, and litigation support.

Chad is also an approved Continuing Education Instructor for the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors and a recognized speaker for the National Association of Home Builders. He has written and taught courses on green building, construction management, and aging-in-place for contractors and university programs, including Duke University’s OLLI Continuing Education Program.

Categorized in: Awards, Collins Design Build News, Custom Homes

This post was written by Collins Design Build