Governor Jane Owen announced the winners of the 2025 Governor’s Award for Design and Construction Excellence, presented at Government House recently. Now in its 15th 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 said, “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 15 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. and 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
Fifteen years of the Governor’s Award
The ceremony also marked 15 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.
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