Empire Communities, one of North America’s largest privately held homebuilders, has been recognized as Volume Builder of the Year by the Greater Houston Builders Association.

Lead by regional president James Miller, Empire’s Houston division has been a supporter of HomeAid Houston, a GHBA charity dedicated to providing housing and support for Houston’s homeless.

In 2020 as a “builder captain,” Empire headed up construction of an 8,100-square-foot cottage in Hockley for Boys and Girls Country, housing eight boys who have come from families in crisis and their teaching parents. The cottage will instill security, warmth and a nurturing environment for as long as the children need a safe haven, many times through high school.

“This is a proud moment for us at Empire, and we would like to thank the GHBA for recognizing our team’s efforts to act as socially-conscious homebuilders making a difference in our community,” said James Miller, regional president at Empire Communities and 2021 HomeAid Houston board president, in a press release. “As we continue to grow in the Houston market, we have much important work to accomplish to change the trajectory of homelessness in our community and ensure we all have a place to call home.”

After launching its U.S. Homebuilding Division in 2016 in Houston, Canadian-based Empire Communities now builds in 15 Houston-area communities, nine Austin and four San Antonio-area communities and is the developer of seven master-planned communities through Empire Continental Land, the Texas Land Division for Empire Communities.

In 2020, Empire opened five new model homes in the Houston market (Balmoral in Humble, Coastal Point in League City, Newport Lake Estates in Manvel, Bridlecreek in Cypress and Lago Mar in Texas City), with a sixth, Royal Oaks Landing in Westchase, recently opening in 2021.