The light fixture in the Bunkhouse lobby is an overturned canoe.

Owners Richard and Sandy Priday were thrilled to receive a Building Better Oregon Award from the Central Oregon Association of Realtors at a reception Monday, Oct. 30.

They earned the award with their newest property, Bunk House, on the north side of Madras.

“We love Madras and the community here,” said Rich Priday, “It’s where my roots are and we want to bring them the upscale facility that they deserve to have.”

The Priday’s thank their management team, but also the city of Madras and Jefferson County for helping with funding and planning, and Griffin Construction, the company that built Bunk House.

The Building Better Oregon award judges the local economic impact of the facility, the uniqueness of its design, beautification of the area, and use of environmentally friendly materials and practices.

Sandy Priday designed the ‘classic rustic’ decor and chose materials for the building. “We wanted to create something that feels like home and not something that felt just like a box,” she said. “We wanted it to honor the history of the area and have it be representative of the Madras population’s heritage.”

The Pridays own several hotels across Oregon. The Bunk House opened this spring next to the Priday’s other Madras hotel, Inn at the Cross Keys, named after the historic stage coach station in Willowdale. Fitting the western theme, the design called for stone, wood and metal on the Bunk House exterior.

Interior furnishing reflect the history of the area including the lobby light fixture made from a native canoe. Art and photographs depict the shepherding and ranching history of the area. Furnishings are made of leather and draped with animal pelts.

“It’s like saying from our bunk to yours, we want to welcome all to the Bunk House with the tip of the hat and a firm handshake, bringing the spirt of the Old West in a classy way,” Rich Priday told a reporter for the Cascade Business News.

The Pridays incorporated ecologically friendly practices in their design with drought tolerant landscaping and drip irrigation, low-e glass to prevent solar heat gain, occupancy sensor controlled lighting, LED lighting used throughout and high efficiency water heaters.

“We wanted to create something the community of Madras could be proud of, and we are excited about what we have accomplished here at the gateway to Central Oregon,” said Rich Priday.

The Building a Better Oregon honors that accomplishment.