BOMA Utah Announces 2010 TOBY Awards

Real Estate News Utah

 

Big-D, CB Richard Ellis, Riverpark Management and Development and Hines GS Properties were recognized by the Building Owners and Managers Association of Utah for their quality office buildings and excellence in building management during the 2010 TOBY Awards on Feb. 12 at the Little America in Salt Lake City.

 

The Outstanding Building of the Year Award was established in 1985 nationally and made its debut in Utah in 2009. The award, according to Past President Kent Hardcastle of Qwest Communications, has quickly become a significant event for BOMA Utah and has helped to grow membership, which reached 144 persons in 2009.

 

“It is kind of like the academy awards,” Hardcastle said.

 

Awards are given in 13 different categories, including Renovated Building, Medical Facility, Corporate Facility, Industrial Office Park and Earth, among others. The awards are meant to recognize quality in office buildings and award excellence in building management.

 

Six properties were nominated for the 2010 Utah TOBY Awards. And after consideration of  tenant relations programs, community involvement, emergency preparedness, security standards and continued education for building personnel by the judges, all six  buildings were recognized in an individual category.

Big-D was the first to be recognized during the annual event for its corporate headquarters. Located at 404 W. 400 South, Salt Lake City, the office was given the TOBY Award for Earth. The building, built in 1922, was renovated by Big-D after nearly 50 years of vacancy. The company razed and replaced the electrical, mechanical, heating and air conditioning systems. Certified as LEED Gold, the building is one of few which can boast this designation along with being listed on the National Historic Registry.

 

CB Richard Ellis received the 100,000 to 250,000 square foot office building TOBY Award for its building on 136 E. South Temple.  This 25-story, 216,975-square-foot office building was built in 1965. The property is owned by South Temple Holding LLC-Stuart Bond and managed by CB Richard Ellis.

 

The 257 Tower in downtown Salt Lake received the 250,000 to 500,000 square foot office building TOBY Award. Managed by CB Richard Ellis, this 258,754-square-foot, 13-story, Class A high rise is home to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Salt Lake City headquarters and housed the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics Committee. The building is 93 percent leased with 19 different tenants. The building boasts renovated lobby and restrooms, as well as a fitness center, onsite property management office, a restaurant and covered parking.

 

The RiverPark Corporate Center was recognized with a TOBY from the Suburban Office Park Low Rise Category. This 1.3 million-square-foot, 120-acre, Class A, master-planned office campus is located in south Salt Lake Valley suburbs. Amenities include a fitness center, restaurants, retail facilities and a city park within walking distance.

 

For the Suburban Office Park Mid Rise Category, BOMA Utah selected the Cottonwood Corporate Center, located at the base of Big Cottonwood Canyon.  With four Class A office buildings totaling 487,971 square feet, the Cottonwood Corporate Center covers more than 17 fully-landscaped areas. Each of the four buildings at the center received the EPA Energy Star Award from 2006-08.

 

The Historical Award was given to The Kearns Building, which was constructed in 1911 and restored in 1989 while preserving the lobby clock, the third and fourth floor vaults, an ornate 10^th floor chandelier and ornate plaster ceilings.

 

These local, award-winning properties are now eligible to compete at the regional level. The International TOBY Awards, which take place at the BOMA International Convention in Long Beach, Calif., June 27-29, will feature properties that place at the regional level.