MONDAY, JULY 06, 2009

Minneapolis-area buildings win industry awards

by Midwest Real Estate News Reports
Minneapolis-St. Paul

The Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Minneapolis in early July announced that four of its member properties earned TOBY Awards in their competition categories at the BOMA International Conference in Philadelphia, besting competitors from around the world.

The TOBY Awards are the most prestigious awards of their kind in the commercial real estate industry, recognizing excellence in office building management in 14 different categories based on size and facility type.

Buildings are judged by all facets of building operations including energy management, tenant relations, community involvement, emergency preparedness and security. To qualify for the international level of this competition, these four office buildings first won "The Office Building of the Year" distinction locally and then for the Midwest Northern Region, which includes 12 cities in seven states.

Building owners were required to submit a detailed application and undergo an extensive building inspection process by a team of TOBY judges. In addition, the management team was interviewed by a judging panel regarding the building's tenant relations programs, work order systems, emergency preparedness/security standards, budgeting, record-keeping and staff experience and training.

The winners in the Minneapolis area are:

- The 601 Tower, (601 Carlson Parkway in Minnetonka), managed by CB Richard Ellis and owned by TIAA-CREF, won the TOBY International Award in the 250,000 to 499,999 square feet category.

- Carlson Center, (Intersection of I-394 and I-494 spanning Minnetonka and Plymouth), managed by Carlson Real Estate Services and owned by Carlson Real Estate Company, won the TOBY International Award in the suburban office park (low rise) category.

- Crosstown North Business Center, (Southeast quadrant of Highway 169 and Highway 610 in Brooklyn Park), owned and managed by Duke Realty Corporation, won the TOBY International Award in the industrial office park category.
- Fifth Street Towers, (100 and 150 South Fifth Street in Minneapolis), managed by Carter and owned by Strategic Real Estate Advisors, won the TOBY International Award in the over 1 million square feet category.

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