FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Three Local Buildings Win TOBY Regional Awards!

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI, February 17, 2004, – Now in it’s 20th year, The Office Building of the Year “TOBY” Award is the most prestigious and comprehensive program of its kind in the commercial real estate industry, created to recognize quality in office buildings and award excellence in office building management. The Building Owners and Managers Association of Metropolitan Detroit (BOMA) recently announced the 2003-2004 winners of The Regional Office Building of the Year Awards (TOBY). The winners include: Market Place, Ann Arbor; Bingham Office Center, Bingham Farms; and Unasource Health, Troy. 

In the first round of the TOBY Awards, at the local level, Market Place in Ann Arbor took first place in the under 100,000 square foot category as Building of the Year. The Bingham Office Center in Bingham Farms was named first in the Renovated Building category, and Unasource Health in Troy was named first in Medical Office Building. The buildings went on to win in the same categories at the North Central regional level competing against entries from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

All facets of a building’s operations are thoroughly evaluated during the judging process, including tenant relations programs, community involvement, emergency preparedness and security standards, and continuing education for building personnel. Floor plans, site plans and photographs round out an in depth portfolio, providing an extensive examination of the building by the judges. “TOBY winners represent the commercial real estate industry’s best of the best in office management setting the high standard that others in the industry look to reach,” said Janet Langlois-Resto, Executive Director, BOMA of Metropolitan Detroit. 

The winners from the BOMA Detroit Regional TOBY awards will move on to the BOMA International competition scheduled for June 26-June 29, 2004 in Toronto, Canada.

Under 100,000 square foot category: 

First Place Winner: Market Place located in Ann Arbor, owned by 303 Detroit Street, LLC-affiliate of Vlasic Properties, L.L.C. Managed by MAV Development Company.
Property Manager: Rick Frenette
Architect: Frederick H. Herrmann Associates, Inc.

Renovated Building category:

First Place Winner: Bingham Office Center located in Bingham Farms, owned by Bingham Center Associates, L.L.C. Managed by Colonnade Properties, L.L.C.
Property Manager: Cynthia McDonell, CPM, RPA
Architect: Richard Gould Associates, Inc.

Medical Office Building category:

First Place Winner: Unasource Health located in Troy, owned by Unasource Health, L.L.C. Managed by Grubb & Ellis Management Services, Inc.
Property Manager: Marlene Harris, RPA.
Architect: Harley Ellis

Founded in 1908, BOMA of Metropolitan Detroit is a professional trade association whose nearly 400 members either own or manage commercial real estate, or provide goods and services to the industry. BOMA Michigan members represent organizations managing more than 250 million square feet of office and industrial space, with employees and tenants totaling more than 1.25 million people in Michigan. BOMA of Metro Detroit provides commercial real estate professionals with the opportunity to work together for professional growth, advocacy rights, corporate profit, and the benefit of the nine Southeastern Michigan communities it serves. For more information on BOMA and membership visit www.bomadet.org.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Pictures of the winning buildings available at www.bomadet.org/toby.htm

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CONTACT:
BOMA of Metropolitan Detroit
Attn: Cynthia A. Andary

38800 Country Club Drive
Farmington Hills, MI 48331
Phone: (248) 848-3834
Fax: (248) 848-3744

E-mail: candary@bomadet.org