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BOMA members celebrate reaching the Pinnacle of their careers

Last night’s BOMA/NY Oscar-style Pinnacle awards ceremony lived up to its theme as a night of firs

Last night’s BOMA/NY Oscar-style Pinnacle awards ceremony lived up to its theme as a night of firsts, inaugurating the Grand Pinnacle award for the highest scoring building in any category.

The 2016 competition was distinguished by the largest number ever of buildings competing with Energy Star/LEED certifications, landmark designations and re-positioning credentials.

2016 also marked the first time buildings from three centuries competed—the oldest was 620 Avenue of the Americas, a nominee in the Historical category, dating from 1896, and 2013’s 250 West 55th Street, competing in the New Construction category, the newest. Overall, 20 nominees competed for 11 awards

Before a packed crowd of more than 650 at Chelsea Piers, the following winners were announced.

900 Third Avenue

The Grand Pinnacle 

Owner: 900 Third Avenue, L.P., Management Firm: Paramount Group, Inc., Property Manager: Carla Rooney

Though 900 Third is LEED Gold, Energy Star-certified with the state-of-the-art programs in all judging areas—programs helping to define Paramount’s signature style—Team 900 was not satisfied. Throughout the Pinnacle competition, it raised its Energy Star score, evaluated new ways to achieve Platinum LEED, and rededicated itself to excellence through new mentoring and training programs, ranging from recognizing outstanding staff performance to team brainstorming sessions. It instituted communications in which Team 900 values and goals were shared with tenants and deepened its neighborhood outreach by collaborating with the local BID. For every tenant event, there was a special twist that added communal—and community—value. The judges’ highest praise? “Every single team member owns their responsibilities—the sense of contribution is exceptional.”

Historical – 500 Fifth Avenue Owner: Spaulding and Slye Investments, Management Firm: Cushman & Wakefield, Inc., Manager: David Leest

500 Fifth Avenue

Sister building to the Empire State Building and a New York City landmark in its own right, the 60-story Energy Star® tower at 500 Fifth Avenue outscored two other competitors to win in the Historical  Building category. The building team’s dedication to preserving 500 Fifth’s historical integrity, which includes some of the City’s finest Art Deco detailing, while continually upgrading structural and mechanical systems and implementing high-performance sustainability programs, has positioned it as highly competitive in today’s market. Looking to the future, its development of a spirit of community among fellow landmarks, and innovating social media/networking programs for tenants, were cited as a model for buildings of any age.

New Construction – 250 West 55th Street  Owner/Management: Boston Properties, Inc., Property Manager: Rock A. Harding 

250 West 55th

The genesis of this pre-certified LEED-NC Gold office building from an avant garde, 80-story, mixed-use tower to a Stalled Site, and now to its current role as a Class A, global headquarters destination, won 250 West 55th Street the New Construction Award. A modern-day homage to Lever House with a green roof and 21st Century sustainability programs, this shimmering, 48-story glass tower also boasts unique system redundancies. When combined with the pre-construction input from the operations team, its development approach promises to become a standard-setter city-wide. Led by Property Manager Rock A. Harding, 250 West’s win was Boston Properties’ second Pinnacle era award in this category. Its first was also managed by Rock Harding, who became the first manager from any firm to win New Construction twice.

Outstanding Local Member of the Year – Michael Flatley, CEM/LEED AP/CPMP Senior Building Systems Consultant, Steven Winter Associates, Inc. 

MICHAEL FLATLEY

Three outstanding nominees competed for honors in this category, with the Pinnacle going to energy conservation expert Michael F. Flatley. Mike was cited for his consistent, outstanding contributions to BOMA/NY that began 25 years ago and continue with the same level of dedication today. Throughout his service to BOMA/NY, he has challenged himself to make a difference to the industry and association. Among his many contributions are participation as a panelist for eight BOMA/NY energy seminars, serving as a member of the Energy & Sustainability Committee, advocating for Local Laws, providing input on green leases and Con Edison steam demand billing, and currently, providing expert advice on the Mayoral 80 X 50 initiative. As chair of the Pinnacle Awards Renovated Building Subcommittee, Mike continues to raise the standards of excellence for which the awards are known.

ROSEMARIE KROL

Manager of the Year 3-10 Years – Rosemarie Krol, RPA 130 West 42nd Street, CBRE

Rosemarie Krol’s packed agenda as property manager of 130 West 42nd Street has won her kudos from tenants, her supervisors and ownership—and the Pinnacle award. She was cited for her ability to juggle renovations and local compliance—among other tasks—with a patient, hands-on and knowledgeable approach. She was also commended repeatedly for her ability to muster every resource available to make her team as effective as possible, a skill she has built upon throughout her career at buildings ranging from 236,000 to more than 2 million sf. The highest praise comes from one tenant who defined Rosemarie as “their #1 recommendation to any owner seeking a building manager.” She is the seventh CBRE manager to win a Manager of the Year Pinnacle, setting another Pinnacle record.

 Earth – 712 Fifth Avenue  Owner: 712 Avenue, L.P, Management Firm: Paramount Group, Inc., Property Manager: Jim Sammon

712 Fifth

Led by Property Manager Jim Sammon, 712 Fifth Avenue’s 2016 win was the first ever back-to-back victory for any owner in this category. (Paramount won last year for 1325 Avenue of the Americas.) The 712 Fifth team, which had begun its work to achieve LEED Silver and Energy Star® years before, was cited for its diligence in achieving these sustainability landmarks using Paramount’s step-by-step approach, which has resulted in all of its NYC REIT properties achieving LEED or Energy Star®. The approach starts with a comprehensive audit and ends with implementing every achievable, feasible target, often through operations and practices. The team’s commitment to implementing sustainability programs large and small—and often unglamorous—was essential to the winning results achieved at this elegant, boutique tower.

Renovated – 330 West 34th Street  Owner: Vornado Realty Trust, Management Firm: Vornado Office Management LLC, Real Estate Manager: Louis A. Conti, RPA

330 West 34th Street

This repositioned and renovated pre-war building, which has rapidly become one of the beacons of the new West Side office market, achieved another Pinnacle first—an Energy Star® score of 96, the highest ever recorded in the Pinnacle competition in any category. Not only was the building’s energy conservation program stellar, but through its dedication to high performance and sustainability practices, the management team demonstrated an extraordinarily high level of skill and experience in renovating the property to its highest and best use. Applauded for “walking the walk” of sustainability by the judges, the management staff was also cited for professionalism and teamwork that set standards for the industry.

Manager of the Year Over 10 Years of Experience – Stephen Mosca, CFM

STEPHEN MOSCA

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York; New York Convention Center Operating Corporation In a tough competition where all five nominees were superb examples of professional excellence, this year’s Pinnacle went to Stephen Mosca, Director of Facilities Management at the Javits Convention Center. There, Stephen has taken his mission above and beyond to implement complex software and technology systems, develop staff talent, deploy transformational strategies and promote continuous improvement at all levels. Above all, Stephen sees his role at Javits as “integral to maintaining a hospitable, safe and memorable experience”. His ability to bring refreshing new practices into the management mix, assume a strong fiduciary role and energize his fellow management team members earned him the 2016 Pinnacle, the first ever for a manager of a government property.

Operating Office Building 250,000 – 499,999 Sq. Ft. –101 Avenue of the Americas    Owner/Management: Edward J. Minskoff Equities, Inc., Property Manager: James D. Kelly, RPA 

101 Avenue of Americas

Starting in 2012, owner/manager Edward J. Minskoff Equities (EJME) massively repositioned its early-90’s, Post Modern development at 101 Avenue of the Americas into the Pinnacle-award winning, Wired Platinum, LEED Silver tower it is today—a headquarters center for next generation industries in scientific  R&D and information technology. It houses a world-class art collection that has made it an art oasis for its emerging marketplace; 101 AOA is the gateway to Tribeca, Soho and Hudson Square. Matching the building’s renowned design profile is the artfulness of 101’s highly personalized, hands-on management style, which ranges from hands-on preparedness training for tenants, to building community within its tenant base through networking events. This Pinnacle is the second win in as many years for an EJME building in a unique market.

Operating Office Building 500,000 – 1,000,000 Sq. Ft. – 900 Third Avenue Third Avenue, L.P., Management Firm: Paramount Group, Inc., Property Manager: Carla Rooney

900 Third Avenue

Constant improvement and innovation are the everyday watchwords of Team 900 at this LEED Gold and Energy Star® certified, boutique Post Modern building. Support for tenant well-being is executed flawlessly through its communication programs, and both tenant and community outreach reflect a spirit of collective teamwork that extends beyond the building to the local BID and neighborhood groups. Imagination is applied to staff development and training; mentoring is on-going, and all team members take ownership of Paramount’s high-performance standards in sustainability, emergency preparedness, security and communications. The Pinnacle judges noted in particular how from the top on down, this impeccably managed team is empowered, enthusiastic and continually strives to improve individual team member contribution to the benefit of the entire 900 community.

Operating Office Building Over 1,000,000 Sq. Ft. –Starrett-Lehigh Building – 601 West 26th Street Owner: RXR SL-Owner LLC, Management Firm: RXR Realty LLC, Property Manager: Mitchell Grant, RPA

Starrett Lehigh Building

With its 2016 Pinnacle win, the Starrett-Lehigh Building on the far West Side has added yet another transformational story to the New York skyline, one where its industrial past is now fully integrated into an office community catering to global brands in fashion, home goods, design and more. The RXR management style lives up to the building’s “Manufacturing Creativity” tagline, providing services and amenities custom-tailored to tenant needs—from its on-site fitness center and bus shuttles, to the pet- friendly environment and bike facilities. Through social media and communications, the team has forged the diverse community housed within its 2.3 million sf, into a neighborhood unto itself. Management attends to all details efficiently and effectively, and the sustainability practices at this Energy Star® building are progressive. Through its customized and imaginative approach, the RXR team is leading the way to defining the working atmospheres of 2020 and beyond.

The BOMA/NY Pinnacle Award is the local round of the BOMA International TOBY (The Outstanding Building of the Year) competition, which is the most prestigious award world-wide in commercial building ownership and management. Winners are determined by an anonymous, peer-judging review system. Judges evaluate the nominees’ written submissions and on-site inspections determine the winner, using more than 100 international standards of excellence.

Source: Real Estate Weekly