The building had previously won regional recognition at the semi-final competition in Jacksonville, FL. New York-based Colonnade Properties, which acquired Peachtree Center in 1998, leases and manages the building. The property is currently 73% leased with an average asking base rent of $19.50 per sf.

The building was selected for its tenant relations, community impact, emergency preparedness and security standards, energy management systems and procedures, training of building personnel, building accessibility, owner's goals and objectives and physical attributes.

"Winning the TOBY (the Office Building of the Year award) at this (international) level attests that through diligent management and technological initiative, you can enhance a 37-year-old property's competitive position," says Jeff DuFresne, regional vice president of Colonnade Properties.

Peachtree Center's competitors for the TOBY included class A office properties such as the Washington Mutual Tower in Seattle, 500 West Madison in Chicago, Wells Fargo Plaza in Los Angeles, the Canadian Broadcasting Building in Toronto, Newport Tower in New Jersey, Metro Square in St. Louis and Williams Square in Irving, TX. Colonnade Properties' Bingham Tower in suburban Detroit also won a TOBY in the best renovated properties category.

Vicki Irby, general manager at Peachtree Center, says "this award reflects on and validates the efforts of the management team of Lori Hearn and Clara Sanchez to maintain and build Peachtree Center's position as one of Atlanta's real estate jewels."

Peachtree Center comprises five office buildings, including two with retail, and a 134,023-sf mall. The office buildings are Marquis One, 455,917 sf with 18,542 sf of retail; Marquis Two, 451,266 sf with 20,389 sf of retail; Harris Tower, 397,709 sf; South Tower, 307, 219 sf; North Tower, 303,787 sf; International Tower, 393,442 sf; and the 231 Building, 66,357 sf.

Marquis Two won BOMA recognition at the local and regional levels in 2000.