NEW YORK CITY—The Building Owner and Managers Association of Greater New York handed out its 2015 BOMA/NY Pinnacle Awards last night to individuals in eight building categories as well as to the organization's Outstanding Local Member and Manager of the Year.

The awards were bestowed on Thursday evening at a ceremony staged at the Chelsea Piers here. Awards chairman Angelo Grima says the award winners exemplified the traits of transformation and innovation.

The transformation theme prevailed in every building category, from pre-war landmarks that had undergone comprehensive renovation into contemporary, headquarters-quality, Energy Star® and LEED office structures, to notable Class A, 80s-era buildings that were repositioned at the very top of their markets, and a new construction winner that pioneered trophy building quality in an emerging commercial market, Grima says.

BOMA/NY president Thomas L. Hill, RPA said the Pinnacle Awards represent “validation from your peers that you are at the top of your game in the most competitive marketplace in America. The competition also validates the company's reputation—it's ROI for everyone…It's the benchmarking of the best.”

The Outstanding Local Member of the Year went to John Brandstetter of The Brandstetter Group, who has been a guiding force behind BOMA/NY's leading programs in resiliency. Most recently he created BOMA/NY's “Response & Recovery: It's All About the Money” seminar, spearheaded its Superstorm Sandy Lessons Learned task force, and formed, and now chairs, BOMA/NY's Weather Subcommittee, which produces advisories during violent weather events. BOMA/NY bestowed its Manager of the Year (3-10 Years of Experience) to Jennifer Ciccotto, RPA, of SL Green Realty, manager of 100 Church St. Herb Gonzalez of L&L Holding Co., LLC and manager of 200 Fifth Ave., was named Manager of the Year (more than 10 Years of Experience).

Other honorees included: Historical Building—The Argonaut Building, Owner: M1 Real Estate; Management Firm: Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.; Property Manager: Ron Hagen.

The former crown jewel of New York's historic “Automobile Row”, The Argonaut Building has been restored by its owner to its former Beaux Arts splendor, while being transformed by its sole occupant, the Open Society Foundations, into an innovative 21st Century workplace. The massive exterior and interior renovations of the 170,000-square-foot New York City landmark at 227 West 57th St. met Energy Star and LEED Gold benchmarks.

Government Building—Jacob K. Javits Convention Center of New York, Owner: New York Convention Center Development Corporation; Management Firm: New York Convention Center Operating Corporation; Property Manager: Kenneth Sanchez, VP, Operations and Facilities Management

Recently renovated, the Javits Center has dramatically upgraded its 80s-era systems and facilities into a state-of-the-art convention center to become the “Crossroads of the World.” Now the busiest convention center in America, Javits is home to the second largest green roof in the world, the spectacular Crystal Pavilion and 840,000 square feet of exhibition space.

New Construction—51 Astor Place, Owner/Manager: Edward J. Minskoff Equities, Inc.; Property Manager: Brian Zall, RPA/LEED GA

Groundbreaking design in a groundbreaking neighborhood—every aspect of 51 Astor Place speaks to creative ingenuity, from its distinctive pentagonal footprint and sheer curtain wall, to state-of-the-art green credentials encompassing green roofs and keypad climate control technology, among other features, BOMA/NY states. The LEED Gold structure is now leased to information technology leaders whose own innovations match the creative force of 51 Astor, BOMA/NY states.

Earth Award—1325 Avenue of the Americas, Owner: 1325 Avenue of the Americas, L.P.; Manager: Paramount Group, Inc.; Property Manager: Jim Sammon

1325 Avenue of the Americas achieved its green credentials through careful, comprehensive analysis and a commitment to bring every operational practice, building system and piece of equipment to its highest and best use, BOMA/NY states. As a result, 1325 achieved LEED Silver and an Energy Star Score in the 80s. Tenants have since built their spaces to LEED standards, while the building team continues to push operations to the next level—LEED Gold.

Renovated Building—452 Fifth Ave., Owner: 452 Fifth Owners, LLC; Management Firm: CBRE; Real Estate Manager: Annabella Molina

The $50-million program to reposition this 80s-era corporate headquarters into a multi-tenant, global destination encompassed new design and system upgrades from the streetline to the roofline. Highlights included a new light-filled entrance, which has tripled in size and opens onto a greatly expanded, soaring, new stone-clad lobby. Infrastructure was rebuilt to install new elevator service, cooling towers, telecom systems, retail space and more, while operating improvements raised its Energy Star score to 71.

Operating Office Building (250,000 to 499,999 square feet)—1359 Broadway, Owner/Manager, Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.; Property Manager Wendi P. Gibb

The sensitive repositioning of the pre-war trophy at 1359 Broadway restored its historic heritage, while engineering new infrastructure and interiors for today's tenants. Features range from the lobby centerpiece—a coffered ceiling hidden by a previous renovation—to upgrades of elevator, HVAC, power and telecommunications systems that enabled it to compete as an Energy Star rated, fully-modernized office building. The former manufacturing building now boasts 486,470-square of contemporary office space, occupied by media and technology firms.

Operating Office Building (500,000 to 1 million square feet)—340 Madison Ave., Owner: Broadway 340 Madison Fee, LLC; Management Firm: RXR Property Management, LLC; Property Manager: Victor Spivak, RPA

Transformed in 2006 from three structures into a stunning Class A modern office tower, 340 Madison Ave. is a 746,461-square-foot building noted for its high-performance glass curtainwall façade, state-of-the-art infrastructure and highly efficient floor plates of 40,000 square feet each. Ownership's emphasis on sustainability and management team dedication achieved an Energy Star score of 92, one of the city's highest.

Operating Office Building (Over 1 million square feet)—One Hudson Square Owner/Manager: Trinity Real Estate, Parish of Trinity Church; Property Manager: Peter A. St. John, LEED AP

Twice repositioned and renovated, the 1.2-million-square-foot New York City landmark at One Hudson Square is now an Energy Star rated, LEED Silver headquarters center for creative and new media industries, with operating practices and a sustainability profile that would have been unimaginable three decades ago when it began its transformation from a light industrial building to office space. It now serves as the cornerstone of the burgeoning Hudson Square business district—where ownership spearheaded the development of a BID and has continually upgraded infrastructure and management practices, BOMA/NY states.

Instant Insights /

BOMA Picks 2015 Pinnacle Award Winners

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