SOMERSET, NJ−At a jampacked gala attended by more than 800industry professionals here Thursday evening, the three winners ofNAIOP-NJ'S 2013 Deal of the YearAwards went to:

• The New Jersey Center of Excellence, are-purposing of a pharmaceutical campus in Bridgewater
• GAF's headquarters relocation to an upgradedcampus in Parsippany
• NFI Park at Florence Crossings, twobuild-to-suit projects in Florence

In addition, a surprise “Chairman's award” was handed out byNAIOP-NJ's president Michael Seeve from the podiumat The Palace of Somerset Park event, goingto Somerset Development. Thefirm was honored for bringing to fruition an11-year effort to redevelop the former Bell Labs property inHolmdel.

The 2-million-square-foot, 472-acre former research facility wassold to Somerset by Alcatel-Lucent a year ago, following two otherfailed development attempts and Somerset's determined 8-year effortto win approval for its town-center concept.

Somerset Development will transform the mid-century modernbuilding, designed by renowned architect Eero Saarinen, into “BellPlace,” a mixed-use office and retail center, with additionalhousing development on the pastoral grounds.