LANDMARKS, GROUNDBREAKERS, NEWCOMERS WIN BIG IN PINNACLES


Transformation and Innovation was the theme of the 2015 Pinnacle Awards—and the winners proved that theme without a doubt. Every building and individual nominated exhibited the "qualities that are the essence of the Pinnacles: raising your own bar," declared Pinnacle Award Committee Chair Angelo Grima from the podium when opening the gala, an Oscar-style ceremony, last night, Feb. 26th at Chelsea Piers.

Whether they were landmarks or '80s-generation structures, building nominees raised that bar by pursuing the maximum sustainability profile possible and bringing each structure to its highest and best use. Member and Manager of the Year nominees upped their game by demonstrating qualities of strong leadership, innovative thinking and the drive for continual learning and self-improvement.

For the first time in many years, no single company or location had a majority of wins—the awards were evenly distributed across building type, location, and age—and included three ownership entities who won on their first try.

Held before an enthusiastic audience of 550, the awards ceremony conferred the prestigious Pinnacle—the local level of the highest award in commercial real estate, and considered the hardest to win—on three individuals and eight buildings:




Outstanding Local Member of the Year – John Brandstetter
Managing Director, Brandstetter Group

Disaster and recovery professional John Brandstetter 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. His firm is a consultant to key real estate firms in the tri-state area.






Historical –The Argonaut Building
Owner: M1 Real Estate;
Management Firm: Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.;
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-sf NYC landmark at 227 West 57th Street have re-created the best of its history while meeting Energy Star® and LEED Gold benchmarks.










Government – 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 with an eye on service and sustainability, the Javits Center has dramatically upgraded its '80s-era systems and facilities into a state-of-the-art convention center that has 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 sf of exhibition space, where management deftly coordinates hundreds of trade shows and exhibitions a year.



New Construction – 51 Astor Place
Owner/Management: 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 curtainwall that melts into the Manhattan sky, to state-of-the-art green credentials encompassing green roofs and keypad climate control technology, among other features.

As a result, this dynamic LEED Gold structure is now leased to information technology leaders whose own innovations match the creative force of 51 Astor.
 








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

Elegant, stylized and sustainable, 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. As a result, 1325 has achieved LEED Silver and an Energy Star® score in the 80’s.

The mission is carried on by tenants who have built their spaces to LEED standards, while the building team continues to push operations to the next level—LEED Gold.











 

 
Manager of the Year 3-10 Years
Jennifer Ciccotto, RPA, 100 Church Street, SL Green Realty, Corp.

"Fearless...formidable...and the most professional manager I have worked with..." are just some of the accolades accorded Jennifer Ciccotto, RPA. Known as a superb communicator graced with confidence, versatility and leadership skills, her accomplishments, particularly in the field of emergency preparedness, now serve as case studies for her colleagues at SL Green. Her problem-solving ability and overall management expertise led SL Green to select her to spearhead a new corporate training curriculum and as EVP Edward Piccinich says, "she is a consummate professional who goes above and beyond to solve the problem at hand."



 
 
Manager of the Year Over 10 Years of Experience
Herb Gonzalez, 200 Fifth Avenue, L&L Holding Company, LLC

Both his tenants and co-workers laud Herb Gonzalez for the leadership strength he displays in juggling assignments, which over the past two decades have included some of New York’s most challenging developments and renovations. He balances that skill with dexterity, resourcefulness and a solid command of the many skills needed to achieve successful daily operations. L&L Chairman David Levinson calls his ability to turn around building performance and profitability, while overseeing complex construction projects, "seamless."

As his tenant Grey Advertising says, "Without Herb, many of our goals would be impossible to achieve."





Renovated – 452 Fifth Avenue
Owner: 452 Fifth Owners, LLC;
Management Firm: CBRE;
Real Estate Manager: Annabella Molina

The $50 million program to re-position this '80s-era corporate headquarters into a multi-tenant, global destination encompassed new design and system upgrades from the streetline to the roofline. Highlights include a new light-filled entrance, which has tripled in size and opens onto a greatly expanded, soaring, new marble and stone-clad lobby.

Infrastructure was rebuilt to install new elevator service, cooling towers, telecom systems, retail space and more, while operating improvements raised the Energy Star® score to 71. As the tower enters its third decade, its renovation success is in full view of the worldwide real estate market.


Operating Office Building 250,000 - 499,999 Sq. Ft. – 1359 Broadway
Owner/Management: Empire Realty Trust, Inc.; 
Property Manager: Wendi Gibb

Ownership’s 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-sf of contemporary office space, occupied by leaders in media and technology.
















Operating Office Building 500,000 - 1,000,000 Sq. Ft. – 340 Madison Avenue
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 Avenue is one of the Grand Central marketplace’s more elegant office structures. The 746,461-sf building is noted for its high-performance glass curtainwall façade, state-of-the-art infrastructure and highly efficient floorplates of 40,000 sf each.

Ownership’s emphasis on sustainability, and the dedication of its management team achieved an Energy Star® score of 92, one NYC’s highest. In addition, management has made innovative operations and tenant relations its mission.











Operating Office Building Over 1,000,000 Sq. Ft. – One Hudson Square
Owner/Management: Trinity Real Estate, Parish of Trinity Church;
Property Manager: Peter A. St. John, LEED AP

Twice repositioned and renovated, the 1.2-million-sf New York 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 transitioning 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 to become the standard-bearer of excellence in delivering tenant services and amenities in this trend-setting marketplace.















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