A Peak of Excellence
In 2011, Creswin Properties Inc. (Creswin) took home BOMA Manitoba’s The Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) Award, for 201 Portage. It was no small feat for the company and its signature office tower, located at Winnipeg’s most famous intersection. And the building’s management team has made sure to showcase its achievement ever since.
“Adding ‘TOBY Award Winner 2011’ to marketing materials strengthens 201 Portage’s position as the premier office tower in Winnipeg,” says Courtney Hutchison, Leasing & Marketing Coordinator at Creswin. “The BOMA Awards program provides great exposure for the building in both the local and national marketplace and it also acts as a great tool for measuring efficiencies against industry benchmarks.”
To win, Creswin underwent a comprehensive BOMA Awards of Excellence submission process, during which the management team was judged on tenant relations, community impact, emergency preparedness, security standards, environmental impact and much more.
Creswin’s tireless support of community events including StairClimb for the United Way, food drives for Winnipeg Harvest, and its commitment to downtown revitalization were all key to 201 Portage’s overall TOBY score. Also counted was the company’s ongoing tenant appreciation events, surveys and newsletters.
The team behind 201 Portage has demonstrated a serious commitment to energy management and conservation, evidenced by its adoption of green technologies, purchasing and cleaning policies.
The firm was able to leverage its subsequent BOMA BESt Level 3 certification into additional points on its TOBY submission. Hutchison notes that Creswin’s commitment to being green, “demonstrates to existing and potential tenants that we are actively working to reduce our overall environmental impact. In addition, many of the cost savings associated with a green building are passed through to tenants, thereby reducing the amount of their annual operating costs.”
Through the Awards of Excellence Program, Creswin also saw the perfect opportunity to reawaken community interest in the building. “We know about the great number of building features at 201 Portage, and we really wanted to rekindle public attention to this prestigious business address,” says Hutchison.
“201 Portage is still the tallest structure between Toronto and Calgary, but it takes constant attention and innovation to position the building for its share of attention as newer buildings enter the competitive set,” she adds.
Not too many buildings can add ‘TOBY winner’ to their list of accomplishments, of course. It takes a dedicated management team – like the Creswin crew – to commit to program requirements before a submission is even feasible.
However, as evidenced by the increasing number of TOBY submissions throughout North America, building owners and managers believe this commitment can pay big dividends for years to come
“Winning a TOBY is a pretty big accomplishment for property management companies and building owners in any market,” says Tom Thiessen, Executive Director of BOMA Manitoba.
“It recognizes the very best in building operations, and raises the bar for our entire industry. Prospective tenants want to be in the best buildings, of course, and our TOBY winners have clearly set the standard.”
For more information on how you can get involved with the Awards of Excellence Program, please send us an email.
Photos courtesy of Creswin Properties Inc.