BOMA: DFW Brings Home Some TOBYs
We wrapped up coverage BOMA's 2014 Every Building Conference & Expo in Orlando with some big Metroplex TOBY winners. Fort Worth's Burnett Plaza was the big winner last night, and we mean big—the 40-story tower tops 1M SF and is the tallest building between Fort Worth and San Diego. (You'd be able to get a totally unobstructed view to the west if it wasn't for all those pesky mountains.) The building is owned by TIER REIT and is managed by Behringer. We snapped Behringer's Allison Millington, BOMA/Fort Worth prez Melissa Graham of Cousins Properties, and BOMA/Fort Worth exec director Michelle Lynn flanked by Kimberly-Clark's Jamie Britton, Parmenter's Steve Harrison, BOMA outgoing chair Rich Greninger of Carr Properties, and Allison's 7-year-old twins Grant and Bryce. Not to be outdone by its neighbor, Dallas' Premier Place (owned by CPUS Premier Place and managed by CBRE) stole the show in the renovated building category.
Four new "engaged leaders" joined the ranks of BOMA's Fellows last night— Conrad Engineers principal Ernest Conrad, Cushman & Wakefield PICOR principal Eileen Lewis, Transwestern SVP Karrie McCampbell, and Cassidy Turley SVP/principal Becky Hanner. (We photographed them bookended by iNPOINT Advisors co-founder Dave Hewett, the first chair of the BOMA Fellows) and Cushman & Wakefield director of property management Dick Purtell. To earn Fellowship, pros must demonstrate exemplary and sustained contributions to the industry, their profession, the community, and BOMA throughout their careers. (It's easier to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.)
Congrats to Southwest Region member of the year, CBRE-Dallas' Michael Pugh. His extensive volunteer work for the org includes reviving the Dallas government relations committee and serving as a board member for the local and state affiliates, as well as serving on the BOMA International audit committee.
We found Hunt Oil building services manager Jack Fairey with his guest Melanie Bodkins cheering on Hunt Corporate HQ, which was up for the corporate facility category. Jack says it’s a building you want to bring your family to on the weekend just to show it off. (Kids love corporate offices.) And the supportive, family-focused owner makes it feel like home. Hunt’s been in the 420k SF building since ’07. Some fun touches at the property include a custom-made Foucault pendulum in the lobby that demonstrates the earth’s natural rotation, stone walls each made from a different place where Hunt has conducted operations, and a Wolfgang Puck kitchen overlooking downtown Dallas’ Arts District.
