GSA Buildings Win Two Top Awards

GSA # 9844

June 26, 2001
Contact: Hap Connors (202) 501-1231
hap.connors@gsa.gov

Washington, D.C. -- The General Services Administration (GSA) won top awards from the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) for the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C., and the Mississippi River Commission Building in Vicksburg, Miss.

"These awards are especially gratifying, in light of our priorities for the Public Buildings Service," said Joseph Moravec, GSA's recently appointed Public Buildings Service Commissioner. "These awards represent recognition of excellence in government, which often goes overlooked. One of our major goals is to foster a better understanding of the good work that government workers produce."

The Ronald Reagan building and International Trade Center won The Office Building of the Year (TOBY) award in the government category. Designed by architects James Ingo Freed and Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, the 3.1-million-square-foot building represents a unique collaboration of federal agencies and private enterprises. More than 6,000 employees of the Agency for International Development, Customs Service, and Environmental Protection Agency work in the Pennsylvania Avenue building. Public spaces feature a premier conference and event center, the U.S. Center for World Trade, private trade-related office space, a restaurant, a food court with 17 eateries, and a 2,000-space parking garage. GSA manages the federal portion of the building, and Trade Center Management Associates manages the private portion.

The Mississippi River Commission Building, built in 1894 and designed by the U.S. Treasury, won the TOBY award in the category of historic buildings. The 30,000-square-foot, three-story building completely renovated between 1988 and 1998, serves as headquarters for the Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley navigation and flood control programs. The building is an outstanding example of attention to detail and precision of workmanship found in few buildings of any period.

The TOBY awards were announced June 19 in Baltimore. Among the most prestigious in the real estate industry, they recognize excellence in building management and operations, along with quality in office buildings. Prior to advancing to the International competition, all entries had to win at local and regional competitions held across North America.

All the entrees were judged by expert industry professionals, who took building tours and examined entry portfolios that outlined building standards, impact on community, tenant and employee relations programs, energy management systems, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, emergency evacuation procedures and training programs for building personnel.