Winners of the 34th Annual Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards Announced
CHICAGO – Hundreds of Chicago’s top architects, brokers, developers, property managers, interior contractors and design professionals gathered at the Hilton Chicago last night (Thursday, May 19) to celebrate the 34th Annual Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards and to support the Greater Chicago Food Depository. More than $1.1 million was raised to support work to end hunger in Chicago and throughout Cook County at a time when the need in communities is critical.
The awards dinner – considered to be the top awards event for those in Chicago’s commercial real estate industry – is also the largest annual fundraiser for the Food Depository. The partnership began in 1989, and has remained steadfast throughout the pandemic, consistently raising resources through virtual events in 2020 and 2021 to help alleviate hunger.
“Every year, we look forward to coming together with our commercial real estate friends to celebrate the outstanding achievements in the industry while also not losing sight of the dire need for food from many of our neighbors,” said Kate Maehr, Greater Chicago Food Depository Executive Director and CEO. “Alleviating hunger is key to building strong communities and we are immensely grateful to have had the support of hicago’s commercial real estate industry for more than thirty years.”
Among this year’s notable winners are Kirkland & Ellis, who won Deal of the Year for the Wolf Point project, and Riverside Investment & Development, who took home two awards – one for Developer of the Year and the other for Commercial Development of the Year for 320 South Canal. The Lamar Johnson Collaborative was named Architect of the Year and Community Impact Project of the Year for POPCourts! in the Austin neighborhood.
Another big winner of the evening was triple awardee CBRE, winning Project Manager, Property Management Company, and Retail Broker of the Year.
Meanwhile, the Special Achievement of the Year award went to Goettsch Partners and PJArchitects for their collaboration on the Pepper Family Wildlife Center at Lincoln Park Zoo.
And the Gamechanger Award presented by Associated Bank went to esteemed developer, contractor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic activist Elzie Higginbottom. Higginbottom has been an active member of Chicago’s real estate community for over 50 years and is known for his commitment to stimulating economic development in some of the City’s most underserved neighborhoods. He is the Founder and Chairman of East Lake, Chicago’s largest black-owned development and management firm, and the Founder of Burling Builders, a full service general contracting company.
The awardees were chosen by a group of industry professionals and presented last night. Emily Marquardt served as Event Chair and Andy Christensen of Partners by Design was Vice Chair. The event was presented by Associated Bank and the media sponsor was Crain’s Chicago Business. Ventas sponsored the VIP reception. CRG, LJC and Clayco sponsored the cocktail reception, and The Telos Group sponsored the Brown Bag Challenge. Corey McPherrin of Fox 32 Chicago served as master of ceremonies.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS - 34th ANNUAL CHICAGO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AWARDS
Architect of the Year - Lamar Johnson Collaborative
Architect/Interior Design of the Year - Eastlake Studio
Build to Suit Project of the Year - Harbor Freight Tools Chicago
Community Impact Project of the Year
POPCourts! in the Austin neighborhood (Lamar Johnson Collaborative)
Commercial Development of the Year - 320 South Canal
(Riverside Investment & Development)
Industrial Development of the Year - Bridge Point North Phase III (Bridge Industrial)
Engineering Project of the Year - James Hardie Industries (Syska Hennessy Group)
Deal of the Year - Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Wolf Point (Newmark & Savills)
Developer of the Year (Chicago/Suburban)
Riverside Investment & Development
Residential Development of the Year - One Chicago (JDL)
Industrial Broker of the Year - Jason West, Sean Henrick, Michael Magliano, Doug Pilcher & Ryan D. Klink (Cushman & Wakefield)
Interior Contractor of the Year (Tenant Projects) - Executive Construction Inc.
Interior Contractor of the Year (Owner Projects) - Skender
Interior Design Firm of the Year - Partners by Design
Investment Broker of the Year Private Capital Market - Paul Tesdal, Danny Spitz, Jason St. John & Brewster Hague (Greenstone Partners)
Investment Broker of the Year- Institutional Market - Bruce Miller, Jeffrey Bramson, Jaime Fink, Patrick Shields, Sam DiFrancesca, Keith Largay & Lucas Borges (JLL)
Office Broker of the Year - Joe Learner, Robert Sevim, Adam Southard, Jon Azulay, Alex Greene & Cullen Hurley (Savills)
Office Property Representative of the Year - Nikki Kern (The Telos Group LLC)
Project Manager of the Year - CBRE Project Management
Property Management Company of the Year - CBRE Project Management
Redevelopment of the Year - Tribune Tower Residences (Golub & Company)
Retail Broker of the Year - Brendan Reedy (CBRE)
Special Achievement of the Year - Pepper Family Wildlife Center at Lincoln Park Zoo (Goettsch Partners & PJArchitects)
About the Greater Chicago Food Depository
The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, believes a healthy community starts with food. The Food Depository is at the center of a network of more than 700 partner organizations and programs – food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, mobile distributions and other partners – working to bring food, dignity and hope to our neighbors across Chicago and Cook County. The Food Depository addresses the root causes of hunger with job training, advocacy and other innovative solutions. The Food Depository is a proud member of Feeding America – the national network of food banks. Learn more at chicagosfoodbank.org