NAIOP recognizes local development projects at annual awards dinner

NAIOP Upstate New York Chapter, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, held its 19th annual awards dinner. Several awards, recognizing achievements in office, adaptive re-use, architecture and engineering, environmental, industrial and mixed-use development, honored projects in the Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse area markets. "It's gratifying to see projects that have a positive impact on our local economy, environment and quality of life being recognized by the entire development community," said Carl Montante Jr., vice president of marketing and strategic initiatives at Uniland Development Corporation and NAIOP National board representative. William Hunt, chairman of NAIOP and president of The Elmhurst Group in Pittsburgh, gave the keynote address. Genesee Gateway Local Development Corporation earned the 2011 Office Award for its Dr. Bruce A. Holm MedTech Centre in Batavia. The 43,000 s/f centre houses the Genesee Community College School of Nursing, United Memorial Medical Center and Summit physical and occupational therapy suites, Genesee County Economic Development Center offices and commercial space for life sciences companies. HBT Architects was honored for best architectural and engineering project for its Morrell/Pridemark Office building in Perinton. The balance of traditional with modern runs throughout the property and is centered on two large, traditional, gabled elements connected by a glass link. The mix of traditional wood elements, engineered wood pieces and exposed steel reflect the use of the building, and the designers' desire to create a project that felt comfortable and leaned toward the future. Wilmorite earned a mixed-use award for its Park Point student housing project at Syracuse University. Built on .75 acres and providing housing for 226 residents in two and four-bedroom luxury apartments, Park Point offers residents all inclusive rent along with free wireless Internet access, a fitness center, media lounge, game room, a private courtyard and on-site security. Henrietta N.Y.'s new Harris/R.F. Communications building by SWBR Architecture won an industrial award. The 573,000 s/f renovation consolidated all three of Harris's manufacturing facilities under one roof. The updated facility is a "focus-factory" manufacturing environment with adjacent supporting offices, conference rooms, research and development labs, warehouse and distribution, and customer product service areas. It's a design that allows for improved efficiency and faster delivery of Harris systems, which are deployed all over the world. LiRo Engineers, Inc., who remediated the Brownfield that existed at the former Spaulding Fibre Plant in the City of Tonawanda, won the 2011 Environmental Award. The effort, which included removing more than 6,000 tons of contaminated soil from the site, became the largest remediation project ever in Western New York. Clean materials from the site were re-used as backfill on the 47 acre property, and the use of native-grass green space minimizes water runoff and anticipates future construction options. In the adaptive re-use category, Schneider Development, LLC was honored for its renovation of the former Alling & Cory building on Elm and North Division in downtown Buffalo. The 1910 structure, a six-story, former paper warehouse, was transformed into a modern mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments for 290 students from over six area colleges and universities. Now called the Lofts @ 136, the adaptive reuse of the building dictated a green approach throughout the renovation, which included an energy efficient roof-system and insulating building envelope. McGuire Development was recognized with an industrial award for their SKF Aeroengine development project. SKF Aeroengine is a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that utilizes advanced technology for the production of bearings and bearing housings for jet engines. The Tuscarora Nation House in Lewiston earned Calamar Construction the award for best mixed use project of the year. The building houses a medical center for Tuscarora Nation residents, a community center with library, senior center and office space. It's all housed within a wood framed-structure built to expose thick timber beams throughout and to showcase the unique art and symbolism of the Tuscarora people. The Awards event held in Buffalo was attended by more than 80 NAIOP upstate New York Chapter Members, supporters and honorees.