The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), New York Chapter, recently honored Related Cos. with the Development Award at its 2008 Fall Gala. Jeff Blau, president of Related Cos., accepted the award. Jeff Zucker, president & CEO of NBC Universal was presented with the Tenant Award, while mayor Michael Bloomberg and speaker Christine Quinn received the Government Award. Honorees were recognized for their outstanding leadership in the field of green building, having initiated policies with a tangible impact on the design, construction and operation of buildings, and acted as public spokespeople for the importance and benefits of green building. Heralded as one of the most prolific and visionary developers in the country, Related Companies was formed over thirty-five years ago. Today, Related is considered the most prominent privately owned real estate development firm in the United States with divisions in development, acquisitions, property management, marketing and sales. Headquartered in New York City, Related has offices and major developments in Aspen/Snowmass, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Francisco and South Florida and boasts a team of more than 2,000 professionals. Related has real estate assets worth over $15 billion, including New York City's newest landmark Time Warner Center and CityPlace in West Palm Beach, with another $25 billion currently in development including a 26-acre new neighborhood on the west side of New York City. In Los Angeles, Related is expanding its portfolio with The Century, a super-luxury condominium in Century City and the Frank Gehry-designed Grand Avenue development, situated directly across from the beloved Walt Disney Concert Hall, which will include luxury residences, retail, notable restaurants and a world class hotel. In 2006 Related acquired Equinox®Fitness Clubs, further expanding the company's capabilities into the health and fitness arena and enhancing the value of its properties by incorporating an exclusive, branded amenity into the lifestyle offering. For more information about Related Companies please visit www.related.com. About The United States Green Building Council (USGBC): The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices. USGBC is composed of more than 15,000 organizations from across the building industry that are working to advance structures that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. The USGBC developed LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.  LEED addresses all building types and emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection, and indoor environmental quality. LEED is a practical rating tool for green building design and construction that provides immediate and measurable results for building owners and occupants.