Continental Towers, which houses 55 businesses employing more than 2,200 people, was selected as the association's 2004-2005 winner in the 500,000-square-foot to 1,000,000-square-foot category. Judges described the complex as a "...well-run property with an obvious team approach to management."
The "TOBY" award program, now in its 20th year, recognizes quality in office buildings and awarding excellence in office-building management. The judging process includes a building inspection and a thorough evaluation of the selection criteria, which include a review of building standards, community involvement, tenant relations, energy-management systems and procedures, environment and regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness and security standards, and building-personnel training programs.
Prime Group Realty Trust, a Chicago-based publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT), acquired its interest in Continental Towers in 1997. The group provides on-site property management, engineering and leasing services.
The complex features three 12-story office towers of approximately 280,000 square feet per tower. Above-ground and underground walkways connect all three buildings with the Commercium, a three-story, glass-enclosed 133,487-square-foot retail concourse. Its amenities include a 55,000-square-foot private health club, a travel agency, sundry shop, flower shop, hair and nail salon, full-service banking facility, deli, white-tablecloth restaurant, print shop, dry cleaner, and banquet and conference center.
The precast composite, cast-in-place concrete structures have white Wyoming quartz aggregate curtainwalls and gray solar reflective windows.
The office buildings feature typical floorplates of approximately 23,682 square feet, white marble lobbies, 25-foot by 25-foot bays, 24-hour staffed centralized security station, closed-circuit-television monitoring system, 24/7 card-key access, state-of-the-art telecommunications systems and Internet connectivity, and surface and executive underground parking for 2,949 cars.
For more information, visit www.bomasuburbanchicago.com or www.boma.org.
