June 27, 2019
Chicago – Today 500 W. Madison in Chicago, owned by KBS, one of the largest owners of commercial real estate and managed by Transwestern Commercial Services (TCS) was awarded the International TOBY Award, according to the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). TOBY is the acronym for “The Outstanding Building of the Year.” This property is part of the KBS Real Estate Investment Trust III portfolio.
“Winning the International TOBY is a true testament to the tireless efforts of the Transwestern management, engineering and operational teams in providing an exceptional level of service to the tenants, commuters and visitors of the property,” said Micah Larmie, TCS senior vice president of asset services. “The team is extremely proud to be able to bring home the award for KBS and is so thankful for their support.”
500 W. Madison is an iconic 40-story, 1.4 million-square-foot tower located in Chicago’s West Loop. The building sits above Ogilvie Transportation Center, one of two main suburban train stations connecting the Chicago suburbs with downtown Chicago. Built in 1987, 500 W. Madison is Chicago’s largest Class A, LEED Gold-certified building and features a distinct postmodern design. The first two levels at 500 W. Madison contain 64,289 square feet of retail space with 45 stores and restaurants. The second level connects directly to the Ogilvie rail station providing direct access to city trains, buses and expressways.
“We are extremely honored to receive this distinguished award. 500 W. Madison is the realization of a modern-day workplace; the mindfully created and extensive amenity options offer unique experiences for all of our tenants and the massive amount of commuters each day,” said Dan Park, senior vice president for KBS and asset manager of the property. “We are delighted that our tenants can take advantage of all that this award-winning building offers.”
The awards, presented by BOMA International, recognize excellence in office building management and building quality. Awards are presented in 17 categories based on size and facility type.
ABOUT TRANSWESTERN COMMERCIAL SERVICES
Transwestern Commercial Services (TCS) is a privately held real estate firm of collaborative entrepreneurs who deliver a higher level of personalized service and innovative client solutions. Applying a consultative approach to Agency Leasing, Asset Services, Occupier Solutions, Capital Markets and Research, our fully integrated global organization adds value for investors, owners and occupiers of all commercial property types. We leverage market insight and operational expertise from across the Transwestern enterprise, which includes firms specializing in development and real estate investment management. TCS has 34 U.S. offices and assists clients from more than 200 offices in 37 countries through strategic alliances with France-based BNP Paribas Real Estate and Canada-based Devencore. Experience Extraordinary at transwestern.com and @Transwestern.
ABOUT KBS
KBS is a private equity real estate company and an SEC-registered investment adviser. Founded in 1992 by Peter Bren and Chuck Schreiber, it is recognized as one of the largest commercial office owners globally. Since inception, KBS-affiliated companies have completed transactional activity of approximately $40 billion via 16 separate accounts and six commingled funds, for government and corporate pension funds. Additionally, KBS has sponsored five sovereign wealth funds and seven SEC-registered, non-traded REITs. For more information on KBS, its properties and real estate portfolios, please visit KBS.com. For information about KBS’ current offerings, please visit KBSDIRECT.com, an online portal for self-directed accredited investors to participate in institutional-quality real estate without paying up-front fees or commissions. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply any particular level of skill or training.
Transwestern Media Contact:
Stefanie Lewis
713.272.1266
Stefanie.Lewis@transwestern.com
twmediarelations@transwestern.com
KBS Media Contacts:
Chris Sullivan
MacMillian Communications
212-473-4442
Ginny Walker
KBS
949-417-6535
Micah Larmie
Managing Executive Vice President - Midwest & Carolinas Asset Services
Chicago, Illinois
