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Pillars of the Industry Award Finalists Announced
Two military housing communities, an old cotton mill reworked into luxury apartments and one of the first high-rise rental apartment towers to be built in downtown Boston since the 1980s are among the innovative multifamily housing projects selected as finalists for the 2008 Pillars of the Industry Awards, NAHB announced last week.
The Pillars — the multifamily housing industry's most prestigious awards and a showcase of future trends — honor superior achievement in apartment and condominium development, design, marketing and management.
"Although all the projects selected as finalists are beautiful, this is not just a beauty contest," said Leonard Wood, chairman of NAHB's Multifamily Leadership Board and founder of Wood Partners in Atlanta. "The Pillars of the Industry program rewards true creativity in the development of multifamily housing, and this year's list is particularly impressive."
Wood said he was very encouraged to see the large number of entries in the affordable housing category, which recognizes excellence in projects in which 40% of the apartment units are affordable to people earning 60% or less of an area's median income. That category had more entries than any other builder category in this year's program, which attracted a record number of entries overall.
Wood also noted that several of the projects named as finalists represent cutting-edge green building that incorporates sustainable design techniques.
Demonstrating the dynamics of the current housing market, this year's award entries represented many more nominations for rental properties than condos, and a larger number of smaller-scale projects, including a dramatic resurgence in the number of garden apartment communities nominated for recognition.
However, even the garden apartment communities reflected the interest of many of today's renters and buyers in living in an urban environment, with an emphasis on pedestrian-friendly amenities and locations near mass transit.
The marketing category nominees were also broadly influenced by urban design trends, offering up campaigns that highlight the "live, work and play" lifestyles of today's infill multifamily housing communities.
A panel of judges known for their industry expertise in multifamily housing design, development and marketing selected the finalists in 29 categories, including the Multifamily Development Firm of the Year Award and Property Management Company of the Year.
Winners will be announced at a gala ceremony held in conjunction with NAHB Multifamily's Pillars of the Industry Conference on April 2, at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs, Colo. NAHB will also name the "Multifamily Community of the Year" at the gala, which is sponsored by Time Warner Cable.
For a complete list of this year's finalists, click here.
For more information, e-mail Ann Marie Moriarty at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8350.
 Get Informed, Make Connections
Attend the 2008 Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Conference and Awards Gala, April 1-3, in Colorado Springs, Colo. and find out what’s next in the rapidly changing multifamily market from top economists and multifamily market experts.
Network with the top professionals in the field and find out how they’re navigating the current market. Walk away with new contacts and fresh perspectives.
For more information, visit www.nahb.org/PillarsConference.
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