Timeline
Broker transactions and Rising Star activities submitted for consideration must have occurred during 2024.
All other submissions should have been completed between July 1, 2023 and December 31, 2024.
Category Definitions are listed below.
Links to the official entry forms will be sent to the primary contact in January. Completed submission packets will be due mid February.
For questions, please contact naiop@wherryassoc.com or 440.899.0010.
New this Year
While the size of a project or transaction is one of the factors considered in judging, multiple awards are possible within any category based on the magnitude of the project or transaction.
Category Definitions
Broker – Arranging and negotiating the buying, exchanging, selling and leasing of goods or assets relating to commercial real estate. Individual and team entries may be judged separately.
Construction, New Ground-Up – Physical building of a new ground-up structure. Entries can include a single or related group of buildings.
Construction, Exterior or Interior Renovation – Renovation of the exterior or interior of a structure with a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance updating a commercial building façade or interior.
Design, Architectural – Exterior design of a new ground-up structure at any budget, style or discipline/market. Entries should include the designing of a single or related group of buildings.
Design, Interior – The art and science of enhancing the interiors of a new building to achieve an aesthetically pleasing environment.
Design of Renovation, Exterior – Design to alter the exterior of a structure with a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance. Updating a commercial building façade, attention to historical details, or highlighting any unique or impactful exterior alteration.
Design of Renovation, Interior – Design to alter the interior of a building or space with a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance. May include adaptive re-use, restoration or preservation/renovation.
Developer – An individual or company that develops commercial real estate. A minimum of two development projects must be submitted with this entry for consideration in this category. Duties may include overseeing the negotiations surrounding the purchase and improvement of commercial real estate, its renovation or the acquisition of land in order to build new buildings.
Development – New construction of a real estate project adding significant improvements to the land that produces financial growth. Development of land – a complex process of coordinating various activities to transform ideas and plans into physical reality involving the financing, construction and refurbishing of buildings and other structures.
Innovation in CRE – Are you a pioneer in CRE? Are you the first or early adopter of a new and innovative design, product, process, project or deal structure that is a leap forward for designing, developing and delivering Commercial Real Estate? (All disciplines welcome.)
Landscape Architecture / Infrastructure, Land Development – Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor areas, landmarks and structures to achieve environmental, social-behavioral or aesthetic outcomes. Projects shall involve the planning, design, management and nurturing of the constructed and natural environments. Projects which change the face and surface of the land/ground, riverfront and lakefront projects, sustainable impact projects, etc.
Placemaking – Placemaking is a multi-faceted approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces. Projects create places through focusing on transforming public spaces to strengthen the connections between people, the built environment and the community. A process centered on people and their needs, aspirations, desires and visions that relies strongly on community participation.
Public Art – Art in any medium whose form, function and meaning are created for the general public through a public process. Both visually and physically accessible to the public, it is installed in public space in both outdoor and indoor settings. Public art is a part of our public history, our evolving culture and our collective memory that reflects and reveals our society.
Rising Star – The Rising Star Award recognizes an individual who has created a significant impact in the commercial real estate industry in the early stages of his/her career. This award will be nominated by peers/mentors and can be from the developer or broker side (transaction(s), development process and/or brokerage). This individual is innovative, civically engaged and inspires future peers.
REVISED: Transaction of the Year – Any lease, purchase or sale transaction where the nominee was instrumental in the project’s completion through advisory services, brokerage and/or financing.
