Bank of America Plaza - Tampa Receives Readers' Choice Best in the Biz Award

Oct. 24, 2011 - PRLog -- Tampa Bay Business Journal (TBBJ) readers have selected Bank of America Plaza, a MetLife-owned property, as the area’s Best Office Building in the publication’s Best in the Biz: Readers’ Choice Awards.Additionally, the building’s property management firm, CB Richard Ellis, was also recognized as Best Property Management Firm.  

The Bank of America Plaza, a 42-story, approximately 786,000 square foot, Class A office building located at 101 East Kennedy Boulevard, was one of more than 750 nominees in 56 categories up for consideration in the publication’s first-ever awards. Over 6,000 people throughout a seven-county area participated in the survey.  http://www.101eastkennedy.com/

“Bank of America Plaza is one of MetLife’s flagship developments, and we are honored to have it recognized by the people of Tampa Bay as the Best Office Building,” stated Chuck Davis, regional director of MetLife’s Tampa real estate investment office.  “We have a long and proud history of investing in high quality real estate properties in this area, and I thank the Tampa community for this endorsement.”

The Best Office Building recognition solidifies Bank of America Plaza’s reputation for innovative modernization and green initiatives.  In October, the building will become the first high-rise in Tampa Bay to feature the Destination Dispatch elevator system.  Other green initiatives include a building-wide recycling program and a state-of-the-art energy management system.  “We continually look for ways to enhance the building’s timeless appearance and functionality,” said property manager Lynn Vilmar.

Newcomer to the Tampa Bay market and Bank of America Plaza tenant, Quarles & Brady, LLP, attests to the TBBJ readers’ selection of Bank of America Plaza as the area’s best office building.

“The location, economics and the building’s technological functionality played a huge part in our site selection”, stated Quarles & Brady, LLP Managing Partner Kimberly Leach Johnson. “MetLife and CB Richard Ellis understood the challenges we faced in launching a new office in the Tampa market. They were extremely accommodating in meeting our space needs and deadline.  As tenants, the CB Richard Ellis management staff, backed by MetLife’s solid ownership, has exceeded our expectations.  Bank of America Plaza certainly ranks as our choice for the area’s Best Office Building.”  

Located in the heart of the Tampa Central Business District, the Bank of America Plaza is strategically situated on two city blocks. Bank of America Plaza is one of the largest office developments in both Florida and the Southeast.  Solstice, A 600-piece sculpture by world-famous sculptor Charles O. Perry, is featured on the building’s piazza.  Adjacent to the office tower is a 1,260 car parking garage connected to the main office tower by a weather-protected sky bridge.  The ground level of the parking garage incorporates street level retail shops.  

Tenants of Bank of America Plaza have access to a full time concierge, a well-equipped tenant conference facility, a shoe-shine stand, an auto-detailing center and a state-of-the-art, newly modernized fitness center. The top two floors are home to the exclusive, members-only Tampa Club.

Through its Real Estate Investments department, MetLife oversees a well diversified real estate investment portfolio of over $60 billion, which is one of the largest in the U.S. and consists of real estate equities, commercial mortgages and agricultural mortgages. MetLife is a global leader in real estate investment and real estate asset management, with a vast network of regional offices that keep in close contact with the major real estate markets. MetLife's real estate investment focus includes office, multi-family, industrial and retail properties. For more information, visit www.metlife.com/realestate.

Press Contact
Emily Phillips, MetLife
(212) 578-7217
ephillips@metlife.com