FBI Chicago Building Receives 'The Outstanding Building of the Year Award' from BOMA Chicago

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Feb. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- USAA Real Estate Company is pleased to announce that the Federal Bureau of Investigation Regional Facility located in Chicago, Illinois recently has been awarded The Outstanding Building of the Year Award (TOBY) in the highly competitive Chicago market.

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The category that the facility won under is the Earth category. The Earth category is judged on many of the same aspects of the typical TOBY categories but it has an emphasis on sustainability issues such as indoor air quality and green cleaning, recycling, energy and water conservation, along with educating your staff and tenants on sustainability. In 2008 the facility was the first Platinum recipient in the world under the USGBC's LEED EBOM and now has become the first FBI facility to ever win any type of TOBY award.

"This accomplishment is not just a culmination of the efforts of everyone on our team and our valued FBI and GSA partners, but it is a measure of our efforts to drive the business case for efficiency and sustainability," says Pat Duncan, Chairman and CEO of USAA Real Estate Company. "We continually strive to improve the financial and environmental performance of our real estate portfolio and in so doing, drive improved comfort, lower operating costs and provide a healthier environment and community for our tenants."

The on-site Property Management Team led by Rick Pospisil utilized USAA Real Estate Company's sustainability platform that allowed them to achieve the goals of reducing carbon emissions, promoting tenant satisfaction and awareness, thus lowering operating costs while still enhancing property value.

USAA Real Estate Company also acknowledges the FBI and the GSA for their assistance and support during their process to improve the building's environmental performance. Everyone's commitment to improving the efficiency and comfort of the property is further confirmed with the achievement of LEED EBOM Platinum Award, with USAA Real Estate Company's continued leadership with Energy Star (8-time Energy Star Partner of the Year) and partnership with USGBC in this development has led to such awards.

Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI's Chicago office offered his congratulations to USAA Realty Company on receiving this recognition. Said Mr. Grant, "The quality of service that USAA has provided since we moved into the facility over four years ago has been unparalleled. The building is actually in better condition today than when we moved in, showing that it's possible to be environmentally friendly without sacrificing service."

USAA Real Estate Company has over $6 billion of owned assets and provides co-investment and acquisition for corporate and institutional investors as well as capital to developers around the country.  The USAA Real Estate Company portfolio consists of office, industrial, retail, multi-family and hotel properties.  USAA Real Estate is a subsidiary of USAA, which has been serving military families since 1922 and has become one of America's leading financial services companies. For more information, please visit the website at www.usrealco.com.

SOURCE USAA Real Estate Company