Central Florida NAIOP Presents 11th Annual Awards of Excellence

The Central Florida chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties recently presented the winners of its 11th Annual Awards of Excellence at its annual gala held Jan. 17 in Orlando. Winners included:

• 2006 Developer of the Year-Duke Realty Corp., Orlando, for its development or construction of approximately 700,000 sq ft of Class "A" office and industrial properties in Central Florida during 2006, valued in excess of $60 million, for representing financially successful projects which are sensitive to the environment, innovative visually and technologically advanced;"
  
• Outstanding Office Development-801 North Orange, Orlando, by Ustler Properties;
  
• Outstanding Industrial Development-Crossroads VII, Orlando, by Duke Realty Corp.;
  
• Outstanding Urban Mixed-Use Development-PremiereTrade Plaza, Orlando, by Kuhn Management;
  
• Outstanding Large Community Development-Engineering III Building at UCF by Baker Barrios Architects;
  
• Office Broker of the Year-Mike Phipps, CB Richard Ellis, for top overall production volume totaling $145 million within the office development community;
• Industrial Broker of the Year-David Murphy, CB Richard Ellis, (fourth consecutive year) with top overall production volume totaling $62 million within the industrial development community;
• Investment Broker of the Year-Ron Rogg, CB Richard Ellis, with top overall production volume totaling $242 million within the investment development community;
• Associate Member of the Year-Christie Hill, Workscapes;
• President's Award-Pam Carman, Business Architects of Innovation; and,
  
• Lifetime Achievement Award-Bill Moss, CB Richard Ellis, for outstanding lifetime achievement in the real estate community in Central Florida.

Projects were recognized for overall design, usage of quality materials with advanced construction techniques, compatibility with natural surroundings, technological advancement and results achieved by the development team.

ValleyCrest Acquires Phil Graham & Co. of St. Petersburg

ValleyCrest Cos., a national specialty contractor focusing on integrated landscape services and site development, announced it is acquiring St. Petersburg, Fla.-based Phil Graham & Co., a landscape architecture, planning and urban design firm. According to ValleyCrest, the acquisition signals the company's intention to grow its landscape architecture and design-build capabilities in Florida.

The St. Petersburg company, now known as Phil Graham Studio, will operate as part of ValleyCrest Design Group, the company's recently established landscape architecture division. Phil Graham will continue to run the studio as its managing principal.

Peckar & Abramson Establishes Environmental Law Group

Peckar & Abramson, a national law firm with offices in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, announced the creation of an environmental law practice group for contractors and other members of the construction industry.

Matt Coglianese, a partner resident in Peckar & Abramson's Miami office, will chair the new group.