Historic Fisher Building Recognized For Quality In Office Buildings, Management With Toby Award

Oct. 16, 2009 - PRLog -- SOUTHFIELD, MI – The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Metropolitan Detroit awarded the Fisher Building the title of “The Office Building of the Year” (TOBY).  The property was recognized in the category of historical building. The Fisher Building is managed by Farbman Group / NAI Farbman of Southfield and is located in Detroit’s New Center Area, 3011 W. Grand Blvd.

The TOBY Awards, now in its 25th year, is the most prestigious and comprehensive program of its kind in the commercial real estate industry, recognizing quality in office buildings and awarding excellence in office building management.  

“Maintaining a historic building is a labor of love and this property has come to mean a lot to the team who serves as its caretakers. They know they are responsible for something very special,” said Andrew V. Farbman, president and CEO, Farbman Group / NAI Farbman. “Our property managers try to outdo themselves every year.  They strive to be the best and deliver the best services for our tenants. It’s an honor to have their hard work and dedication recognized by an industry leader such as BOMA.”

To be considered for a TOBY, all facets of a building’s operations, including tenant relations programs, community involvement, emergency preparedness, and security standards and continuing education for building personnel, are thoroughly evaluated during a rigorous judging process.  Floor plans, site plans, and photographs round out the portfolio, providing an extensive examination of the building by the judges.  

Winners of the BOMA Detroit TOBY awards will move on to a regional competition, then to a BOMA International competition at the BOMA International Annual Convention.

About the Property
The Fisher Building—Detroit’s golden tower since 1928— was commissioned by the Fisher brothers, who amassed their fortune by developing the closed body for the automobile. The brothers hired architect Albert Kahn to create a masterpiece of functional art. A genius of design, Kahn conceived an ornate structure, replete with the opulence and style so desired in Detroit’s gilded age of commercial construction.

His original plans included a twin to the existing tower, flanking a 60-story center tower.  The completed structure would have covered an entire city block.  Only the one tower was completed at a cost of $9 million. One quarter of that cost was spent on the creation of pure beauty.  For all its wealth of detail, the Fisher Building, which broke ground in August 1927, was constructed in just 15 months, with the building 60 percent occupied by December 1928.

Declared the most beautiful commercial building in 1928, it was not long before it was considered a freestanding object of art; gold leaf dominates the vaulted hand painted arcade ceilings. It is decorated in marble from throughout the world gracing both the exterior and interior of the building. Solid bronze décor cases the exterior of the building. Businesses at this landmark address now include law firms, physicians, retail shops, along with numerous professional offices and radio stations including WJR-AM, WDRQ-FM and WPLT-FM.

Today, the Fisher Building continues to play an integral role in Detroit’s New Center Area, serving as the center of a city within a city with pedestrian skywalks and underground corridors connecting to Cadillac Place (the former GM world headquarters), and the Albert Kahn and New Center One buildings. Eleven separate structures create a complex in which one can park, conduct business, bank, shop, dine, visit art galleries and attend the renowned Fisher Theatre.


ABOUT FARBMAN GROUP / NAI FARBMAN
Founded in 1976, Farbman Group / NAI Farbman is a leading full-service real estate organization handling all facets of real estate transactions, from property management and leasing to acquisition and disposition.

Today, Farbman is one of the largest and most respected full service organizations in the Midwest.  The firm manages more than 20 million square feet of office, retail, multi-family and industrial space throughout Southeast Michigan and is recognized as a leading commercial management and brokerage firm by clientele. For more information, please visit www.Farbman.com and www.NAIFarbman.com.