There`s a new bin in town
Transcription
There`s a new bin in town
TENANT SPOTLIGHT WINING, DINING AND LEISURE Explore a world of pop culture near AMA Plaza Head over to the Museum of Broadcast Communications (MCB) for a unique look at American pop culture through the history of radio and television programming. MCB moved from the Chicago Cultural Center to 360 N. State Street, across from AMA Plaza, in 2012. The museum’s carefully curated collection is one of a kind. Interactive exhibits display the stories and meaning behind everything from historical news days to reality TV, giving visitors a behind-the-scenes look at production processes and cultural significance. The National Radio Hall of Fame is on the building’s second floor. The gallery honors those who have contributed to the development of the radio medium through its history in the United States. The hall of fame inducted seven new members last November, including Chicago’s legendary broadcast duo, Steve Dahl and Garry Meier. Last year’s induction gala also drew big-name presenters, including Larry King and Reba McEntire. In celebration of its host city, MBC dedicated a section of the museum to Chicago sports, and prominently displays set pieces and props from local children’s shows, including the “Bozo” franchise. These locally focused exhibits give visitors a look at how programming changed between the early years of broadcast communications and the sights and sounds familiar to today’s Chicagoans. The museum also hosts special red carpet events to celebrate television and radio celebrities. Betty White, Dick Wolf and Jon Provost (Timmy from the classic show, “Lassie”) were a few of the featured guests from the past year. Tickets to MBC special events are available for purchase through the museum, with discounts available for museum members. The museum is open to visitors Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission for adults is $12, with reduced prices for seniors and children. Group tours are also available with advance notice. BBB: Protecting Chicago consumers, businesses When the Better Business Bureau opened its doors in Minneapolis in 1912, “phishing” was something that was still done from piers and “malware” was decades away from being used in everyday language. In fact, con artists at the time primarily lured unwitting consumers through means that would be considered downright conventional by today’s standards. “The Better Business Bureau system was invented because most newspaper ads in the 1900s were either false or misleading,” says Steve Bernas, president of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Chicago. “We’ve come a long way since then, but our priority remains the same: protecting the public from bad apples.” The BBB opened its first office in the Twin Cities in 1912, and launched its Windy City operations 14 years later. Nearly a century after that, the BBB continues to take a deep dive into advertising – much of it online – while also serving as a clearinghouse for complaints from consumers and businesses, and accrediting local businesses. “The BBB is used by 62,000 individuals and businesses each day, and one of the best-kept secrets is that we’re a free service,” Bernas says. “We want consumers to call us first – not after a problem occurs. We want to assist them in dealing with reputable firms. “Our mission statement today is simple: We’re a leader in advancing marketplace trust,” he adds. And that trust is built on a lot of hard work. According to Bernas, the BBB’s Chicago office processes about 50,000 consumer complaints per year from the organization’s offices on the 31st floor at AMA Plaza. The BBB’s office, which has been here for 18 years, has doubled its size in the past five years and now includes 70 full- and part-time employees, who find the River North location perfect for commuting and dining during lunch and after work, Bernas says. “I love this building, its amenities and access to great restaurants,” he says. “And it’s centrally located, which is convenient for all of our employees and visitors.” The recent expansion of its operations at AMA Plaza mirrors the organization’s growth overall in North America during the past couple of years, Bernas says. In the coming months, the BBB will open a suburban office in Naperville, Ill., and is expanding into Mexico, adding to its already successful operation in Canada. “The BBB is known widely around the world as an organization you can trust and you can trust the businesses that we accredit,” he says. “Trust is the new currency in the marketplace.” Save $1,000 on a Chuan Spa & Health Club membership Chicago Riverwalk completion effort underway A popular attraction for AMA Plaza tenants is receiving a major facelift The city broke ground on the final phase of the Chicago Riverwalk in early 2014. Plans for the project call for a major expansion of the walkway, including the construction of six thematic destinations: The Marina, The Jetty, The Cove, The River Theater, The Swimming Hole and The Boardwalk. When it’s complete, the pedestrian thoroughfare will run continuously from Lake Michigan to downtown Chicago. Construction on the entire project will wrap up in 2016, according to press reports. Until then, work will take place between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and will result in the following closures: • U pper Wacker Drive (between LaSalle Street and State Street): The westbound curb lane may have daily temporary closures between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. In addition, the north sidewalk between LaSalle Street and Clark Street is closed to pedestrians until December 2014. Pedestrians should use the south sidewalk on the upper street level. ower Wacker Drive (between LaSalle Street and • L State Street): The westbound curb lane may have daily temporary closures between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/aj2x2a2. AMA Plaza tenants who join the Chuan Spa & Health Club at The Langham, Chicago before May 31, 2014, will save $1,000. The tenant promotional rate is $500 (regularly $1,500). Benefits include a complimentary personal training session; a health assessment and diet plan; group fitness classes; a 60-minute spa treatment; and more. Call 312.923.7650 for details. Plaza Pulse | April 2014 330 North Wabash Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60601 | 312.621.8550 | www.rrpchicago.com | www.330northwabashavenue.com Susan Hammer, General Manager BOMA/Chicago 2012 Property Management Professional of the Year Steve Baron, Executive Vice President Leasing Courtney Farella, Property Manager Yordanos Ghdey, Tenant Services Coordinator Debra Reynolds, Property Accountant John Witkowski, Engineering Manager Jim Kyler, Chief Engineer Sam Santa Maria, Security Director Himka Kopic, Housekeeping Supervisor Ignacio Melquiades, Day Housekeeping Supervisor The Simons Group, Writing and Design Plaza Pulse AMA Plaza | 330 North Wabash | April 2014 GREEN ZONE There’s a new bin in town AMA Plaza diverted 20.6 tons of organic material from the landfill in the first six months of a general composting program. That accounts for more than 12 percent of the building’s diverted waste in 2013, the rest of which came from the more common recycling of paper, plastic, aluminum, glass and cardboard. The program provides an eco-friendly option to disposing food and other organic waste through an industrial composting facility. Participating tenants use designated bins to sort compostable materials from recycling or landfill waste. Waste Management then collects the compostable waste and takes it to a Chicago-area plant, where it’s transformed into organic soil. Building management started this food composting initiative last summer with participation from Café 330 and The Langham, Chicago. As the program became better known in the building, tenants Perkins + Will and Thornton Tomasetti expressed interest in having their offices participate. Both companies are active participants in other green programs, including the Chicago Green Office Challenge, which encourages demonstrated environmental leadership in the city. “I jumped at the opportunity for the bins to be in our office,” he says. “Perkins + Will has always thought of itself as a leader in sustainable design – and we actually live it. We’re conscious about sustainability and try to incorporate that into our processes as much as possible. “A good portion of the office composts at home, but this industrial-level program takes some explaining because more can go into it, including meat and bones,” he continues. “It’s been a learning experience, but some people have personally thanked me for setting this up in our office. This way, they don’t have to worry about taking their banana peels home to put in their own compost.” Rachel Michelin, senior project architect and “green champion” for Thornton Tomasetti’s Chicago office, says she always looks for opportunities for the office to maintain its sustainability. The offices of BDO USA, Enlivant and Riverview Realty Partners also participate in the composting program. “We’re one of the first office locations in our company to compost, and it has really helped that the building is so supportive and already had the program,” she says. “There has been a really good response from everyone in the office. We might even be able to get rid of one of the trash bins in the kitchen soon, since a lot of the bulky food containers people get from the building’s café can go into the compost bin.” Matthew Kuhl, senior project architect and senior associate at Perkins + Will, heard about the composting program from AMA Plaza’s property management team, which he had worked with previously as a project architect for tenant improvements. Both companies have installed comprehensive signs to explain the composting program, and have had great support from staff willing to learn. Establishing a new office kitchen routine has required some effort, but both offices look forward to continuing the program. Continued inside. Continued from front page. Perkins + Will has a competition among the company’s offices to see which location can divert the most from a landfill, and Kuhl thinks Chicago may earn a top spot now that the composting program is in place. Thornton Tomasetti hopes to inspire its other offices by sharing the details of the composting program with their respective green champions. In the meantime, Michelin says a lot of gardeners at the Chicago office look forward to buying some of the organic soil that results from the composting process. As a proponent of green initiatives and sustainable processes, AMA Plaza offers this composting program to all tenants. Call the management office at 312.621.8550 to learn more. Kick off ‘Earth Week’ with AMA Plaza: April 21-25 Why have just one Earth Day when you can celebrate an entire “Earth Week”? Check out how AMA Plaza will keep everyone thinking green with this sneak peek at the building’s Earth Week: Daily Divvy drawing: Attend the composting and recycling seminar on Thursday, April 17, and use your business card to enter to win a free Divvy bike membership. AMA Plaza will draw one name every day of Earth Week, for a total of five winners. E-waste drive: Spring clean your office with our weeklong electronic waste drive. Place an order in the online Workspeed system to schedule a pickup. Free Earth Day morning shuttle: Commuters can take a free ride on the AMA Plaza shuttle the morning of Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22. The free shuttle will run during the morning rush period and stop at all four downtown Metra stations. Standard service will resume for the evening shuttle. Composting, recycling and eco-friendly transportation are just some of the ways to incorporate sustainable practices on a daily basis. AMA Plaza will continue to promote and adopt planet-friendly approaches and keep tenants up to date on how they can participate in these activities. Divvy is Chicago’s bike sharing program. One station is at the corner of Kinzie and State streets. State-of-the-art energy technology In December, AMA Plaza became one of three commercial buildings in Chicago to install smart meters, digital electrical meters that relay energy consumption data in near real time. The pilot program from the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Chicago Energy Center gives participating buildings’ property managers and engineers precise usage monitoring tools, with the goal of reducing overall consumption. Smart meters are one part of the “smart grid” initiative, a hot topic in the sustainability world. The meters work in conjunction with an enhanced external infrastructure to capture and relay usage data to the energy provider and the building’s engineers. BOMA partnered with Automated Logic Corp., an energy-efficiency consultant, and the building’s automation engineers to provide the foundation for the pilot program. The partners designed the initial infrastructure to support 40 commercial buildings eventually, says Kevin Lemanski, energy solutions consultant at the company. AMA Plaza’s installation included replacing the building’s eight main electrical meters with smart meters. These meters monitor the energy consumption for the entire building, Lemanski says. The smart meters use new, more precise technology, which sends data to the electrical server at 2-second intervals rather than the less accurate 30-minute intervals of previous meters. This allows building management to monitor consumption by area and time of day and make adjustments as needed, Lemanski says. Although AMA Plaza has had the smart meters for only a few months, the building’s engineers already have been able to modify the energy usage based on the near real-time readings, Lemanski says. In addition to reducing the building’s overall energy consumption, the smart meters will make it possible for the building to participate in “demand response” programs, which provide energy consumers with a financial incentive to reduce their consumption. Congratulations to Yordanos Ghdey INSIDE AMA PLAZA Tenant update PLEASE WELCOME THE FOLLOWING TENANTS: Firm LocationServices Enlivant (December) 3700 Assisted living centers ContextMedia Inc. (May) 25th floor Digital health care information provider Latham & Watkins (May) 26-30 floors Law firm THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES RECENTLY EXPANDED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SUITES: Firm LocationServices SmithBucklin 1450 Association management Swanson, Martin & Bell LLP 3150 Law firm CONVENIENT DRY CLEANING AMA Plaza now has full-service dry cleaning and laundry services on-site. Pressbox provides cleaning pickup and delivery. Six drop-off lockers are located in the 14th floor freight lobby. Tenants can drop off or pick up clothes at the lockers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Typical turnaround is two days, and the prices are competitive. Pressbox uses environmentally safe “green” solvents and hybrid vehicles to transport laundered clothing. Here’s how to get started: (www.chicagoyouthprograms.org), netted 295 gifts in 2013. The children are from economically disadvantaged homes and appreciated having something to open for the holidays. Our tenant services coordinator, Yordanos Ghdey, is one of two recipients of this year’s Reginald L. Ollie Inclusion and Outreach Scholarship. The Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago (BOMA/ Chicago) Foundation offers the scholarship to select commercial property management professionals from underrepresented groups within the industry. The Ollie scholarship completely finances the recipients’ pursuit of the Real Property Administrator (RPA®) professional designation. The title proves competency in design, operation and maintenance of an office building, according to the Building Owners and Managers Institute (BOMI International), which oversees the designation. The BOMA/Chicago Foundation presented the scholarships to the two winners at the 2014 Diversity Celebration on April 3. 2. Drop your clothes off in one of the six Pressbox lockers on the 14th floor freight lobby. Even with her increased responsibilities as the face of the property management office, Ghdey remains focused on achieving the RPA designation and her recent enrollment in the Illinois broker’s licensure course. She notes in her application that her accomplishments so far have motivated her continued career development. Ghdey looks forward to expanding upon her education, community outreach and property management expertise as she works toward becoming a leader in Chicago’s commercial real estate industry. As a recipient, Ghdey has three years to complete the requisite RPA coursework, which she started before receiving the scholarship. She will also serve for two years on BOMA/Chicago’s Diversity and Corporate Social FEEDING THOSE IN NEED Only days into her new role as property manager in September 2013, Courtney Farella experienced the rededication of AMA Plaza, a ceremony Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel led, drawing throngs of reporters and nearly 100 attendees. Thanks to tenants’ generosity, AMA Plaza collected 2,017 pounds of food for the Greater Chicago Food Depository (www.chicagosfoodbank.org) during the holidays. The depository distributes food to pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in Cook County. “It was a very impressive, important event and I was proud to be part of such a successful building,” Farella recalls. 3. Text the number on the front of the locker to Pressbox at 312.257.3888. Thanks to everyone who helped AMA Plaza exceed its goal of collecting 2,000 pounds of food for the Chicago Food Depository. For more information, call Pressbox at 312.361.3206 or email support@usepressbox.com. SPREADING CHEER FOR YOUNGSTERS The building’s annual “Season of Hope Toy Drive,” which benefits children in the Chicago Youth Programs Ghdey says in her application that she developed a passion for commercial real estate upon joining the AMA Plaza property management team in 2012. Since then, she has impressed the team with her commitment to learning and her skilled management of tenant and supplier relationships, says Susan Hammer, general manager of AMA Plaza, in a letter of recommendation. The management office further recognized Ghdey’s skills with her recent promotion to tenant services coordinator. Diverse job description a must for property manager 1. Create an account at www.usepressbox.com. 4. Pressbox will text you a secure access code when your clothes are ready for pickup. Responsibility Committee, a group devoted to breaking down discriminatory barriers to advancement within Chicago’s commercial real estate industry. The holidays were a little brighter for needy children with help from tenants, who donated many gifts. closely with tenants on special events and projects, and overseeing the implementation of building service contracts. Farella’s day at the office usually starts around 8 a.m., when she arrives at AMA Plaza and begins answering emails from tenants, working with the building engineer, coordinating with security and housekeeping, processing invoices and collaborating on marketing efforts. “As a property manager, you get to do a little bit of everything,” Farella says. When she’s not working, Farella practices and teaches yoga, an activity she’s been involved in for more than a decade. She recently renewed her real estate broker license and is working to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional certification. Now settled in, Farella, Real Property Administrator (RPA), says she thrives on managing the diverse portfolio of job duties as AMA Plaza’s property manager. No two days are the same, she says, and she particularly enjoys working Plaza Pulse | April 2014 Continued from front page. Perkins + Will has a competition among the company’s offices to see which location can divert the most from a landfill, and Kuhl thinks Chicago may earn a top spot now that the composting program is in place. Thornton Tomasetti hopes to inspire its other offices by sharing the details of the composting program with their respective green champions. In the meantime, Michelin says a lot of gardeners at the Chicago office look forward to buying some of the organic soil that results from the composting process. As a proponent of green initiatives and sustainable processes, AMA Plaza offers this composting program to all tenants. Call the management office at 312.621.8550 to learn more. Kick off ‘Earth Week’ with AMA Plaza: April 21-25 Why have just one Earth Day when you can celebrate an entire “Earth Week”? Check out how AMA Plaza will keep everyone thinking green with this sneak peek at the building’s Earth Week: Daily Divvy drawing: Attend the composting and recycling seminar on Thursday, April 17, and use your business card to enter to win a free Divvy bike membership. AMA Plaza will draw one name every day of Earth Week, for a total of five winners. E-waste drive: Spring clean your office with our weeklong electronic waste drive. Place an order in the online Workspeed system to schedule a pickup. Free Earth Day morning shuttle: Commuters can take a free ride on the AMA Plaza shuttle the morning of Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22. The free shuttle will run during the morning rush period and stop at all four downtown Metra stations. Standard service will resume for the evening shuttle. Composting, recycling and eco-friendly transportation are just some of the ways to incorporate sustainable practices on a daily basis. AMA Plaza will continue to promote and adopt planet-friendly approaches and keep tenants up to date on how they can participate in these activities. Divvy is Chicago’s bike sharing program. One station is at the corner of Kinzie and State streets. State-of-the-art energy technology In December, AMA Plaza became one of three commercial buildings in Chicago to install smart meters, digital electrical meters that relay energy consumption data in near real time. The pilot program from the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Chicago Energy Center gives participating buildings’ property managers and engineers precise usage monitoring tools, with the goal of reducing overall consumption. Smart meters are one part of the “smart grid” initiative, a hot topic in the sustainability world. The meters work in conjunction with an enhanced external infrastructure to capture and relay usage data to the energy provider and the building’s engineers. BOMA partnered with Automated Logic Corp., an energy-efficiency consultant, and the building’s automation engineers to provide the foundation for the pilot program. The partners designed the initial infrastructure to support 40 commercial buildings eventually, says Kevin Lemanski, energy solutions consultant at the company. AMA Plaza’s installation included replacing the building’s eight main electrical meters with smart meters. These meters monitor the energy consumption for the entire building, Lemanski says. The smart meters use new, more precise technology, which sends data to the electrical server at 2-second intervals rather than the less accurate 30-minute intervals of previous meters. This allows building management to monitor consumption by area and time of day and make adjustments as needed, Lemanski says. Although AMA Plaza has had the smart meters for only a few months, the building’s engineers already have been able to modify the energy usage based on the near real-time readings, Lemanski says. In addition to reducing the building’s overall energy consumption, the smart meters will make it possible for the building to participate in “demand response” programs, which provide energy consumers with a financial incentive to reduce their consumption. Congratulations to Yordanos Ghdey INSIDE AMA PLAZA Tenant update PLEASE WELCOME THE FOLLOWING TENANTS: Firm LocationServices Enlivant (December) 3700 Assisted living centers ContextMedia Inc. (May) 25th floor Digital health care information provider Latham & Watkins (May) 26-30 floors Law firm THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES RECENTLY EXPANDED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SUITES: Firm LocationServices SmithBucklin 1450 Association management Swanson, Martin & Bell LLP 3150 Law firm CONVENIENT DRY CLEANING AMA Plaza now has full-service dry cleaning and laundry services on-site. Pressbox provides cleaning pickup and delivery. Six drop-off lockers are located in the 14th floor freight lobby. Tenants can drop off or pick up clothes at the lockers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Typical turnaround is two days, and the prices are competitive. Pressbox uses environmentally safe “green” solvents and hybrid vehicles to transport laundered clothing. Here’s how to get started: (www.chicagoyouthprograms.org), netted 295 gifts in 2013. The children are from economically disadvantaged homes and appreciated having something to open for the holidays. Our tenant services coordinator, Yordanos Ghdey, is one of two recipients of this year’s Reginald L. Ollie Inclusion and Outreach Scholarship. The Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago (BOMA/ Chicago) Foundation offers the scholarship to select commercial property management professionals from underrepresented groups within the industry. The Ollie scholarship completely finances the recipients’ pursuit of the Real Property Administrator (RPA®) professional designation. The title proves competency in design, operation and maintenance of an office building, according to the Building Owners and Managers Institute (BOMI International), which oversees the designation. The BOMA/Chicago Foundation presented the scholarships to the two winners at the 2014 Diversity Celebration on April 3. 2. Drop your clothes off in one of the six Pressbox lockers on the 14th floor freight lobby. Even with her increased responsibilities as the face of the property management office, Ghdey remains focused on achieving the RPA designation and her recent enrollment in the Illinois broker’s licensure course. She notes in her application that her accomplishments so far have motivated her continued career development. Ghdey looks forward to expanding upon her education, community outreach and property management expertise as she works toward becoming a leader in Chicago’s commercial real estate industry. As a recipient, Ghdey has three years to complete the requisite RPA coursework, which she started before receiving the scholarship. She will also serve for two years on BOMA/Chicago’s Diversity and Corporate Social FEEDING THOSE IN NEED Only days into her new role as property manager in September 2013, Courtney Farella experienced the rededication of AMA Plaza, a ceremony Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel led, drawing throngs of reporters and nearly 100 attendees. Thanks to tenants’ generosity, AMA Plaza collected 2,017 pounds of food for the Greater Chicago Food Depository (www.chicagosfoodbank.org) during the holidays. The depository distributes food to pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in Cook County. “It was a very impressive, important event and I was proud to be part of such a successful building,” Farella recalls. 3. Text the number on the front of the locker to Pressbox at 312.257.3888. Thanks to everyone who helped AMA Plaza exceed its goal of collecting 2,000 pounds of food for the Chicago Food Depository. For more information, call Pressbox at 312.361.3206 or email support@usepressbox.com. SPREADING CHEER FOR YOUNGSTERS The building’s annual “Season of Hope Toy Drive,” which benefits children in the Chicago Youth Programs Ghdey says in her application that she developed a passion for commercial real estate upon joining the AMA Plaza property management team in 2012. Since then, she has impressed the team with her commitment to learning and her skilled management of tenant and supplier relationships, says Susan Hammer, general manager of AMA Plaza, in a letter of recommendation. The management office further recognized Ghdey’s skills with her recent promotion to tenant services coordinator. Diverse job description a must for property manager 1. Create an account at www.usepressbox.com. 4. Pressbox will text you a secure access code when your clothes are ready for pickup. Responsibility Committee, a group devoted to breaking down discriminatory barriers to advancement within Chicago’s commercial real estate industry. The holidays were a little brighter for needy children with help from tenants, who donated many gifts. closely with tenants on special events and projects, and overseeing the implementation of building service contracts. Farella’s day at the office usually starts around 8 a.m., when she arrives at AMA Plaza and begins answering emails from tenants, working with the building engineer, coordinating with security and housekeeping, processing invoices and collaborating on marketing efforts. “As a property manager, you get to do a little bit of everything,” Farella says. When she’s not working, Farella practices and teaches yoga, an activity she’s been involved in for more than a decade. She recently renewed her real estate broker license and is working to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional certification. Now settled in, Farella, Real Property Administrator (RPA), says she thrives on managing the diverse portfolio of job duties as AMA Plaza’s property manager. No two days are the same, she says, and she particularly enjoys working Plaza Pulse | April 2014 Continued from front page. Perkins + Will has a competition among the company’s offices to see which location can divert the most from a landfill, and Kuhl thinks Chicago may earn a top spot now that the composting program is in place. Thornton Tomasetti hopes to inspire its other offices by sharing the details of the composting program with their respective green champions. In the meantime, Michelin says a lot of gardeners at the Chicago office look forward to buying some of the organic soil that results from the composting process. As a proponent of green initiatives and sustainable processes, AMA Plaza offers this composting program to all tenants. Call the management office at 312.621.8550 to learn more. Kick off ‘Earth Week’ with AMA Plaza: April 21-25 Why have just one Earth Day when you can celebrate an entire “Earth Week”? Check out how AMA Plaza will keep everyone thinking green with this sneak peek at the building’s Earth Week: Daily Divvy drawing: Attend the composting and recycling seminar on Thursday, April 17, and use your business card to enter to win a free Divvy bike membership. AMA Plaza will draw one name every day of Earth Week, for a total of five winners. E-waste drive: Spring clean your office with our weeklong electronic waste drive. Place an order in the online Workspeed system to schedule a pickup. Free Earth Day morning shuttle: Commuters can take a free ride on the AMA Plaza shuttle the morning of Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22. The free shuttle will run during the morning rush period and stop at all four downtown Metra stations. Standard service will resume for the evening shuttle. Composting, recycling and eco-friendly transportation are just some of the ways to incorporate sustainable practices on a daily basis. AMA Plaza will continue to promote and adopt planet-friendly approaches and keep tenants up to date on how they can participate in these activities. Divvy is Chicago’s bike sharing program. One station is at the corner of Kinzie and State streets. State-of-the-art energy technology In December, AMA Plaza became one of three commercial buildings in Chicago to install smart meters, digital electrical meters that relay energy consumption data in near real time. The pilot program from the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Chicago Energy Center gives participating buildings’ property managers and engineers precise usage monitoring tools, with the goal of reducing overall consumption. Smart meters are one part of the “smart grid” initiative, a hot topic in the sustainability world. The meters work in conjunction with an enhanced external infrastructure to capture and relay usage data to the energy provider and the building’s engineers. BOMA partnered with Automated Logic Corp., an energy-efficiency consultant, and the building’s automation engineers to provide the foundation for the pilot program. The partners designed the initial infrastructure to support 40 commercial buildings eventually, says Kevin Lemanski, energy solutions consultant at the company. AMA Plaza’s installation included replacing the building’s eight main electrical meters with smart meters. These meters monitor the energy consumption for the entire building, Lemanski says. The smart meters use new, more precise technology, which sends data to the electrical server at 2-second intervals rather than the less accurate 30-minute intervals of previous meters. This allows building management to monitor consumption by area and time of day and make adjustments as needed, Lemanski says. Although AMA Plaza has had the smart meters for only a few months, the building’s engineers already have been able to modify the energy usage based on the near real-time readings, Lemanski says. In addition to reducing the building’s overall energy consumption, the smart meters will make it possible for the building to participate in “demand response” programs, which provide energy consumers with a financial incentive to reduce their consumption. Congratulations to Yordanos Ghdey INSIDE AMA PLAZA Tenant update PLEASE WELCOME THE FOLLOWING TENANTS: Firm LocationServices Enlivant (December) 3700 Assisted living centers ContextMedia Inc. (May) 25th floor Digital health care information provider Latham & Watkins (May) 26-30 floors Law firm THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES RECENTLY EXPANDED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SUITES: Firm LocationServices SmithBucklin 1450 Association management Swanson, Martin & Bell LLP 3150 Law firm CONVENIENT DRY CLEANING AMA Plaza now has full-service dry cleaning and laundry services on-site. Pressbox provides cleaning pickup and delivery. Six drop-off lockers are located in the 14th floor freight lobby. Tenants can drop off or pick up clothes at the lockers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Typical turnaround is two days, and the prices are competitive. Pressbox uses environmentally safe “green” solvents and hybrid vehicles to transport laundered clothing. Here’s how to get started: (www.chicagoyouthprograms.org), netted 295 gifts in 2013. The children are from economically disadvantaged homes and appreciated having something to open for the holidays. Our tenant services coordinator, Yordanos Ghdey, is one of two recipients of this year’s Reginald L. Ollie Inclusion and Outreach Scholarship. The Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago (BOMA/ Chicago) Foundation offers the scholarship to select commercial property management professionals from underrepresented groups within the industry. The Ollie scholarship completely finances the recipients’ pursuit of the Real Property Administrator (RPA®) professional designation. The title proves competency in design, operation and maintenance of an office building, according to the Building Owners and Managers Institute (BOMI International), which oversees the designation. The BOMA/Chicago Foundation presented the scholarships to the two winners at the 2014 Diversity Celebration on April 3. 2. Drop your clothes off in one of the six Pressbox lockers on the 14th floor freight lobby. Even with her increased responsibilities as the face of the property management office, Ghdey remains focused on achieving the RPA designation and her recent enrollment in the Illinois broker’s licensure course. She notes in her application that her accomplishments so far have motivated her continued career development. Ghdey looks forward to expanding upon her education, community outreach and property management expertise as she works toward becoming a leader in Chicago’s commercial real estate industry. As a recipient, Ghdey has three years to complete the requisite RPA coursework, which she started before receiving the scholarship. She will also serve for two years on BOMA/Chicago’s Diversity and Corporate Social FEEDING THOSE IN NEED Only days into her new role as property manager in September 2013, Courtney Farella experienced the rededication of AMA Plaza, a ceremony Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel led, drawing throngs of reporters and nearly 100 attendees. Thanks to tenants’ generosity, AMA Plaza collected 2,017 pounds of food for the Greater Chicago Food Depository (www.chicagosfoodbank.org) during the holidays. The depository distributes food to pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in Cook County. “It was a very impressive, important event and I was proud to be part of such a successful building,” Farella recalls. 3. Text the number on the front of the locker to Pressbox at 312.257.3888. Thanks to everyone who helped AMA Plaza exceed its goal of collecting 2,000 pounds of food for the Chicago Food Depository. For more information, call Pressbox at 312.361.3206 or email support@usepressbox.com. SPREADING CHEER FOR YOUNGSTERS The building’s annual “Season of Hope Toy Drive,” which benefits children in the Chicago Youth Programs Ghdey says in her application that she developed a passion for commercial real estate upon joining the AMA Plaza property management team in 2012. Since then, she has impressed the team with her commitment to learning and her skilled management of tenant and supplier relationships, says Susan Hammer, general manager of AMA Plaza, in a letter of recommendation. The management office further recognized Ghdey’s skills with her recent promotion to tenant services coordinator. Diverse job description a must for property manager 1. Create an account at www.usepressbox.com. 4. Pressbox will text you a secure access code when your clothes are ready for pickup. Responsibility Committee, a group devoted to breaking down discriminatory barriers to advancement within Chicago’s commercial real estate industry. The holidays were a little brighter for needy children with help from tenants, who donated many gifts. closely with tenants on special events and projects, and overseeing the implementation of building service contracts. Farella’s day at the office usually starts around 8 a.m., when she arrives at AMA Plaza and begins answering emails from tenants, working with the building engineer, coordinating with security and housekeeping, processing invoices and collaborating on marketing efforts. “As a property manager, you get to do a little bit of everything,” Farella says. When she’s not working, Farella practices and teaches yoga, an activity she’s been involved in for more than a decade. She recently renewed her real estate broker license and is working to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional certification. Now settled in, Farella, Real Property Administrator (RPA), says she thrives on managing the diverse portfolio of job duties as AMA Plaza’s property manager. No two days are the same, she says, and she particularly enjoys working Plaza Pulse | April 2014 TENANT SPOTLIGHT WINING, DINING AND LEISURE Explore a world of pop culture near AMA Plaza Head over to the Museum of Broadcast Communications (MCB) for a unique look at American pop culture through the history of radio and television programming. MCB moved from the Chicago Cultural Center to 360 N. State Street, across from AMA Plaza, in 2012. The museum’s carefully curated collection is one of a kind. Interactive exhibits display the stories and meaning behind everything from historical news days to reality TV, giving visitors a behind-the-scenes look at production processes and cultural significance. The National Radio Hall of Fame is on the building’s second floor. The gallery honors those who have contributed to the development of the radio medium through its history in the United States. The hall of fame inducted seven new members last November, including Chicago’s legendary broadcast duo, Steve Dahl and Garry Meier. Last year’s induction gala also drew big-name presenters, including Larry King and Reba McEntire. In celebration of its host city, MBC dedicated a section of the museum to Chicago sports, and prominently displays set pieces and props from local children’s shows, including the “Bozo” franchise. These locally focused exhibits give visitors a look at how programming changed between the early years of broadcast communications and the sights and sounds familiar to today’s Chicagoans. The museum also hosts special red carpet events to celebrate television and radio celebrities. Betty White, Dick Wolf and Jon Provost (Timmy from the classic show, “Lassie”) were a few of the featured guests from the past year. Tickets to MBC special events are available for purchase through the museum, with discounts available for museum members. The museum is open to visitors Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission for adults is $12, with reduced prices for seniors and children. Group tours are also available with advance notice. BBB: Protecting Chicago consumers, businesses When the Better Business Bureau opened its doors in Minneapolis in 1912, “phishing” was something that was still done from piers and “malware” was decades away from being used in everyday language. In fact, con artists at the time primarily lured unwitting consumers through means that would be considered downright conventional by today’s standards. “The Better Business Bureau system was invented because most newspaper ads in the 1900s were either false or misleading,” says Steve Bernas, president of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Chicago. “We’ve come a long way since then, but our priority remains the same: protecting the public from bad apples.” The BBB opened its first office in the Twin Cities in 1912, and launched its Windy City operations 14 years later. Nearly a century after that, the BBB continues to take a deep dive into advertising – much of it online – while also serving as a clearinghouse for complaints from consumers and businesses, and accrediting local businesses. “The BBB is used by 62,000 individuals and businesses each day, and one of the best-kept secrets is that we’re a free service,” Bernas says. “We want consumers to call us first – not after a problem occurs. We want to assist them in dealing with reputable firms. “Our mission statement today is simple: We’re a leader in advancing marketplace trust,” he adds. And that trust is built on a lot of hard work. According to Bernas, the BBB’s Chicago office processes about 50,000 consumer complaints per year from the organization’s offices on the 31st floor at AMA Plaza. The BBB’s office, which has been here for 18 years, has doubled its size in the past five years and now includes 70 full- and part-time employees, who find the River North location perfect for commuting and dining during lunch and after work, Bernas says. “I love this building, its amenities and access to great restaurants,” he says. “And it’s centrally located, which is convenient for all of our employees and visitors.” The recent expansion of its operations at AMA Plaza mirrors the organization’s growth overall in North America during the past couple of years, Bernas says. In the coming months, the BBB will open a suburban office in Naperville, Ill., and is expanding into Mexico, adding to its already successful operation in Canada. “The BBB is known widely around the world as an organization you can trust and you can trust the businesses that we accredit,” he says. “Trust is the new currency in the marketplace.” Save $1,000 on a Chuan Spa & Health Club membership Chicago Riverwalk completion effort underway A popular attraction for AMA Plaza tenants is receiving a major facelift The city broke ground on the final phase of the Chicago Riverwalk in early 2014. Plans for the project call for a major expansion of the walkway, including the construction of six thematic destinations: The Marina, The Jetty, The Cove, The River Theater, The Swimming Hole and The Boardwalk. When it’s complete, the pedestrian thoroughfare will run continuously from Lake Michigan to downtown Chicago. Construction on the entire project will wrap up in 2016, according to press reports. Until then, work will take place between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and will result in the following closures: • U pper Wacker Drive (between LaSalle Street and State Street): The westbound curb lane may have daily temporary closures between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. In addition, the north sidewalk between LaSalle Street and Clark Street is closed to pedestrians until December 2014. Pedestrians should use the south sidewalk on the upper street level. ower Wacker Drive (between LaSalle Street and • L State Street): The westbound curb lane may have daily temporary closures between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/aj2x2a2. AMA Plaza tenants who join the Chuan Spa & Health Club at The Langham, Chicago before May 31, 2014, will save $1,000. The tenant promotional rate is $500 (regularly $1,500). Benefits include a complimentary personal training session; a health assessment and diet plan; group fitness classes; a 60-minute spa treatment; and more. Call 312.923.7650 for details. Plaza Pulse | April 2014 330 North Wabash Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60601 | 312.621.8550 | www.rrpchicago.com | www.330northwabashavenue.com Susan Hammer, General Manager BOMA/Chicago 2012 Property Management Professional of the Year Steve Baron, Executive Vice President Leasing Courtney Farella, Property Manager Yordanos Ghdey, Tenant Services Coordinator Debra Reynolds, Property Accountant John Witkowski, Engineering Manager Jim Kyler, Chief Engineer Sam Santa Maria, Security Director Himka Kopic, Housekeeping Supervisor Ignacio Melquiades, Day Housekeeping Supervisor The Simons Group, Writing and Design Plaza Pulse AMA Plaza | 330 North Wabash | April 2014 GREEN ZONE There’s a new bin in town AMA Plaza diverted 20.6 tons of organic material from the landfill in the first six months of a general composting program. That accounts for more than 12 percent of the building’s diverted waste in 2013, the rest of which came from the more common recycling of paper, plastic, aluminum, glass and cardboard. The program provides an eco-friendly option to disposing food and other organic waste through an industrial composting facility. Participating tenants use designated bins to sort compostable materials from recycling or landfill waste. Waste Management then collects the compostable waste and takes it to a Chicago-area plant, where it’s transformed into organic soil. Building management started this food composting initiative last summer with participation from Café 330 and The Langham, Chicago. As the program became better known in the building, tenants Perkins + Will and Thornton Tomasetti expressed interest in having their offices participate. Both companies are active participants in other green programs, including the Chicago Green Office Challenge, which encourages demonstrated environmental leadership in the city. “I jumped at the opportunity for the bins to be in our office,” he says. “Perkins + Will has always thought of itself as a leader in sustainable design – and we actually live it. We’re conscious about sustainability and try to incorporate that into our processes as much as possible. “A good portion of the office composts at home, but this industrial-level program takes some explaining because more can go into it, including meat and bones,” he continues. “It’s been a learning experience, but some people have personally thanked me for setting this up in our office. This way, they don’t have to worry about taking their banana peels home to put in their own compost.” Rachel Michelin, senior project architect and “green champion” for Thornton Tomasetti’s Chicago office, says she always looks for opportunities for the office to maintain its sustainability. The offices of BDO USA, Enlivant and Riverview Realty Partners also participate in the composting program. “We’re one of the first office locations in our company to compost, and it has really helped that the building is so supportive and already had the program,” she says. “There has been a really good response from everyone in the office. We might even be able to get rid of one of the trash bins in the kitchen soon, since a lot of the bulky food containers people get from the building’s café can go into the compost bin.” Matthew Kuhl, senior project architect and senior associate at Perkins + Will, heard about the composting program from AMA Plaza’s property management team, which he had worked with previously as a project architect for tenant improvements. Both companies have installed comprehensive signs to explain the composting program, and have had great support from staff willing to learn. Establishing a new office kitchen routine has required some effort, but both offices look forward to continuing the program. Continued inside. TENANT SPOTLIGHT WINING, DINING AND LEISURE Explore a world of pop culture near AMA Plaza Head over to the Museum of Broadcast Communications (MCB) for a unique look at American pop culture through the history of radio and television programming. MCB moved from the Chicago Cultural Center to 360 N. State Street, across from AMA Plaza, in 2012. The museum’s carefully curated collection is one of a kind. Interactive exhibits display the stories and meaning behind everything from historical news days to reality TV, giving visitors a behind-the-scenes look at production processes and cultural significance. The National Radio Hall of Fame is on the building’s second floor. The gallery honors those who have contributed to the development of the radio medium through its history in the United States. The hall of fame inducted seven new members last November, including Chicago’s legendary broadcast duo, Steve Dahl and Garry Meier. Last year’s induction gala also drew big-name presenters, including Larry King and Reba McEntire. In celebration of its host city, MBC dedicated a section of the museum to Chicago sports, and prominently displays set pieces and props from local children’s shows, including the “Bozo” franchise. These locally focused exhibits give visitors a look at how programming changed between the early years of broadcast communications and the sights and sounds familiar to today’s Chicagoans. The museum also hosts special red carpet events to celebrate television and radio celebrities. Betty White, Dick Wolf and Jon Provost (Timmy from the classic show, “Lassie”) were a few of the featured guests from the past year. Tickets to MBC special events are available for purchase through the museum, with discounts available for museum members. The museum is open to visitors Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission for adults is $12, with reduced prices for seniors and children. Group tours are also available with advance notice. BBB: Protecting Chicago consumers, businesses When the Better Business Bureau opened its doors in Minneapolis in 1912, “phishing” was something that was still done from piers and “malware” was decades away from being used in everyday language. In fact, con artists at the time primarily lured unwitting consumers through means that would be considered downright conventional by today’s standards. “The Better Business Bureau system was invented because most newspaper ads in the 1900s were either false or misleading,” says Steve Bernas, president of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Chicago. “We’ve come a long way since then, but our priority remains the same: protecting the public from bad apples.” The BBB opened its first office in the Twin Cities in 1912, and launched its Windy City operations 14 years later. Nearly a century after that, the BBB continues to take a deep dive into advertising – much of it online – while also serving as a clearinghouse for complaints from consumers and businesses, and accrediting local businesses. “The BBB is used by 62,000 individuals and businesses each day, and one of the best-kept secrets is that we’re a free service,” Bernas says. “We want consumers to call us first – not after a problem occurs. We want to assist them in dealing with reputable firms. “Our mission statement today is simple: We’re a leader in advancing marketplace trust,” he adds. And that trust is built on a lot of hard work. According to Bernas, the BBB’s Chicago office processes about 50,000 consumer complaints per year from the organization’s offices on the 31st floor at AMA Plaza. The BBB’s office, which has been here for 18 years, has doubled its size in the past five years and now includes 70 full- and part-time employees, who find the River North location perfect for commuting and dining during lunch and after work, Bernas says. “I love this building, its amenities and access to great restaurants,” he says. “And it’s centrally located, which is convenient for all of our employees and visitors.” The recent expansion of its operations at AMA Plaza mirrors the organization’s growth overall in North America during the past couple of years, Bernas says. In the coming months, the BBB will open a suburban office in Naperville, Ill., and is expanding into Mexico, adding to its already successful operation in Canada. “The BBB is known widely around the world as an organization you can trust and you can trust the businesses that we accredit,” he says. “Trust is the new currency in the marketplace.” Save $1,000 on a Chuan Spa & Health Club membership Chicago Riverwalk completion effort underway A popular attraction for AMA Plaza tenants is receiving a major facelift The city broke ground on the final phase of the Chicago Riverwalk in early 2014. Plans for the project call for a major expansion of the walkway, including the construction of six thematic destinations: The Marina, The Jetty, The Cove, The River Theater, The Swimming Hole and The Boardwalk. When it’s complete, the pedestrian thoroughfare will run continuously from Lake Michigan to downtown Chicago. Construction on the entire project will wrap up in 2016, according to press reports. Until then, work will take place between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and will result in the following closures: • U pper Wacker Drive (between LaSalle Street and State Street): The westbound curb lane may have daily temporary closures between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. In addition, the north sidewalk between LaSalle Street and Clark Street is closed to pedestrians until December 2014. Pedestrians should use the south sidewalk on the upper street level. ower Wacker Drive (between LaSalle Street and • L State Street): The westbound curb lane may have daily temporary closures between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/aj2x2a2. AMA Plaza tenants who join the Chuan Spa & Health Club at The Langham, Chicago before May 31, 2014, will save $1,000. The tenant promotional rate is $500 (regularly $1,500). Benefits include a complimentary personal training session; a health assessment and diet plan; group fitness classes; a 60-minute spa treatment; and more. Call 312.923.7650 for details. Plaza Pulse | April 2014 330 North Wabash Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60601 | 312.621.8550 | www.rrpchicago.com | www.330northwabashavenue.com Susan Hammer, General Manager BOMA/Chicago 2012 Property Management Professional of the Year Steve Baron, Executive Vice President Leasing Courtney Farella, Property Manager Yordanos Ghdey, Tenant Services Coordinator Debra Reynolds, Property Accountant John Witkowski, Engineering Manager Jim Kyler, Chief Engineer Sam Santa Maria, Security Director Himka Kopic, Housekeeping Supervisor Ignacio Melquiades, Day Housekeeping Supervisor The Simons Group, Writing and Design Plaza Pulse AMA Plaza | 330 North Wabash | April 2014 GREEN ZONE There’s a new bin in town AMA Plaza diverted 20.6 tons of organic material from the landfill in the first six months of a general composting program. That accounts for more than 12 percent of the building’s diverted waste in 2013, the rest of which came from the more common recycling of paper, plastic, aluminum, glass and cardboard. The program provides an eco-friendly option to disposing food and other organic waste through an industrial composting facility. Participating tenants use designated bins to sort compostable materials from recycling or landfill waste. Waste Management then collects the compostable waste and takes it to a Chicago-area plant, where it’s transformed into organic soil. Building management started this food composting initiative last summer with participation from Café 330 and The Langham, Chicago. As the program became better known in the building, tenants Perkins + Will and Thornton Tomasetti expressed interest in having their offices participate. Both companies are active participants in other green programs, including the Chicago Green Office Challenge, which encourages demonstrated environmental leadership in the city. “I jumped at the opportunity for the bins to be in our office,” he says. “Perkins + Will has always thought of itself as a leader in sustainable design – and we actually live it. We’re conscious about sustainability and try to incorporate that into our processes as much as possible. “A good portion of the office composts at home, but this industrial-level program takes some explaining because more can go into it, including meat and bones,” he continues. “It’s been a learning experience, but some people have personally thanked me for setting this up in our office. This way, they don’t have to worry about taking their banana peels home to put in their own compost.” Rachel Michelin, senior project architect and “green champion” for Thornton Tomasetti’s Chicago office, says she always looks for opportunities for the office to maintain its sustainability. The offices of BDO USA, Enlivant and Riverview Realty Partners also participate in the composting program. “We’re one of the first office locations in our company to compost, and it has really helped that the building is so supportive and already had the program,” she says. “There has been a really good response from everyone in the office. We might even be able to get rid of one of the trash bins in the kitchen soon, since a lot of the bulky food containers people get from the building’s café can go into the compost bin.” Matthew Kuhl, senior project architect and senior associate at Perkins + Will, heard about the composting program from AMA Plaza’s property management team, which he had worked with previously as a project architect for tenant improvements. Both companies have installed comprehensive signs to explain the composting program, and have had great support from staff willing to learn. Establishing a new office kitchen routine has required some effort, but both offices look forward to continuing the program. Continued inside.