TOBY Award

TOBY Awards are presented to the building with the highest scoring in each category.

The Outstanding Building of the Year awards program judges BOMA BC commercial buildings on their management, operations, design, tenant relations and community impact. The recognition and publicity the TOBY Award offers participants has made it the most distinguished competition of its kind.

A TOBY award will increase your building's marketability to both prospective and existing tenants. It will enable you to promote the high standards of your firm's building management expertise that is required to win the prestigious TOBY Award...and you can showcase your company's service excellence skills that you currently offer existing tenants!

Winners of the BOMA BC TOBY award are eligible to compete in the BOMA Canada National Awards, and if successful, the BOMA International TOBY competition.

Categories

2024 categories - Click category heading to access Guidebook

1. Office Building Categories by Square Feet:

  • Under 100,000 sf * (at least 50% office area)
  • 100,000 - 249,999 sf  * (at least 50% office area)
  • 250,000 - 499,999 sf * (at least 50% office area)
  • 500,000 - 1 Million sf * (at least 50% office area)
  • Over 1 Million sf  * (at least 50% office area)

2. Renovated Building

  • Must be at least 15 years old, have maintained a minimum of 50% occupancy during the renovation for all buildings, and three or more projects must be completed in each building when submitting multiple buildings. If entry is a single building, a minimum of five projects is necessary.
    Renovation can encompass:
    - Rehabilitation  (the restoration of a property to satisfactory condition without changing the plan, form, or style of a structure);
    - Modernization (taking corrective measures to bring a property into conformity with changes in style, whether exterior or interior. Requires replacing parts of the structure or mechanical equipment with modern replacements of the same kind but not including capital additions); and
    - Remodeling (changing the plan, form or style of a structure to correct functional or economic deficiencies).
  • A minimum of five of the following work projects must be completed by February 2024 and the building must enter the TOBY program within five years following substantial completion of the last renovation projects:
    • New roof, re-roof, or green roof;
    • New boilers/HVAC system/Central Plant;
    • Cleaning/Painting/New design of building envelope;
    • New electrical system;
    • New fire panel/sprinkler system;
    • Modernization of elevators which can include mechanicals, code compliance and interior cabs refurbishment;
    • New security systems can include card access, cameras, console, fire panel, etc.;
    • Renovation of main lobby that includes three or more of the following: floors, walls, entry doors, signage, security desk, etc.;
    • Renovation of restrooms that includes four or more of the following: sinks, counter tops, toilets, urinals, floors, walls, lighting, faucets, flushometers, partitions, etc.;
    • Installation of new windows.

3. Life Science Building *NEW* (Must be at least 50% leased and occupied by life science tenants with a minimum of 30% lab rentable square footage area. Life Science tenants shall be defined as tenants specializing in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, cell biology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, or agricultural technology. 

3.  Corporate Facility (Must be single-use facility at least 50% occupied by the corporate entity - includes government agencies and private enterprises)

4.  Historical Building (Must be at least 50 years old with original design maintained. All sizes of buildings. The building must retain its historical physical integrity, which means the site must be relatively undisturbed. Renovations to the original framework is acceptable)

5.  Medical Office Building (Must be at least 75% medical use, and at least 50% of the dedicated medical use space must be for private physician or hospital employed physician offices. The building can be located on or off a hospital campus, and its tenancy can be comprised of 50% hospital uses or ancillary services (such as imaging, physical therapy, rehab clinics, prosthetics, pharmacy clinics and the like) provided by the hospital, including employed or aligned physician offices, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical labs (such as catheterization). Patient stays must be less than 24 hours) 

6. Suburban Office Park categories:

  • Low-Rise (Two or more buildings managed by the same management company; the tallest building being no higher than five stories; all buildings must occupy land greater than five acres and are located outside of the central business district or the downtown core area)
  • Mid-Rise (Two or more buildings managed by the same management company; with one building that is six to ten stories in height; all buildings must occupy land greater than five acres and are located outside of the central business district or the downtown core area)

Note: If a suburban office park is comprised of both low and mid-rise buildings, the park must enter in the mid-rise category.

7. Industrial Office Buildings (All buildings, comprising a total project, to include any single building industrial properties, one to two stories in height, with more than 5% and less than 50% office area. Building(s) must have a loading dock, roll-up or sliding rear door(s) for loading, with no common lobby or corridors except for restroom vestibules and utility or fire equipment access)

8. Retail Categories:

  • Enclosed Shopping Centre (A group of retail and other commercial establishments, either enclosed or open air, managed by one company. The entry must be managed as a single property, one to multiple levels in height with a minimum of 50% occupancy. The anchor ratio must be at least 25 per cent and the property must contain at least one anchor retailer (grocery, fashion, department store, etc.).

The entry may consist of Neighborhood Centres (30,000-150,000 sf); Community Centres (100,000-400,000 sf); Power Centres (250,000-600,000 sf); Regional Shopping Centres (400,000-800,000 sf); or Super Regional Shopping Centres (800,000 plus sf). No minimum office area is required.

  • Retail: Open Air / Strip Mall
  • Retail - Enclosed Under 1 million s.f.
  • Retail - Enclosed Over 1 million s.f.

9. Public Assembly (All buildings must be publicly accessible and support multiple uses. The multiple use character of these buildings may influence the buildings utility use, opening hours and tenant or occupant relations. These buildings may be part of a larger portfolio. This category includes: stand-alone arenas, amphitheaters, auditoriums, art galleries, churches, hotels, convention centers, exhibit halls, courthouses, stadiums, university building(s) and other buildings that are publicly accessible. This category allows for entry restrictions based on ticketed or multi-tenant/occupant areas)

10. Mixed Use (Must have a minimum of 10% office space of total square footage of entire complex. Must have at least three components that are a mix of Retail, Entertainment, Residential, Hotel or Recreation. Transit hubs are acceptable if the property manages it. Each component must be at a minimum of 10% of the total property. The property can be one or more buildings managed by the same company. It is pedestrian-oriented and contains elements of a live-work-play environment. It maximizes space usage, has amenities and architectural features that tends to mitigate traffic and sprawl)

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for a TOBY award:

  • Buildings must be owned or managed by an entity that is a member of BOMA International. It costs $140/year for membership. View details here.
  • The building must be owned or managed by a BOMA BC member.
  • The building must be occupied for at least one full year from the date of occupancy of the first tenant by February 2024, with a minimum of 12 months of building operations.
  • At least 50% of a building's space must be used as office space to be considered for all categories except the Industrial, Mixed Use and Retail categories. Industrial must have more than 5% and less than 50% office area.
  • All categories must be at least 50% occupied.
  • Each building may enter in only one category.
  • An entrant may choose whether to enter multiple buildings as a single entry or as multiple entries only if the buildings are owned and managed by the same company, and the buildings are managed as a single entity and not within a suburban office park. All entries must disclose on their application if their entry is for a single or multiple buildings.
  • A building must score at least 70% to be considered a finalist.
  • If there is a change in management/ownership, the award will be presented to the management company/owner at the time of the original entry.
  • All Office Category entrants are required to provide:
    • a copy of the Statement of Energy Performance generated from ENERGY STAR and/or Official Letter from EPA of ENERGY STAR Certificate of Achievements received within the past 24 months. 
    • OR share date with BOMA International in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (INTERNATIONAL LEVEL ONLY)
    • An entry that does not include both of the above with not be eligible to compete at the International level.


Building Inspection

BOMA acknowledges that onsite building inspections may be impacted. Judges have been given the option to conduct onsite or virtual inspections, or a combination. 


National Eligibility Requirement:

  • To compete in BOMA Canada's national awards, the building must be BOMA 360 Certified.

How To Enter

Application fees:
1. Application fee: $500
2. BOMA International's $50 portal usage fee (collected online)
3. BOMA International membership is required for access to the TOBY portal. A membership fee of $140.00 will be required. Please contact Kiomi Lutz to register for membership if you aren’t already a BOMA International Member.


All fees are non-refundable.


Awards Submission deadline: March 15, 2024

Access to the TOBY Portal will be available starting February 15, 2024. It is recommended to begin your application in a word document prior to portal access. Instructions for accessing the online awards portal will be emailed to you after BOMA receives your initial application form.

*By submitting photos you consent to BOMA BC using the photos for various means potentially unrelated to the Awards Program (i.e. in the newsletter, marketing materials, on the website). If you do not give permission, please send an email to BOMA’s Events & Member Services Manager Kiomi Lutz.

Read the 'Helpful Hints 2024' brochure for more information.


Application form (must be completed to gain access to the online awards portal)

Important Dates Timeline

TOBY_Importnant Dates Timeline2

Past Winners

YEAR

BUILDING

COMPANY

CATEGORY

2024 840 Howe Street GWL Realty Advisors Inc. Corporate Facility
2024 1090 Homer Street GWL Realty Advisors Inc. Historical
2024 Broadway Tech Centre QuadReal Property Group Suburban Office Low Rise
2024 Northgate Village Shopping Centre GWL Realty Advisors Inc. Enclosed Mall Under 1M sf
2024 Northwoods Business Park QuadReal Property Group Industrial Buildings
2024 Vancouver Centre at 650 West Georgia GWL Realty Advisors Inc. Renovated Buildings
2024 Harbourside I GWL Realty Advisors Inc. Buildings under 100,000 sf
2024 Renfrew Business Centre Epic Investment Services 100,000 to 249,999 sf
2024 Marine Gateway Triovest Realty Advisors Inc. 250,000 to 499,999 sf
2022 Pacific Blue Cross GWL Realty Advisors Corporate Facility
2022 1090 Homer Street GWL Realty Advisors Historical
2022 Robson Court at 840 Howe Street GWL Realty Advisors Renovated Building

2022

1188 West Georgia Street GWL Realty Advisors 100,000 to 249,999 sq ft

2022

Arthur Erickson Place at 1075 West Georgia

Colliers International 250,000 - 499,999 sq ft

2021

The Slide
565 Great Northern Way

Low Tide Properties Ltd. 100,000 - 249,999 s.f
2021 401 West Georgia Oxford Properties Group 250,000 - 499,999 s.f
2021

Marine Building

Oxford Properties Group Historical
2020

Three Bridges Community Health Center

Wesgroup Properties LP Medical Office Building
2020

Translink Building: 287 Nelsons Court

Wesgroup Properties LP Corporate Facility
2020

Kent Corporate Centre 

GWL Realty Advisors Inc.  Suburban Office Low Rise 
2020 

Canaccord Genuity Place: 609 Granville St

The Cadillac Fairview Corporation  Renovated 
2020

Millstream Village Shopping Centre

GWL Realty Advisors Inc.  Open Air Strip Mall 
2020 

1669 East Broadway 

Wesgroup Properties LP  Under 100,000 s.f. 
2020 

745 Thurlow 

QuadReal Property Group 250,000 to 499,999 s.f. 
2020 

Park Place 

QuadReal Property Group  500,000 to 1,000,000 s.f. 
2017

Bentall 5

Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LP 500,000 - 1 million sq. ft.
2017

725 Granville

Cadillac Fairview Corp. Mixed Use
2017

980 Howe

Manulife Financial Real Estate 100,000 - 249,999 sq. ft.
2015

Central City Office Tower

Blackwood Partners Management Corp.

500,000 - 1 million sq. ft.
2015

Willowbrook Shopping Centre

Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LP Retail
2013

Capilano Mall

Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LP Regional Shopping Centre
2013

Park Place

GWL Realty Advisors Inc. 500,000 - 1 million sq. ft.
2013

Robson Court

GWL Realty Advisors Inc. 100,000 - 249,999 sq. ft.
2013

Broadway Tech Centre

Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LP Suburban Office Park

2013

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers

GWL Realty Advisors Inc.

Corporate Facility

2011

1188 West Georgia

GWL Realty Advisors Inc.

100,000 - 249,999 sq.ft.

2011

Capilano Business Park

 

Tonko Realty Advisors (BC) Ltd.

250,000 - 500,000 sq.ft.

2011

Pacific Centre

 

The Cadillac Fairview Corporation

Over 1 Million sq.ft.

2011

Douglas Jung Building

SNC-Lavalin O&M

Government Building

2009

Manulife Place

Manulife Financial Real Estate

100,000 - 249,999 sq.ft.

2009

Crestwood Corporate Centre

GWL Realty Advisors Inc.

Suburban Office Park

2009

Pacific Blue Cross

GWL Realty Advisors Inc.

Corporate Facility

2007

PricewaterhouseCoopers Place

Cadillac Fairview Management Services Inc.

100,000-249,999 sq.ft.

2007

Central City

Warrington PCI Management

500,000 - 1 million sq. ft.

2005

Terasen Centre

TA Management Ltd.

250,000 - 499,999 sq. ft.

2005

510 Burrard

Manulife Financial

150,000 - 249,999 sq. ft.

2003

Park Place

GWL Realty Advisors Inc.

Over 500,000 sq. ft.

2003

Royal Centre Office Tower

Brookfield Properties (Vancouver) Ltd.

250,000 - 499,999 sq. ft.

2003

111 Dunsmuir

Parian Management Corp.

100,000 - 249,999 sq. ft.

2003

The Marine Building

Oxford Properties Group

Historical Building

2002

The New VI

CIVI-TV

Historical Building

2002

World Trade Centre Office Complex

Tokyu Canada Corporation

100,000 - 249,999 sq.ft.

2002

Pender Place

The Cadillac Fairview Corporation

Renovated Building

2002

Raven Song Community Health Centre

Co-Operators Real Estate Services

Under 100,000 sq. ft.

2001

1500 West Georgia

Morguard Investments Ltd.

100,000 - 249,999 sq.ft.

2001

Canada Way I & II

GWL Realty Advisors

Renovated

2001

BCIT Downtown Campus

BLJC

Institutional

2000

BC Gas building

TA Management

250 000 - 500 000 sq. ft.

2000

Crestwood 8 building

Bentall Property Management Inc.

Under 100 000 sq. ft.

2000

800 Burrard

Oxford Properties

100 000 - 249 000 sq. ft.

2000

St. Ann's Academy

BCBC

Historical

1999

Library Square Federal Tower

Brookfield LePage Johnson Controls

Government

1999

Crestwood Corporate Centre

Bentall Property Management Inc.

Suburban Office Park

1999

Weiler Building

Colliers International

Historical

1999

Vancity Centre

Vancouver City Savings Credit Union

Corporate Facility

1999

Oakridge Centre South Tower

Cambridge Shopping Centres

Medical Office

1999

Four Bentall Centre

Bentall Property Management Inc.

Rehabilitated/Modernized

1998

Pemberton Building

Torode Realty Ltd.

Historical

1998

BC Rail Centre

BCR Properties Ltd.

Government

1998

1188 West Georgia

Hyland Pacific Management

Rehabilitated/Modernized

1998

Station Tower

Pioneer Pacific Property Management Co.

100,000 - 249,000 sq. ft.

1997

Central Gas Building

Standard Life Assurance Co.

Under 100,000 sq. ft.

1997

Metrotower II

Cambridge Leaseholds Ltd.

250,000 - 500,000 sq. ft.

1997

Edmonds Corporate Facility

BC Hydro

Corporate Facility

1997

Jack Davis Building

BC Buildings Corporation

Government

1996

Granville Square

Marathon Realty Co. Ltd.

250,000 - 500,000 sq. ft.

1996

The Mutual Group Building

Mutual Life Assurance Co. of Canada

100,000 - 249,000 sq. ft.

1996

Westminister Mall

Canacemal Investments

Rehabilitated

1996

SFU building

Simon Fraser University

Government

1996

BCAA Corporate Headquarters

BC Automobile Association

Corporate Facility

1995

200 Burrard Street, Waterfront Centre

Waterfront Centre Leaseholds Ltd.

250,000 - 500,000 sq. ft.

1995

888 Dunsmuir Building

Standard Life Assurance Co.

Under 100,000 sq. ft.

1994

Victoria Board of Trade

Midwest Prop. & Andromeda Invest.

Historical

1994

Standard Life Building

Standard Life Assurance Co.

Rehabilitated/Modernized

1994

Cathedral Place

L & C Management

200,000 - 500,000 sq. ft.

1993

Revenue Canada Building

Princeton Developements Ltd.

Rehabilitated/Modernized

1993

The Rogers Cantel Tower

Cambridge Leaseholds Ltd.

250,000 - 500,000sq.ft

1993

Pacific Landmark Building

Colliers International

100,000 - 250,000 sq.ft

1992

Granville Square

Marathon Realty Co. Ltd.

Rehabilitated/Modernized

1992

Hongkong Bank of Canada

Colliers International

100,000 - 500,000 sq. ft.

1992

Airport Executive Park, Building B

Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada

Suburban Office Park

1992

Pemberton Building

Morguard Investments Ltd.

Historical

1992

Fairmont Medical Building

Morguard Investments Ltd.

Medical Office

1992

Alexander Centre

Alexander Centre Management

Rehabilitated/Modernized

1992

999 West Hastings St.

Polaris Realty

100,000 - 500,000 sq. ft.

1992

Four Bentall Centre

Bentall Property Management Inc.

Over 500,000 sq. ft.

1992

457 West Georgia St.

Bentall Property Management Inc.

Under 100,000 sq. ft.

1990

401 West Georgia St.

401 West Georgia Management Ltd.

100,0000 - 500,000 sq.ft

1990

BC Telephone Building

BC Telephone Company

Corporate Headquarters

1990

The Marine Building

Princeton Developments

Historical

1989

The Station

Marathon Realty Co. Ltd.

Rehabilitated/Modernized

1989

Commerce Place

Colliers International

Corporate Headquarters

1989

The Station

Marathon Realty Co. Ltd.

Historical

1989

The Grosvenor Building

Royal LePage Real Estate

Under 500,000 sq. ft.

1988

Park Place

Royal LePage Real Estate

Over 500,000 sq. ft.

1988

Bentall Four

The Bentall Group

Over 500,000 sq. ft.

1988

Sinclair Centre

Public Works & Government Services Canada

Historical