2008’s top commercial projects

The Greater Richmond Association for Commercial Real Estate has announced the finalists for their Eighth Annual Real Estate Star Awards.

The awards honor the top real estate projects in the Richmond region in eight different categories. A ninth award will be given for best overall project. Last year’s overall winner was awarded to the State Capitol addition.

The National Theater, the newly renovated downtown performance venue, has the most nominations with a total of three.

This year’s finalists were chosen from more than 50 nominations received through an open submission process. A panel of GRACRE volunteers selected the finalists. Pamela McElrath, program chair for the organization, said the panelists were not involved with the nominated projects.

The winners will be chosen by a panel of judges that have yet to be selected. Judges will consider significance, uniqueness, impact, design, and development process when choosing the winners, McElrath said.

The event’s signature sponsor is Hourigan Construction. McElrath said the group has already sold out of sponsorships for each award category.

“With this economy we thought it would be hard to sell them, but it was just the opposite,” McElrath said.

The awards will be given April 22 at the group’s annual gala event held this year at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Two hundred people attended last year’s event.

Below is a list of the finalists:

RENNOVATED OR HISTORIC REHABILITATION:

The National Theater  –  The Mews at Cary Mill –  Mayton Transfer Lofts –  Lucky Strike River Lofts – Lucky Strike Power Plant

MULTI-FAMILY:

The Mews at Cary Mill – The Reserve Phase II – Rocketts Landing, 210 Rock Condominium Phase I – Lucky Strike River Lofts

INSTITUTIONAL OR PUBLIC:

The Community Kitchen –  The Faison School for Autism –  VCU Brandcenter – Robinson-Mehrige Federal Courts Building

OFFICE BUILDING:

Reynolds Office Building – Westerre IV – Moseley Architects Office – Reynolds Crossing, West Medical Office Building Bon Secours Heart Institute –Luck Stone Headquarters

RECREATONAL, ENTERTAINMENT, HOSPITALITY:

Westin Richmond Hotel – Bass Pro Shops – The National Theater – New Rose Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

INTERIOR:

Snag A Job – Design Forum – The National Theater -Lucky Strike Power Plant

COMMERCIAL OR RETAIL:

Whole Foods Market -Bass Pro Shops – The Shops at White Oak Village – Charles Luck Stone Center

R&D, FLEX, INDUSTRIAL:

Brown Distributing Corporate Headquarters -Ruffin Mill Center – Eastport VII- Handcraft Healthcare Linen Service