TOBY Awards

What are the TOBY Awards?

Each year, the TOBY (The Outstanding Building of the Year) recognizes industry excellence in property management, building operations, and service. There are 15 categories for TOBY Awards. Since the TOBYs are nationally recognized, the Local winners move on to the Regional competition, and hopefully the International competition. Watch the TOBY video to learn more.

BOMA 360: 

For more than a decade, the BOMA 360 Performance Program has elevated operational best practices in the commercial real estate industry. We’re continuing that legacy by introducing our new, updated office and industrial criteria designed to help you keep your properties on the cutting edge and get the maximum ROI from your program participation. Once launched, certified member buildings using the BOMA 360 portal will be able to proceed to the TOBY supplemental portion for awards consideration. If you have any questions or would like additional information about the BOMA 360 program, contact Susan Hammer. BOMA 360 is required to compete at the regional level. You must complete your 360 before January 15, 2025 to compete at the regional competition.

 

Call for Entries Information: 

We strongly encourage you to start preparing and set a plan for your submission process as early as you can. Please note we use BOMA International's Call for Entries booklets, as they provide the most information - however, our local deadlines and dates are different than the International timelines detailed in the packet. Please refer to our local for all deadlines and dates. 


2025 TOBY Awards Call for Entries Booklets:

Apply for TOBY Award


How to submit your building:

  1. Review Call for Entries & Determine Eligibility & Category.
    Read the current cycle's Call For Entries requirements to learn more about your building's eligibility for each category. Once you have decided that you are eligible and would like to enter the upcoming TOBY Awards competition, please email AOBA to let us know you are submitting.​ If you need help determining your category and eligibility, please contact Brandy White.

  2. Register your building and begin building content for your building submission, based on the information found in the Call For Entries booklet.
    You may begin entering your data into the online portal. You can save as you go, and work on your submission multiple times. You will need to pay a fee to submit on the portal. This fee is paid online to BOMA International directly. 

  3. Submit your online entry.
    When you are 100% satisfied with your entry and you are ready to submit, click on the "submit" button in the portal. Once you hit the "submit" button, your entry is final and you will not be able to go back and make updates. 

    Note: Once local competition concludes at the Commercial Awards Celebration, your application will be released by BOMA International for your review and updating should you move onto the Regional TOBY Competition

  4. Judging Begins...
    After you have submitted your building information online and paid the entry fee for the competition, AOBA judges will begin reviewing your entry online. AOBA judging groups may require a tour of your building or a remote inspection. In order to prepare for your building tour, please take a look at the Building Inspection Form that TOBY Judges will be used to evaluate your property.​

  5. Winners Revealed!
    All TOBY Award winners are kept a secret until the night of the Awards Dinner.

AOBA is here to help you fully understand the process at all levels, and encourage your entry to be the best it can be.
For TOBY application information, please contact Brandy White.


Current Timeline

March 20, 2024: BOMA's TOBY Portal opens

December 31, 2024: Deadline to submit for TOBY Awards

January 1 - 15, 2025: Online Judging occurs

January 15 - February 7, 2025: Building tours

January 15: 360 Application due for Regionals

February 13 or 20, 2025: Commercial Awards Celebration

March 3, 2025: Regional submissions due

March 4 - 29, 2025*: Regional judging 

April 3, 2025*: Regional winners notified 

May 2025*: BOMA MAC Conference 

June or July 2025*: BOMA Conference and International TOBY Awards

*based on 2024 timeline


Past TOBY Winners

2023 Washington Metro Local TOBY Award Recipients

Earth Category: Victor Building, 750 9th Street, managed by Brookfield Properties
250,000 - 499,999 sq. ft: 1101 K Street, managed by Lincoln Property Company 
500,000 - 1 Million sq. ft: District Center, 555 12th Street NW, managed by JLL
Grand TOBY: District Center, 555 12th Street NW, managed by JLL

2021 Washington Metro Local TOBY Award Recipients

100,000 – 249,000 sq. ft: 1501 M Street, managed by Heyday Properties
250,000 – 499,999 s. ft: 2001 M Street, managed by Brookfield Properties
Earth: 799 9th Street, managed by Brookfield Properties
Grand TOBY: 799 9th Street, managed by Brookfield Properties

View photos from the 2021 Commercial Awards Celebration


2018 Washington Metro Local TOBY Award Recipients

Fairview Park, managed by CBRE, Inc.
One Metro Center, managed by Lincoln Property Company
100,000 – 249,999 Sq Ft Building: 1800 K Street, NW, managed by Transwestern - Local Winner
250,000 – 499,999 Sq Ft Building Category: *Wisconsin Place, managed by Boston Properties  - Grand Local Winner

2017 Washington Metro Local TOBY Award Recipients

100,000 – 249,999 Square Foot Building: Center for Strategic & International Studies, managed by CBRE
250,000 – 499,999 Square Foot Building: Crystal Gateway North, managed by Vornado/Charles E. Smith
GRAND LOCAL REGIONAL TOBY Winner: Over 1 Million Square Feet - U.S. Department of Transportation - managed by JBG SMITH
Renovated Building: Silverline Center, managed by Washington REIT
Historical Building: 1101 17th Street, managed by JBG SMITH

View photos from the 2017 TOBY Award Celebration 


2016 Washington Metro Local Award Category Winners:

Grand Local Winner: Suburban Office Park, Low-Rise: Atlantic Corporate Park – managed by First Potomac Realty Trust, LP 
100,000 – 249,999 Sq Ft Building: 1750 H Street – managed by First Potomac Realty Trust, LP
250,000 – 499,999 Sq FT Building: 800 17th Street – managed by JLL 
Renovated Building: Bethesda Crossing – managed by MRP Realty