Bank of America Plaza Named International Office Building of the Year; Award Recognizes Cousins' Commitment to Excellence.

Business Editors

ATLANTA--July 20, 2000--Cousins Properties Incorporated (NYSE: CUZ) today announced that Bank of America Plaza, its 1.3 million-square-foot Class A office tower in downtown Atlanta, recently received The Office Building of the Year "TOBY" Award by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), the commercial real estate industry's most coveted and prestigious award.

This accomplishment marks the third time Bank of America Plaza has received recognition by BOMA for outstanding property management. Prior to advancing to the international competition, all entries had to first win at local and regional competitions that were held across North America throughout 1999 and this year.

As an entry in the TOBY Awards program, Bank of America Plaza underwent a vigorous judging process, during which a team of expert industry professionals conducted a building tour and examined building standards, impact on community, tenant and employee relations programs, energy management systems, compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, emergency evacuation procedures and training programs for building personnel.

"This is an incredible recognition for the entire Cousins Properties team," stated Daniel M. DuPree, Cousins' president and chief operating officer. "We strive to develop and manage only the premier office, retail, medical office and residential projects in a particular market. Bank of America Plaza is without a doubt one of the most recognizable and sought after locations in all of Atlanta. This award reflects the commitment to excellence that is instilled throughout our organization."

The top of Bank of America Plaza offers some of the most panoramic views of the city of Atlanta. At 1,023 feet, the 55-story signature tower of red granite and glass is the tallest building in Atlanta. Located on 3.7 acres on Peachtree Street, the tower faces border streets at a 45-degree angle to maximize the views to the north and south. Crowning the building is a stepped pyramid that tapers to a 90-foot high spire. Four hundred and five square feet of the spire is applied with 23-karat gold leaf.

Cousins Properties Incorporated, headquartered in Atlanta, has extensive experience in the real estate industry including the development, acquisition, financing, management and leasing of properties. The property types that Cousins actively invests in include office, retail, medical office and land development projects. The Company's portfolio consists of interests in 11.7 million square feet of office space, 3.6 million square feet of retail space and 1.0 million square feet of medical office space, and more than 300 acres of strategically located land for future commercial development. Cousins is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust (REIT) that has been public since 1962 and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CUZ." For more information on the Company, please visit Cousins' web site at www.cousinsproperties.com.