Stamford's Norelco building wins BOMA award.

1010 Washington Boulevard, an office complex managed by Albert B. Ashforth, Inc. Management Services, has been honored with a prestigious TOBY, or "The Office Building of the Year", award by Southern Connecticut Chapter of the Building Owner & Managers Association (BOMA) in the category of buildings 100,000 to 249,999 SF in size.

The Washington Square complex in Stamford, also known as 1010 Washington Boulevard, is a 134,000 square foot commercial office facility consisting of two office buildings connected by a common atrium lobby. The 11-story "Tower Building" was constructed in 1988, while the three-story "Plaza Building" was constructed in 1963. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company owns the project on behalf of a pension fund.

"We're proud of this award. It confirms that Washington Square is one of the finest office buildings from Stamford to New Haven," said Richard F. Mallon, vice president of Albert B. Ashforth, Inc. - Management Services. "It is a well maintained and serviced building in a great location overlooking the newly renovated Columbus Park in downtown Stamford."

The TOBY is awarded on basis of the building management staffing, tenant services, amenities, community involvement and building presentation. 1010 Washington Boulevard has a long history of service to the community and sponsors a number of events dedicated to supporting community-based programs. Among the recent events sponsored by the building are the Salvation Army's Angel Tree Drive that provides holiday gifts to needy children in the Stamford area, American Red Cross blood drives, book fairs, the American Cancer Society's Daffodil Days, spring and fall clothing drives, and the Bennett Cancer Center WALK.

Situated on a one-acre, prime downtown parcel at Washington Boulevard and West Main Street, Washington Square is easily accessible by I-95 and the Merritt Parkway.

Tenants who commute via Metro-North can either walk the short distance from the Stamford Transportation Center or ride the Connecticut Transit/ Metropool shuttle bus service from the train station. Ashforth was instrumental in the creation of the shuttle bus service in 2000. Washington Square also sponsors events specifically for the benefit and enjoyment of its tenants, including tenant appreciation breakfasts and ice cream socials. A building newsletter keeps tenants updated on building activities, while a tenant satisfaction survey provides feedback to management and the buildings' owner.

"Tenant satisfaction is one of our primary goals and as a result we are continuously looking for ways to improve the building," said Mallon. "For instance, we are about to renovate the lobby and common corridors, and we recently installed automatic security gates at the entrance to the parking garage."

Richard Mallon oversees a portfolio of properties that includes the Washington Square complex and Scott Linse is the on-site property manager.