11/23/2009
The RTKL-designed center is named Best International Commercial Redevelopment
SAN FRANCISCO—November 23, 2009—On November 12, the International Property Awards in association with CNBC Arabia announced the winners of the 2009 International Commercial Property Awards competition. Westfield San Francisco Centre, a 1.5 million-SF mixed-use development in downtown San Francisco, was named Best International Commercial Redevelopment.
Westfield San Francisco Centre represents a collaborative effort between architects RTKL, ka, and Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, and owners Westfield, Inc. and Forest City Enterprises. RTKL accepted the award on behalf of the project team at a gala dinner held at the US Grant Hotel in San Diego.
“We are thrilled to have received this honor,” remarked Norman Garden AIA, LEED AP, RTKL senior vice president in Los Angeles and director of the firm’s Commercial Practice Group. “The IPA Awards recognize the most outstanding examples of commercial design and development throughout the world. We could not have achieved this level of success without the talent and expertise of our dedicated team.”
Only the top scoring winners from no less than 105 countries were nominated to represent the finest properties from across the UK, Europe, Africa, Americas, Arabia and Asia Pacific. Entrants are initially judged at country or regional level. There are 36 different categories of awards and up to two of the most outstanding entries in each category are given a four-star award, while the best overall entry is given a five-star. Every five-star winner’s entry is then re-examined to determine which companies go forward to be re-judged for the ultimate World’s Best Award. This symbol of worldwide excellence is already recognized and appreciated by the public who are becoming increasingly well informed and discerning about the properties they buy.
Entries were judged by a panel of 52 independent professionals whose collective knowledge of the property industry is unsurpassed by any other property awards. The International property Awards are also supported by 12 professional bodies such as the National House Builders Council, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the National Association of Estate Agents and many of these are represented on the judging panel.