We honour excellence every November.
For over 20 years the Victoria Real Estate Board Commercial Division’s Annual Commercial Building Awards competition has been dedicated to the advancement of excellence in commercial property development throughout the Greater Victoria area. The awards recognize developers, architects, designers, builders, owners and financiers for enhancing commercial real estate stock, for stimulating urban renewal, and for the risks they undertake to build and renovate commercial space within our community.
Historically speaking
The Victoria Real Estate Board’s Commercial Division of REALTORS® established the Awards in 1991 out of a desire to recognize commercial development within Greater Victoria. The competition is recognized among architects, builders, developers and the real estate community as a prestigious event dedicated to the advancement of excellence in construction and design.
The Commercial Division is a group of REALTORS® who are members of the Board who have a proven record of education and experience in the areas of sales/leasing, appraisal, property management, business brokerage, commercial construction, taxation and financing, as well as planning and zoning. More Info
Building the south island
For over 20 years, the awards competition has recognized developers, architects, designers, builders, contractors, owners and financiers for enhancing commercial real estate stock, for stimulating urban renewal, and for the risks they undertake to build and renovate commercial space in South Island communities.
Nominating a project
Investment, commercial or industrial building, development or renovation projects located within the Capital Regional District and completed between June 1, 2018 – May 31, 2019 are eligible for an award. Anyone can nominate a project. Nominate Now
Nominees and winners
Are recognized at an awards luncheon event, where they have an opportunity to network and celebrate with industry representatives, local mayors, leaders of related national organizations such as the Urban Development Institute (UDI), the Victoria Home Builders’ Association (VHBA), Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and media representatives. For photos of past award winners, click here.
Awarding development
Across Canada, housing development has long been recognized through numerous national and regional awards events such as the VHBA Construction Achievements and Renovations of Excellence (CARE) Awards of Vancouver Island, the BC Housing Awards of Excellence and Recognition, the CHBA Tommie Awards in Central Okanagan, and the BOMA Canada Toby® Awards for Outstanding Building of the Year. However there have been few awards to recognize local commercial real estate development.
Community-driven awards
Since their inception, the Commercial Building Awards have been well received by members of the local industry. Project nominations are submitted by all levels of participants in the real estate and Greater Victoria area community, while as many as twenty local companies and organizations also help sponsor the annual event. Over the past five years, the Division has received 168 nominations and has welcomed hundreds of representatives to the awards presentation.
Opportunities created
Those recognized through the awards change the faces of communities, enhance neighbourhoods, design new spaces for commerce to take place, create employment opportunities and stimulate the local economy. Reports in 2012 estimated that $63.3 billion in economic activity was generated from commercial real estate transactions in Canada in 2011. That’s no small feat!
National recognition
Because of its success, the Victoria Commercial Building Awards program is now being emulated by nine other real estate boards throughout BC and across Canada, including the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board and Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (now in their 4th and 6th years respectively). Real estate and industry representatives in these communities now gather annually for peer-to-peer recognition. We hope to see many more to come.
Judging criteria
Judges selected from various disciplines within the industry visit eligible projects and examine the overall exterior design and how it fits into the surrounding area. Judging criteria are based on projects that are sensitive to the environment, are aesthetically pleasing and answer a specific developmental need within the community.
Award categories are developed each year based on nominations received. With diverse backgrounds and expertise in the industry, each judge brings a unique perspective to the table, making each year’s competition a unique process.
