Contact: Ricardo Duran
(916) 414-1440
Newsroom@calstrs.com
www.CalSTRS.com
CalSTRS Headquarters Wins Outstanding Building of the Year
Building now enters international competition scheduled for June
Building now enters international competition scheduled for June
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) today announced that its West Sacramento headquarters building received The Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) Award in the ‘Corporate Facility’ class for the Pacific Southwest region. CalSTRS won the regional award over entries from Greater Phoenix, Nevada, Hawaii and other commercial buildings in California.
The Building Owners and Managers Association’s TOBY Awards honor the best of the best in commercial buildings. Judging is based on a point system and buildings are evaluated in categories including community involvement, site management and green or environmentally sustainable policies and procedures.
“We are very proud of our state-of-the-art facility and look forward to the international competition in June,” said CalSTRS Chief Executive Officer Jack Ehnes. “Receiving this award means the industry recognizes the dedicated efforts of the staff in facilities management as well as the commitment of every CalSTRS employee for their engagement and progressive thinking that make this a wonderful facility to work in.”
“Really, it’s because of the enthusiasm and cooperation of all CalSTRS staff that this award was achievable,” remarked Lisa Blatnick, facilities management and procurement director.
“Sustainability initiatives are now standard practice, our worksite wellness programs are well-attended, and we’ve developed and implemented a robust approach to emergency preparedness.”
CalSTRS headquarters is U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED® Platinum certified, the highest sustainability rating awarded by the USGBC. The building was completed in July 2009. The 13-story tower, set atop two levels of public space, aligns business and technology changes to improve member services. The West Sacramento Member Service Center is located on the lobby level and serves CalSTRS members throughout Northern California.
The California State Teachers’ Retirement System, with a portfolio valued at $183.8 billion as of April 30, 2014, is the largest educator-only pension fund in the world. CalSTRS administers a hybrid retirement system, consisting of traditional defined benefit, cash balance and voluntary defined contribution plans.
CalSTRS also provides disability and survivor benefits. CalSTRS serves California's 868,000 public school educators and their families from the state’s 1,600 school districts, county offices of education and community college districts.
