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TOBY Application Process

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TOBY Information & Application Process

The Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) Award
The TOBY Award is the most prestigious and comprehensive program of its kind in the commercial real estate industry. TOBYs recognize excellence in building management, operational efficiency, tenant retention, emergency planning and community impact. You can learn more by visiting the TOBY website.

For an opportunity to win a BOMA International TOBY Award, a property first must earn the BOMA 360 designation and win both local and regional competitions. Whether winning at the local, regional and/or international levels of the competition, you gain the opportunity to showcase your building’s strengths and gain recognition for best-in-class operations and management. Judging is based on criteria that includes community impact, tenant and employee relations programs, energy management, accessibility, emergency evacuation procedures, building personnel training programs and overall excellence.

Chicago Building Have a Strong History of Winning the International TOBY
Since 2010, 20 Chicago buildings have won the International TOBY Award. Our Chicago buildings are truly the best of the best who continue to win at the International level!

If you are applying for a 2024 TOBY, your first step is to contact Jaclynne Madden at jmadden@bomachicago.org. Please let Jaclynne know as soon as possible that your building will be applying so that she can tell you about important and brand-new changes for this TOBY season. You must also have the BOMA 360 designation in order to apply for TOBY and Jaclynne will walk you through these details. Please also read through the 2024 TOBY Application Process and the TOBY Best Practices/FAQ documents.

Is your building our next winner? Will your building take home this prestigious award in 2024?

Call for applications! The 2024 local TOBY award application season is open through September 20. Please review the 2024 Entry Requirements (listed below), which outline the 17 different categories in which you may apply (you can only apply in one of the 17 categories).

Applications must be submitted on the online portal and will be due by 5PM CST on September 20. To win the International TOBY award, you must first apply and win on the local and regional levels. You are more TOBY-ready than you think! And that is why we encourage you to apply for the local 2023 TOBY. This is your chance to showcase your expertise and excellence in property management.

What are the 2024 TOBY Categories?

The categories you can apply for are:

  • Life Sciences Building – NEW! 
  • Under 100,000 Square Feet
  • 100,000 to 249,999 Square Feet
  • 250,000 to 499,999 Square Feet
  • 500,000 to 1 Million Square Feet
  • Over 1 Million Square Feet
  • Earth
  • Corporate Facility
  • Historical Building
  • Medical Building
  • Renovated Building
  • Mixed-Use
  • Retail – Enclosed
  • Retail – Open Air
  • Industrial
  • Suburban Office Park - Mid-Rise
  • Suburban Office Park - Low-Rise

How can I get started and apply for the 2023 TOBY?
LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE APPLYING BY AUGUST 18
Please email Jaclynne Madden by August 18 to confirm the (1) Building you plan to enter for the TOBY Award and (2) Category the building will enter.

Please read through the following documents if you are interested in applying or will apply for a local TOBY award:

How can our team prepare for the TOBY inspection and when will inspections be held?
Inspections will be held in-person at your building between October 9 and November 10. You will be assigned your inspection date in early October. Once you begin the application process, we will communicate more detailed information about the inspections.

What are the TOBY fees and how do I officially register my building for the 2024 season?
To enter the local TOBY awards competition, you must first pay the $300 entry fee directly to BOMA/Chicago. To pay this fee (via credit card or invoice), please click here. You must pay the $300 fee to BOMA/Chicago before you submit your application.

How can I learn more about the TOBY program and what is involved?
Please read through the 2024 TOBY Application Process and the TOBY Best Practices/FAQ documents. You can also watch our May 2023 TOBY Prep Webinar here (Password: TOBY09!c5).

Have questions?
If you have any TOBY questions, please contact Jaclynne Madden by calling 312-870-9608 or via email at jmadden@bomachicago.org.