Archive of ‘Events Recap’ category

20
May
2019

CREWBaltimore State of Our State Luncheon

categories: Events Recap

Following a warm welcome by CREWBaltimore President Nikkia Fitch, our annual sponsors were thanked, including the event sponsor Miles & Stockbridge.  Michele Cohen, Principal at Miles & Stockbridge spoke on behalf of her firm.

To kick off the discussion Adrienne Jones, Speaker Pro Tem/Delegate of the Maryland House of Delegates – 10th District, provided highlights of the 2019 session.  She noted that the House and Senate have 61 new members this year and several standing committees.  The 2019 focus has been on education through the Kirwan Commission, and on balancing the budget.  Speaker Pro Tem Jones encouraged CREWBaltimore members to visit the House Floor and participate in dialog with the policy committees.  She stated that “women play a critical role in this assembly this year” and noted that several current committee Chairs and Vice-Chairs are women.

Spencer Levy, Chairman of Americas Research and Senior Economic Advisor at CBRE then led a lively discussion about the economic state of Maryland, and specifically the Baltimore region.  After stating that he believes the three pillars of a region’s success are money, talent, and infrastructure, the discussion focused on these areas.

Economically, Speaker Pro Tem Jones noted a vast divergence in the Baltimore region with drastic highs and lows.  The region boasts strengths in urbanization, revitalization based on historical manufacturing origins, and added suburban revitalization in areas such as Columbia, Annapolis and Towson.  A discussion that began with the struggles surrounding employment and hiring quickly turned the topic from economics to education.

Mary Ann Scully, CEO of Howard Bank, Speaker Pro Tem Jones, and Levy all leaned toward support and services for families as having the greatest impact on education reform.  While college is not for everyone, the Kirwan Commission aims for every student to be college or career ready by 10th grade, and not lacking in fundamental skills such as literacy and math.  Scully noted that Howard Bank is currently putting funds into work-force development, and skills that are not on a resume, such as curiosity, are also important.  Levy suggested that economic integration within our public-school systems is the answer, stating that “we should do everything possible to give every kid a shot”.  This sentiment was backed by both the panelists and the audience.

While infrastructure was a lesser discussed topic, transportation seemed to be the key.  Neither Scully or Speaker Pro Tem Jones backed the idea of a hyperloop between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.  Scully stated that there are too many other mass transit issues that need to be addressed first.  Ultimately, the region needs to prepare for behavioral changes in how and where people want to live and work.

Levy, a consummate moderator, added light-hearted banter to the discussion by encouraging Speaker Pro Tem Jones and Scully to share their music and television preferences (Speaker Pro Tem Jones prefers R&B music and T.V. mysteries, while Scully likes Aretha Franklin and the band Chicago and watches Game of Thrones and Midsomer Murders with her family).  With predictions from both panelists for a recession and a woman in Presidential power in the near future, the discussion came to a close and was opened for a series of questions and answers.

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14
Feb
2019

2019 Women of Influence Luncheon Recap

categories: Events Recap

Over 85 CREW members and guests attended the 2019 Women of Influence Luncheon at the renovated Center Club on January 8th. Following a warm welcome and 2019 preview by CREWBaltimore President Nikkia Fitch of RS&F, moderator Karen Pecoraro (ATC Group Services) facilitated a panel-format discussion around pay inequality and other barriers to female advancement in the CRE industry. This central theme was inspired by the 2018 CREW Network White Paper titled Achieving Pay Parity in Commercial Real Estate (read here).

Panelists Christine Espenshade (JLL), Michele Cohen (Miles & Stockbridge), Laura Penza (Penza Bailey Architects) and Ruth Hoang (Howard Hughes Development) shared tips, challenges and anecdotes about their careers and successes in commercial real estate. Two points of advice repeatedly emerged throughout the discussion.

First, speak up for yourself. “No one will be a better advocate for you than you” said Ruth Hoang. Michele Cohen added that coworkers and supervisors are not “mind readers” and should not be expected to just make things happen on your behalf. Instead, women need to make their case when asking for a raise or promotion. “Track, catalogue, capture your accomplishments” Karen Pecoraro advised. That makes it much easier to recount your contributions when annual review time rolls around, since trying to recall a year’s worth of deals or sales can be difficult. The panel also recommended staying current on reports and publications that provide compensation data for your profession, noting that location can play a big role.

When asked how to avoid the pay gap over the course of a career, advice from the panel varied. “Stay flexible and leave yourself some latitude to do new things” offered Ruth Hoang, referring to the ways in which her willingness to work in new markets and with new clients spurred her progress at Howard Hughes. “Be willing to reinvent yourself” said Christine Espenshade, “especially if you’ve left the workforce for a period of time.” The panel agreed on the importance of staying relevant and connected through networking events and organizations such as CREW.

As a regular participant in annual compensation reviews at Miles and Stockbridge, Michele Cohen noted “our male counterparts self-advocate better more often.” Hoang then stressed the importance of asking for a raise each year and to not settle for a 2-3% cost of living increase, which accentuates the gap. “Be mindful of the math” she added.

The second word of advice from the panel: create your own work/life “harmony”. From choosing your life partner to third-party help, the group emphasized the importance of a support network and agreed that the term “work/life balance” can be misleading. “As women, we think we are the only ones who can handle the pediatrician appointment or stay home with a sick child” Christine Espenshade joked, then added “we are inclined to take on the lion’s share of the duties at home.” In reality, we can all use a little help from the outside to make our home life and career as fulfilling as possible. “Find your thing, find your power, and make it work,” said Laura Penza.

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20
Aug
2018

Junior Achievement: Her Path to Promise Event

categories: Events Recap

There is no doubt that Junior Achievement of Central Maryland is making an impact on the youth of Maryland, and the “JA Her Path to Promise” program was no exception. The three-day program was held at Towson University this past July, where young women ranging from Sophomores to Seniors in High School could learn and apply skills designed to help their futures in education and the working world. The program conducted mock interviews, touched on resume building, discussed the college admissions process and other relevant professional skills. The young women all participated in a mock interview where they met with successful women from local top companies, allowing the experience of what a job interview would be like. Informal one-on-one sessions with female mentors was also offered. The participants took what they had learned in those interviews and applied them on the final day of the program, the career fair.

CREW Baltimore was a proud participant at the career fair alongside employers from a variety of industries. Volunteers from CREW demonstrated how the professional organization was designed to support women in commercial real estate field and the importance of having a business network. The career fair was one that had a positive impact on both the volunteers and the young women that were in attendance. It was evident that each of them took away so many lessons learned in a short period of time. Each high schooler, in her own way, broke out of her comfort zone and showed an impressive amount of confidence and maturity. Many of them had big goals for their future and it was clear they were determined to reach them. After participating in this program, each is now better positioned to achieve those goals.

The “JA Her Path to Promise” event was an inspiring one for the volunteers as well. As members of CREW, we were there with the hopes of having a positive impact on the attendees, but in the end, they had just as much of a positive impact on the volunteers. The young women took steps that not many their age take and they each have bright futures ahead of them.

Junior Achievement of Central Maryland is doing a remarkable job with providing programs that help motivate and prepare young adults for the future and CREW Baltimore looks forward to continuing participation with the organization.

For more information on the organization, visit the Junior Achievement of Central Maryland site here.

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08
Mar
2018

Merriweather Post Pavilion Renovations

categories: Events Recap

Merriweather Post Pavilion recently hosted CREWBaltimore members and guests for a construction tour of the newly renovated historic concert venue. Initially built in 1967 to be home to the National Symphony, Merriweather is celebrating over 50 years as a historic location for some of music’s biggest artists. 

With its rich history, there was a lot at stake with the new renovations, including risk to losing Merriweather’s original character. Designers at JP2 Architects were innovative with the renovation while keeping the same character Merriweather has created for itself.

Many factors were taken into consideration when redesigning the space. Being located in the heart of Symphony Woods Park, the venue was already one unlike any other. However, that wasn’t enough.

Merriweather’s biggest goal is creating accessibility for all concert goers. With that, they are going to great lengths to create a venue that is completely ADA accessible. A new crosswalk will be installed that will connect all parts of the venue for the handicapped and disabled. They are also creating an elevator that will allow people to be dropped off at the midway point of the site, something that is extremely unique for an outdoor concert space.

Another goal relates to the performance space and backstage space for artists and their entourages.  Designers hoped to keep the performance space similar to the original design, being that it was so unique. After several refurbishments, they were unable to salvage the original wood floors on the notoriously low performing stage; however, they were able to give it a bit of a facelift. The stage is set lower than most stages and is constructed of wood, with a turntable in the middle. This allows stage crews to set up two artists at once for events such as festivals.

Backstage, renovations to the dressing rooms and VIP space are finished. There were numerous things that needed to be changed specifically for artists and their entourages. For example, countless artists have been required to rely on tents to act as different amenities, such as the kitchen. The overall new feel of the backstage is pretty modern – everything from the floors, the light fixtures and furniture bring a modern vibe to the venue. Merriweather is also the only concert venue that has a pool for its artists. The backstage also boasts extremely large dressing rooms and VIP spaces fit to cater to the largest of entourages, whether they chose to be indoors or outdoors.

The office space is the most recent project for the renovation team. Doubling as an office space and an adult playground, you’ll find everything from desks and computers, to ski ball, basketball, and Pac-Man. A modern feel is brought to the offices as well, with each office door decorated with the historic artists and bands that have performed there.

Merriweather Post Pavilion is becoming an entertainment mecca in every sense of the word and the 2018 outdoor concert season is expected to be one of the most exciting yet! This was an amazing renovation project executed by JP2 Architects, Howard Hughes Corporation, I.M.P., and the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commission, which will ensure the venue will be relevant for decades to come.

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25
Jan
2018

Influential Women in CRE

categories: Events Recap

CREWBaltimore hosted the “Women of Influence” Luncheon at the Center Club on January 9, 2018. We welcomed back moderator Christine Espenshade, a CREWBaltimore member for six years, and a Managing Director at Jones Lang Lasalle. The panel included Lisa Goodwin, Sr. Vice President of MRP Industrial, Amy Bonitz, President & CEO of Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation, and Caroline Paff, Vice President of Sagamore Development. The women covered topics that are beneficial to all women in the industry and also discussed the results found in CREW Network’s White Paper on gender bias and other barriers for women in the CRE industry.

All three panelists noted that they did not originally plan on getting into the commercial real estate field, but that they were successful at the start of their careers due to the mentors they sought out.  Mentors are important at all stages of your career, and can help determine your career plan.  Knowing where you want to end up will help you seek out the opportunities and challenges that will positively impact your career and set you up for advancement. Goodwin revealed that taking advantage of “sink or swim” opportunities propelled her forward in her career path. Mentors would provide guidance, but she found that she learned more when she was in the depths of these challenges. Paff mentioned that while opportunities are important in gaining traction to move forward, so is the support system around you. Your mentor will give you the balance of both support and opportunity. Bonitz confirmed that you must set up your parameters and guard them, and she also noted that sometimes you must “hit the shark in the nose and take charge of an intimidating situation.  If you take responsibility for your own progress, stand up for your ideas or projects and exude confidence in your ability to get the job done, you will be more likely to earn the respect of your peers.

Growing your career over time does not come without diligence. Goodwin discussed how personal accountability and being responsible for your own growth will help you move up the ladder in your career. She also noted that when you love what you do, love who you are doing it with, and you feel that you are a valued team member, you are more likely to choose to continue in that particular career. Putting in the extra hours is sometimes inevitable in the commercial real estate field; however, “you have to challenge yourself to be resilient,” added Espenshade. “If you are feeling alone in your [work life balance] situation, then find women in similar life situations to [talk to]”, and get input about your own situation, shared Paff.

Do not let your failures isolate you; talking about them with others will allow you to grow from these experiences. “All business women have experienced failures of some sort in their career” said Paff. Bonitz added that a deal sometimes dies fifteen times before it lives, and the team she has put together at her firm always remains positive and looks at how they can learn from each situation. In order to have the team remain positive and motivated to move forward it is important to have a vision that everyone wants to see brought to fruition. Goodwin followed up with noting that most of the time mistakes are made when you are involved in the unknown, and you can learn and grow from them. The ability to get back on the field and resume play is how you will determine your success moving forward.

The panel also had a chance to discuss workplace diversity. Paff suggested providing a written pathway as a way to hold everyone accountable to deliver on the promises made when you are first hired. Goodwin shared that over the years she has never seen it as men vs. women, but one team working towards an end goal. She also added that women bring an emotional balance to their team and their successes. Women play an integral role in commercial real estate, and the panelists provided insightful commentary and real-life experiences when asked questions by the audience members at the end of the event. We appreciate their willingness to share their experiences with us at this event.

Please join us on April 11 for our next Center Club luncheon about the State of the State!

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20
Nov
2017

Goucher College Construction Tour

categories: Events Recap

Goucher College hosted a construction tour for CREWBaltimore members and guests on November 9, 2017. Founded over 125 years ago, the college was an all women’s college prior to becoming co-educational in 1986. While also striving for academic excellence, Goucher is focused on fostering a close-knit community with the new construction on campus. All of the projects discussed focus on bringing students together.

For example, extensive studies were done to find the perfect location for the Mary Fisher Dining Hall. In its new location, the dining hall is centrally located between all of the dorms – all students walk past it during the day. The hope is for the dining hall to become a hub of activity and interaction on campus.

Studies were also done prior to designing the new First Year Village. Using the results of behavioral science, architects Ayers Saint Gross designed the rooms to be smaller, and the lounges to have faster Wi-Fi, to encourage students to leave their rooms and mingle in the centrally located lounges on each floor. The laundry facilities are located on the first floor, with all glass walls, to encourage student interaction there as well.

Goucher College is also dedicated to sustainability. That’s why instead of building three new dormitories (Froelicher Hall) on a new quad across campus, they decided to move the 1,200-ton buildings over 500 feet to their new location. This was one of the largest and fastest building relocations to ever take place on a college campus. Goucher’s approach to preserve and re-use the existing student housing was recognized by Maryland’s The Daily Record and was again named “Innovator of the Year.”

In addition to these larger construction projects on campus, the equestrian facilities and field will be upgraded (new tennis center, turf field, and fitness/pilates center), the existing interfaith center will be relocated next to the existing chapel on campus to host a multi-faith prayer room, and a 35,000 sf addition will be added to the Hoffberger Science Building to create a lab and learning spaces.

To see more photos from the event, please visit our gallery here. To read more about the ongoing construction, you can follow Goucher’s blog: http://blogs.goucher.edu/communitymatters/

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27
Sep
2017

Long Live the Port of Baltimore & Waterfront Neighborhoods!

categories: Events Recap

Peter O’Malley, American Sugar Refining; Abby Glassberg, NAI KLNB; Jill Lemke, Maryland Port Authority; Laurie Schwartz, Baltimore Waterfront Partnership; Amy Lacock, JLL

That’s the message that panelists were trying to convey to an audience of 60+ CREWBaltimore members and guests at the September 14th luncheon event held at the Center Club.

The moderator for the event, Abby Glassberg, a broker for NAI KLNB and 27 year Maryland commercial real estate veteran, surveyed the room with the following questions:

Has anyone been to the Seagirt Marine terminal?

Does anyone remember when McCormick Spice was downtown?

Has anyone taken a cruise out of Baltimore?

The theme of the day was the current issues and future trends relating to Baltimore’s waterfront; those who answered “yes” to any of the above questions immediately realized the personal impact.

The Port

Jill Lemke

A heartfelt plea was made by Jill Lemke, Maryland Port Authority (MPA), reminding us that the Port of Baltimore is the “heart of the region’s economy” and must remain protected from surrounding development and supported in future endeavors to grow and maximize potential. The Port is a valuable asset which keeps Baltimore vibrant by bringing waterborne commerce for the benefit of the citizens of the State. Without the port everything we buy would be more expensive, we would have less access to the global economy and the region would lose about 13,000 jobs with over 126,000 related jobs being impacted drastically.

A Shiny New Waterfront

Laurie Schwartz

Laurie Schwartz, Baltimore Waterfront Partnership (BWP), discussed how many areas in downtown Baltimore have outlived their useful life and need updates. She described the efforts and initiatives of the BWP to rehab and revitalize the Inner Harbor and surrounding waterfront neighborhoods by investing in supplemental cleaning, landscaping, events, construction of parks and additional amenities. There is a “Healthy Harbor” initiative working towards restoring clean water by 2020 to protect our City’s most valuable asset.

Relating back to the Port, another area in desperate need of an update are the aging tunnels. In 1895, when the Howard Street tunnel was built, no one realized that an extra two feet of clearance height may one day become a huge impediment. Expansion of the Howard Street tunnel has been deemed imperative to allow double stack containers and taller modern freight cars through that currently don’t meet clearance levels, Lemke explained. This will allow cargo movement to the Midwest market therefore increasing the number of vessel calls and containers unloaded at the Port of Baltimore, many of which we are currently losing to Port of Norfolk. Our deep-water access is huge, which is why the port needs to stay where it is. There are other ports in other cities that are digging deeper to try to compete with us.

Jim Lemke and Peter O’Malley

The Domino Sugar Refinery has been a Baltimore landmark, housed along Baltimore’s Inner Harbor for 95 years, though some question if the plant is still in operation. Peter O’Malley, American Sugar Refining, assured the audience that the manufacturer, who employs approximately 485 people (and over 120 other drivers and tug boat captains who are employed because of them), is very much still running full steam. The Refinery is another part of our aging city that could use a facelift, and they actually have been doing some major recent renovations. It is also an operation that needs the deep-water access of our port to get product in and benefits from the railroad and highway access. The operation desires to stay where they are because of the population center workforce and proximity to East coast. Domino Sugar has invested back into the community by sponsoring local events in the neighborhood and sending welcome packages to those who buy homes on the peninsula. Retaining Domino’s is a major win for the city- there is a sense of pride that something is still made in Baltimore.

Planning & Development in Baltimore

In the 1970s when the master plan for the Inner Harbor was designed, the plan called for all of the land on the shoreline to be open and accessible to the public, not closed off or privatized at all. The City only awarded property to developers who agreed to adhere to the master plan. Over time, the City has lost control of much of the land and development planning efforts. Developers have been focused on projects that create a work-live-play future for many of the downtown waterfront areas. Although it is acknowledged that many areas are in need of revitalization, there is also a desire to preserve the historic character. Panelists warned that we need to be careful with zoning uses and infrastructure in terms of what impacts there may be on and from the port and industrial areas. A waterfront condo sounds like a dream until you are awakened by horns going off nearby to signal a shipment coming in. An addition of a median may allow a lighting system or landscaping to be installed, but in turn could impede trucks from using the road if they are too wide.

Members of the CRE industry have many opportunities to connect with the revitalization projects that are forthcoming. We also have a duty to remind our peers, developers, builders, and legislators to look around at the bigger picture before rezoning, starting new projects, or voting on issues.

We are all in this together.

For more photos of the event, visit our event gallery. 

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02
Aug
2017

Anthem House Construction Tour & Happy Hour

categories: Events Recap

On July 19, 2017, CREWBaltimore, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), and Professional Women in Building Council (PWB) of the Maryland Building Industry Association (MBIA) teamed up for a happy hour and construction tour of the Anthem House, a new apartment building located in the heart of Locust Point on the corner of East Fort Avenue and Lawrence Street.

 
Constructed by Bozzuto, the project is comprised of 292 apartments, 20,000 square feet of retail space and 9,000 square feet of office space. The project’s name was inspired by Baltimore’s history as the birthplace of the National Anthem and nearby Ft. McHenry and is intended to celebrate a spirit of energy and inspiration.

According to Tess Guinn with Bozzuto, the project was designed with fitness and creativity in mind and contains more than an acre of green space overlooking the harbor, a wellness-inspired fitness center, infinity pool, and more. Bernard Holnaider with RD Jones said that the development team really tried to create an energy that carries throughout the building.

The courtyards contain unparalleled views of the harbor and downtown Baltimore and numerous shared spaces were designed to inspire residents to come together. Local artists were even commissioned to create murals for display throughout the building. Inspired by community, wellness, and creative energy, Anthem House represents an innovative design unique to Baltimore and its history.

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23
Jun
2017

Senior Living Event Recap

categories: Events Recap

On June 15, 2017, CREWBaltimore hosted 70 members and guests at the Center Club in Baltimore, MD for “The New Senior Housing” luncheon and panel discussion. The room was filled with architects, title processors, bankers and various other commercial real estate professionals and business owners. Moderated by Faith Nevins Hawks, Principal, Marks, Thomas Architects, our elite panel consisted of Chuck Harry, Chief of Research & Analytics, National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care, Andrea Ownesby, Senior Director of Design, Sunrise Senior Living and Nancy Tegethoff Baker, Vice President of Marketing Intelligence, Erickson Living. Panelists provided a basic understanding of the senior housing industry, changes in trends, evolving structural requirements, and desired locations of the properties, as well as how Maryland in particular is working to keep residents local rather than losing them to more “flashy” parts of the country for retirement.

 

A quick breakdown of the levels of care for Senior Housing:

  • Independent– full-size apartments, meal programs, activities, some residents still work and volunteer
  • Assisted Living– mostly independent who need help with driving, medication admin, and bathing
  • Memory care– Dementia & Alzheimer’s residents who require space changes and a sensory experience
  • Skilled Nursing– full care with most tasks, schedule, feeding, and medication

Many communities are being designed so that residents can move through the levels of care and stay on the same campus, which is particularly helpful for couples who are in different stages.
                          
The energy was high as the audience was intrigued to hear how technology has affected the industry with vendors like BathFitter and Uber making it easier for seniors to adapt and live in their homes longer. Many communities are Wi-Fi equipped and have an increase in BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), though it has been difficult for some older properties to retrofit. Virtual Concierge, VR for memory care patients, electronic door locks and even robot deliveries of household items (ex. toiletries) have been popping up at some senior living communities across the country.

Prospective residents, competitors in the immediate market, land use, and functionality of the land are the main factors which developers look for in planning a build of a new senior housing facility. Many have been looking into locations directly off highway exits, rather than the typical suburban/rural areas we have historically seen, as a convenience factor for the families who visit.

It’s no secret that senior housing is a major expense with costs projected to increase as facilities need to expand, remodel and include more technology and amenities to stay relevant for the next generation of residents. Panelists advised saving early for this imminent expense as long-term care insurance covers less these days. Additionally, the real estate downturn affected affordability as many were unable to sell their homes that they relied upon to pay for the new housing.

Investors are now paying attention to space in preparation for a construction wave in 2020 to be ready for the baby boomers expected to enter the space in about 8 years – the average age of residents has increased to the high 80’s for assisted/skilled nursing.

To learn more about the senior housing industry, visit any of the websites for our panelists’ companies by hovering over the name for a direct link to their sites. As always, our Programs Committee put on another impressive event that all in attendance were able to benefit from.

CREWBaltimore will take a break for the summer with our next major luncheon event two months away on September 5th covering Ports and Industrial properties. For other Chapter events in the meantime, like our Anthem House Construction Tour or annual Golf Tournament, check out our Events page here.

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13
Jun
2017

Little Patuxent Square Construction Tour & Happy Hour

categories: Events Recap
“This Building is about friendships and passion.”
~ David Costello, President of Costello Construction


On May 4th, CREWBaltimore and CREW MarylandSuburban teamed up for a tour and happy hour in the shell space of Columbia’s newest office and apartment building, Little Patuxent Square. 

Though not quite complete, the nine-story LEED Gold mixed-use development will include 160,000 sf of Class A office space, 5 stories of underground parking and 160 luxury apartments on top of that branded “Lakehouse.” Every apartment will come with a balcony and views of the woods or lake. Move-ins are expected as early as this summer.


Mr. Costello spoke about his personal journey with the property, easement issues and finally a rendering that he simply did not like. It was at that point that he changed courses, and architects, to create the building he envisioned.

With the help of his team, and business partner, they set off to develop the building they wanted. The building features an all glass office façade, the first of its kind in Columbia. 

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