NAA is America’s Leading Advocate for Quality Rental Housing, providing homes for over one-third of the nation. The Builders, Owners and Developers Community Awards represent the very best in the rental housing industry. This Award recognizes excellence in a range of rental property styles, sizes and ages. The theme of service runs through the awards. Service is a very important component of these awards, service to the resident and service to the community as well as financial performance.
Community Award Categories
The Community Awards fall into five areas – new, 5-20 years, 20 plus years, green and specialty. Each submission must identify the appropriate style, age and size. There are eight potential award categories. If the judges determine that no submission within a category exemplifies the best in the multifamily housing industry, no award will be given for that category. The categories allow all rental properties to be eligible for submission.
Builders, Owners and Developers
- New (less than 5 yrs) - (2)
- Small (up to 150 units)
- Large (more than 150 units)
- 5-20 yrs - (2)
- Small (up to 150 units)
- Large (more than 150 units)
- 20+ yrs - (2)
- Small (up to 150 units)
- Large (more than 150 units)
- Green - (1)
- Specialty any category - (1)
- Affordable
- Military
- Student
PARAGON Apartment Community of the Year Award
Each PARAGON Community Award winner is automatically considered for the prestigious Apartment Community of the Year Award by virtue of winning an award in one of the eight unique categories. Among the winning entries, judges will select one community to receive the Apartment Community of the Year Award, representing the best of the best. The 2012 Apartment Community of the Year will be announced during the NAA Education Conference & Exposition held June 28-30 in Boston. The community will also be featured on the cover of the September of units magazine, NAA’s monthly publication that reports on the apartment industry.
Judging
The community must be a member of NAA in good standing. Submissions will be judged on the basis of:
- Demonstrated service to resident
- Floor layouts, interior and exterior structure
- Customer Service
- Maintenance of property
- Appropriate to locale
- Community Involvement
- Demonstrated service to community
- Environmental awareness
- Occupancy rate/retention
- Financial performance against market area
Minimum Submission Requirements*
- Use the 2012 PARAGON Awards Application Cover below as a cover sheet, and provide one copy of the submission.
- Where appropriate, submission materials should be included in a standard three-ring binder.
- All supplemental materials should include the company, property and category.
- Submissions from other awards programs will be accepted, as long as the following requirements are met.
- 2012 PARAGON Awards Application Cover;
- One page description of the community;
- Timeline of the development or rehab of the community;
- Financial data, including operational budget showing performance against goals for a one-year time period and return on investment;
- Certificate of occupancy (most current);
- Site plans, grading plans and complete amenity package with details;
- Photographs of interior living spaces, common areas, building exterior and landscaping; and
- Samples of community marketing materials.
- Materials will not be returned unless a written request accompanies the Application.
*PARAGON Award winners are not eligible for consideration again for the same property for 5 years.
Submission Recommendations
Submissions may include supporting information that will assist the judges in evaluating the community. Such items might include:
- Market area survey;
- If renovation, before and after pictures;
- Comprehensive emergency plan;
- Resident surveys or testimonials;
- Occupancy and turnover ratio for market and property over a one year period (if appropriate);
- Information on other awards received;
- Virtual tours or Web site;
- Training of on-site personnel;
- Evidence of environmental awareness;
- Operating costs, maintenance schedules;
- Functional use of space, adherence to codes, special accessibility features;
- Positive effects of community on surrounding neighborhood;
- Appropriateness of community design to region; and
- Community involvement by residents or management.
Entries must be received by Monday, March 19, 2012.
Submit one copy of the entry to:
NAA PARAGON Awards
4300 Wilson Blvd, Suite 400
Arlington, VA 22203
Phone: 703/518-6141
Fax: 703/248-9440
Questions? Contact Valerie Hairston at 703/797-0624 or valerie@naahq.org.