Six organizations and an individual were honored Thursday night by the Bellevue Downtown Association for making extraordinary contributions toward creating a viable, livable, memorable and accessible downtown community.

The 2008 Place Making Awards at the Meydenbauer Center attracted more than 350 business and community leaders. Keynote speaker and mountain climbing legend Ed Viesturs shared lessons from his record-setting journeys and addressed the themes of risk, courage, teamwork, and perseverance.

”Owing to the hard work and vision of our businesses, residents and civic leaders, Downtown Bellevue

continues to grow and thrive,” said Leslie Lloyd, president of the Bellevue Downtown Association. “The

Place Making Award recipients represent those individuals and businesses that have been the vanguards of Downtown Bellevue’s transformation into the livable, viable and successful community it is today.

The Bellevue Parks & Community Services Department was named Civic Partner of the Year for the significant set of actions, spirit of support and consistent level of service demonstrated by the Bellevue Parks & Community Services Department. The Downtown Park is home each year to the Symetra Bellevue Family 4th and the Group Health Ice Arena. These major events and experiences would not be possible without a strong, healthy partnership with the City and its staff.

The Bellevue Regional Library was recognized as a Community Treasure – an institution or landmark that has delivered exceptional value and service to the community. It receives close to a million visits per year, and has over 1.4 million items in circulation.

Symetra Financial was named Commute Champion for its strong commitment for working toward a city of Bellevue target that calls for half commuting without driving alone in a motor vehicle.

In 2008, Symetra achieved a 58 percent non-drive alone commute rate.

The Microsoft lease at City Center Plaza was recognized at the Lease of the Year, honoring the people and companies who have negotiated a landmark leasing transaction in Downtown Bellevue. In May 2008 Microsoft announced that it would lease one of the

largest office projects under construction in Downtown Bellevue, City Center Plaza. Throughout this next

year, Microsoft will move about 2,000 employees to City Center Plaza, taking up 25 of the building’s 26

floors. This move builds on existing leases at Lincoln Square and The Bravern Office Commons, now

making Microsoft recipient of the Lease of Year Award three years in a row.

Expedia was hailed as the Move of the Year, another new category for 2008. It honors a company which

places an emphasis on connecting people with place and community, and making long-term investments

in both. Expedia, the world’s leading online travel company, moved its corporate headquarters, along

with 1,700 employees, to Downtown Bellevue in November 2008. The Expedia move has extended

beyond a one-time action given the company’s ongoing commitment to the Downtown community and

its future success.

Bellevue Towers received the Skyline Award. The ambitious 42 and 43 story luxury condominium project

designed by architects at MulvannyG2 and GBD Architects is the tallest residential high-rise development in the Pacific Northwest. The developers also have made the building healthier to live in, reduced operating costs and followed best practices in water reclamation and energy conservation.

Suzanne Baugh, Director, Cushman & Wakefield and BDA Board Member, received the John Boespflug City Builder Award. Boespflug was an attorney and served as Bellevue Downtown Association Chair in both 1988 and 1998. After Boespflug’s untimely death in 1999, the BDA dedicated the award to honor significant individual contributions toward advancing Downtown Bellevue as the

economic and cultural heart of the Eastside region. Baugh, a Bellevue resident, was recognized for her ongoing leadership as a stalwart champion and advocate

for Downtown Bellevue and the BDA.