BOMA/Atlanta Members
Pull Together
After Devastating Tornado

A devastating tornado ripped through downtown Atlanta last Friday night, damaging numerous properties and leaving many BOMA/Atlanta members in a state of emergency.
 
Judi Sponsel, vice president and group manager for Jones Lang LaSalle, who manages 100 Peachtree in downtown Atlanta was among the BOMA members whose buildings were hit by the tornado. Despite the damage, Judi and her team were able to begin restoring the property almost immediately with the help of other BOMA members.

“I can’t say enough about EPIC Response. They were on site within one hour after the building sustained its damage and began assessing and putting plans together. They worked all night boarding up windows and completed the urgent needs by Sunday,” said Sponsel, adding that many other BOMA members also reached out. “Everyone in the BOMA/Atlanta community has offered their support. I have had no less than 20 managers and vendors from various companies e-mail or call wanting to know what they can do to help.”

Tim Draney, executive vice president for BMS Catastrophe, also shared his experience from the perspective of an emergency response services provider. Upon contacting their customers in the area, most of whom sustained no or minimal damages, their focus shifted to the recovery of the 73-story Westin Peachtree Plaza. “Our local response teams were in the building within two hours. After restoring exterior areas such as sidewalks and driveways, we moved on to the lobby areas and other facilities. On Monday we had 75 people in to remove glass and debris from the impacted rooms. The hotel remains fully functioning, and we’re working hard to ensure the damaged rooms are open for use as soon as possible.”

Despite the hardship caused by this unexpected storm, BOMA members in the Atlanta community rallied around those who were affected and found a way to both restore the buildings back to health and raise spirits all around.

The MID-Michigan BOMA Advantage

As property manager for well over 1,000,000 square feet of warehouse and office space leased to dozens of different companies in California and Michigan, I am constantly looking out for new and improved ways to maximize my time, energy and my department’s budget.  My very first Mid-Michigan BOMA meeting afforded me the opportunity to do just that. Dale Sherby from the Tremco Corporation gave an in-depth presentation on roofing systems at our meeting.  My entire outlook on roofing materials, vendors and systems changed forever.

Dale dove into roofing technologies new and old.  Presented advantages and disadvantages of different systems, it was more like “Roofology 101” than a sales presentation.  Indeed, little did I know at the time, I was embarking on what turned out to be a minor degree in “Roofology”.  My company, Dart Development, had just purchased a 260,000 square foot warehouse.  The building had been constructed in stages over approximately a 15 year span.  As a result, the roof consisted of various types of systems from the old school pitch and gravel right on up to single ply EPDM.  The best part was that it was now my job to choose an appropriate system to replace the entire 260,000 square feet and then find the right contractor at the right price to do the work.  Just shoot me now was my first response.  Then I met Dale and was introduced to Tremco. 

I had been researching roofing systems for a few months prior to Dale’s presentation.  We looked at single ply EPDM, TPO, coatings, plastics, foam, urethanes, polyurea you name it, and I researched it.  They all were “the greatest, most perfect system ever devised by man!”  Just shoot me now seemed the best choice.  Dale knew much about all of the systems, pointed out their weaknesses, and strengths.  He emphasized that not all situations are best for any one system which is a big reason Tremco makes more than one kind of system.  Budget concerns, environment, building use all play roles in designing and choosing a new or replacement roof system.  Dale didn’t “sell” me a system; Dale provided me a service, a knowledge bank from which I could withdraw information as I needed so that I could make the best choice for the building and my company. 

In the final analysis, working with Dale, I was able to choose the best system for our building and our long range plans.  We were able to negotiate a highly competitive price with a vendor certified by the manufacturer.  The project has progressed smoothly with manufacturer oversight so that I know the product is being installed the right way.  More importantly, once complete, I know that Dale, and Tremco will be there standing behind their finished product.  

Lesson learned; one size or system certainly does not fit all.  It requires diligence, investigation and factory support to fit the best roof system to the building.  Without my involvement with my local BOMA chapter, this learning experience and opportunity to make the best choice for my building and company would have been missed.

Karl Griffin

Industrial Parks Property Manager

Dart Development Group.