Best of the Bay Awards
Our NAIOP SFBA Chapter takes a unique approach to recognizing the deals and dealmakers in our area. Lively and upbeat, the annual Best of the Bay is a unique commercial real estate awards competition which features attendees picking the winners in real time using keypads. As each award is introduced nominees give a creative pitch to steer votes in their direction. If they fail to wow the audience or drone on too long, they are gonged! Check out the Past Events page to view past winners.
Real Estate Challenge & Golden Shovel Award
The Real Estate Challenge was established in 1990 by Steve Chamberlin, a local developer and emeritus adjunct professor in real estate at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, to give graduate students hands-on experience in real estate development. Every year teams are assigned a project site and given just 60 days to come up with a development proposal. A select panel of jurors reviews both proposals in detail and chooses a winner after the final team presentations are presented at the annual NAIOP Real Estate Challenge luncheon, with hundreds of NAIOP members and Cal/Stanford alumni in attendance.
The winning team takes home the highly coveted prize and symbol of the Challenge, the James W. Brecht Memorial Golden Shovel, formerly known as “The Shovel. The winning team keeps the Golden Shovel for one year.
| Year | Winning Team | Development Site |
| 2024 | Stanford | The San Francisco Center |
| 2023 | Cal | SF Market |
| 2022 | Cal | City of Sausalito |
| 2021 | Stanford | Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority |
| 2020 | Cal | Justin-Siena High School, Napa |
| 2019 | Cal | City of San Jose |
| 2018 | Cal | BART / City of Fremont |
| 2017 | Stanford | The City of San Bruno |
| 2016 | Stanford | Prologis 245 South Spruce |
| 2015 | Cal | Fort Mason, Pier 1 |
| 2014 | Stanford | Brooks Hall, San Francisco |
| 2013 | Stanford | SFPUC, Millbrae |
| 2012 | Cal | Balboa Reservoir |
| 2011 | Cal | City of Livermore |
| 2010 | Cal | Downtown Walnut Creek |
| 2009 | Cal | Port of San Francisco, Piers 21-23 |
| 2008 | Cal | Port of San Francisco, Piers 90-94 |
| 2007 | Stanford | Solano County Fairgrounds |
| 2006 | Stanford | Goodwill Industries, San Francisco |
| 2005 | Stanford | The Villas Park Merced |
| 2004 | Stanford | Goodwill Industries, San Jose |
| 2003 | Cal | 8th and Brannan, San Francisco |
| 2002 | Cal | Pacifica Site |
| 2001 | Cal | Mare Island Legacy Partners’ Site |
| 2000 | Cal | Port of San Francisco, Pier 70 |
| 1999 | Stanford | Union City BART |
| 1998 | Cal | Spieker Sunnyvale |
| 1997 | Stanford | Octel Headquarters |
| 1996 | Cal | Hegenberger, Oakland |
| 1995 | Cal | San Leandro BART |
| 1994 | Cal | Hunter’s Point Naval Yard |
| 1993 | Stanford | Santa Rosa Convention Center |
| 1992 | Stanford | Oakland Rotunda |
| 1991 | Stanford | Menlo Park Site |
| 1990 | Cal | Port of Oakland |
Chapter Merit Awards
These annual awards from NAIOP Corporate honor the outstanding events, educational programs and legislative efforts, along with recognizing their chapter presidents, chapter executive directors and volunteers. The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter and members have been recognized in the following awards categories:
-
Legislative/Government Affairs - Government affairs activities including programs, strategy and advocacy to support important state and local issues: 2020 Capitol Dome Award
- Chapter President of the Year: Lauren Young - 2020
- Chapter of the Year: 2018, 2007
- Special Event - A special event is industry-related and not a community service event or activity. Examples include a bus tour, real estate challenge and award dinners: 2010
- Membership - The chapter’s activities related to recruiting and retaining all member categories: 2012, 2011, 2008, 2007, 2005
- Chapter Executive of the Year: Kerry Parker - 2016
- Volunteer of the Year: Gordon Hess - 2010
- Technology: 2010
- Developing Leaders Program: 2010
- Branding: 2010
