The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce will host its 8th Annual Brooklyn Building Awards™ on Thursday, July 17, 2008, at Stage 6 at Steiner Studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The Chamber will honor Mike Baker, store manager at IKEA Brooklyn, and Mary Brennan, senior vice president at The Community Preservation Corporation, at this year’s event.

Building Brooklyn Awards (BBA) recognizes two individuals (one from the public-interest sector and the other from the private sector), and various new construction and renovation projects that have made significant contributions toward the economic and community development of Brooklyn.  The BBA judging committee, made up of architects, planners, government officials, economic development experts and business leaders, convened in April to select the seventeen 2008 winners from the nominated projects.

Ms. Brennan will be honored for her vision and contribution to numerous affordable housing developments in Brooklyn and beyond. "As Brooklyn has grown and become a major player in New York City, so has the Brooklyn Chamber become increasingly important in positioning Brooklyn for even greater accomplishments. So it is especially meaningful to receive this award at this time, and to follow in the illustrious footsteps of those who have received the award previously," said Ms. Brennan.

Building Brooklyn Awards salute a wide range of project types, budgets and neighborhoods.  By presenting them at a special event hosted at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the Chamber shines a spotlight on important design and construction achievements here in Brooklyn.

The Brooklyn Chamber also selected Swedish home furnishings retailer, IKEA, as an honoree for this year’s Building Brooklyn Awards in recognition of their economic impact to the Red Hook community.

IKEA Brooklyn will open on June 18, and has already hired many workers from the Brooklyn area. "We are thrilled with the reception given by the community as we progress towards opening this store and appreciate this acknowledgement by the Brooklyn Chamber," said Mr. Baker. "We are proud of the contributions we are making to Red Hook, of the new public waterfront esplanade we have created, and the transportation options available for customers throughout Brooklyn."

The Building Brooklyn Awards ceremony and cocktail reception have attracted more than 400 attendees in years past, and is the Chamber’s signature event showcasing Brooklyn real estate and development projects.  Attendees include a cross-section of real estate industry professionals – brokers, developers, banking and finance, architecture and design, small business development, construction, government and other related industries.  The event also will feature a limited number of trade tables for companies to promote their products and services.

To learn more about the 2008 Building Brooklyn Awards™, sponsorships and ticket information, please visit http://www.buildingbrooklynawards.com/ or call Cheryl Gladstone, director of real estate & development, at 718-875-1000 ext. 140.