MADISON, WI—Compass Properties, LLC, a Madison, WI-based management and development company, recently earned the International Facility Management Association Sheila Sheridan Award for Sustainable Design and Energy Efficient Projects at the IFMA World Workplace held in San Diego last week. According to IFMA, the award rewards and recognizes leadership, innovation and excellence in environmentally responsible and sustainable building operations and management. The company earned its Sheridan award based on its strategic sustainability plan for its properties in the Madison area that it developed with the assistance of Sustain Dane, a Madison-based local non-profit organization, and the MPower Business Champion program, a nationally recognized model that connects businesses to resources, sustainability experts, proven methods and best practices.

DEALTRACKER

CLEVELAND—Berkadia recently secured $92 million in financing for American Greetings Corp., a major greeting cards brand headquartered in suburban Westlake. Berkadia's Mark Vogel, a senior managing director in the Cleveland office, secured the loan for the new headquarters from Bank of America Merrill Lynch on behalf of the Ohio-based borrower, H & L Property Co. The deal was completed October 5. “This was a cutting-edge financing only made possible with the efforts of a lot of smart people. It took over six months of hard work,” says Vogel. American Greetings previously functioned out of a 1.6 million square-foot space in Brooklyn, OH.

NORMAL, IL—The middle market investment advisory group of Podolsky|Circle CORFAC International recently completed the sale of College Plaza Shopping Center, a 100,000 square foot power center located at 1700 E. College Ave. in the heart of Normal's primary retail trade area. At the time of the disposition the center was 100% leased to a roster of nationally recognized tenants, including Bed Bath & Beyond, PetSmart, Office Depot and Shoe Carnival. The property is located just two miles from Illinois State University. It was purchased by Phillips Edison, a national shopping center REIT. As reported in GlobeSt.com, Cincinnati-based Phillips Edison typically focuses attention on grocery store-anchored centers in secondary or tertiary markets, frequently those with the top grocer in its respective region. Alissa Adler, managing principal; John R. Homsher, principal and Steven H. Tick, principal, represented Normal Properties of Illinois, LLC in the transaction.