Archidust Journal

David Manfredi, CEO and Founding Principal, Elkus Manfredi Architects and Elizabeth Lowrey, Principal, Elkus Manfredi Architects have been selected by the Real Estate Finance Association (REFA) to receive the Robert S. Swain Jr. Distinguished Service Award at the 30^th Annual REFA Gala, to be held Thursday, October 11, 2018 at the Marriott Copley Place Hotel.  Details may be found at https://2018refagala.weebly.com/

The annual REFA Gala, Boston’s premier commercial real estate awards dinner, will honor Mr. Manfredi and Ms. Lowrey for their contributions to the real estate industry and to the Greater Boston community.

2018 REFA President Paul Ayoub, Partner, Nutter, McClennen& Fish LLP and REFA Gala Co-Chairs Marci Griffith Loeber, Managing Principal, Griffith Properties and Paul Nasser, CFO and COO, Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation will present David Manfredi and Elizabeth Lowrey with their awards.

In honoring David Manfredi and Elizabeth Lowrey, Elkus Manfredi Architects also becomes the first architecture firm to be recognized among a distinguished list of companies.

David P. Manfredi, FAIA, LEED AP has worked with industry leaders across the country on a diverse portfolio of planning and design projects, creating vital new mixed-use urban neighborhoods, reusing and reinventing important historic context and infrastructure, and transforming the edges of universities from barriers into connective seams with surrounding neighborhoods.  From the life science research center at The Broad Institute to the Boston Landing District, home of New Balance, the Boston Bruins, and the Boston Celtics – to some of our country’s most iconic “people places” such as The Grove in Los Angeles, at every scale, in every context, David’s mission is to create common ground that brings people and communities together.

Elizabeth O. Lowrey, IIDA, RDI has been responsible for the interior architecture studio at Elkus Manfredi Architects since the firm was founded and part of the firm’s leadership since being named a Principal. As a leader in the creation of corporate, hospitality, residential, retail, and academic environments, Elizabeth works with clients including Walt Disney Imagineering, Fidelity Investments, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, New Balance, The Boston Consulting Group, National Development, and Harvard and MIT. She is widely known for her strength in strategic planning, her ability to help clients discover and articulate their vision through design, and her skill in creating dynamic, connected environments that enhance the quality of life for communities of all types and scales.

About the Robert S. Swain, Jr. Distinguished Service Award
The Robert S. Swain, Jr. Distinguished Service Award is named in honor of the late Robert S. Swain, Jr. Mr. Swain gained respect and admiration of his colleagues throughout the real estate finance industry during his 33-year career in the profession. He was a valued member of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board and was an active member and leader of the Mortgage Finance Committee, which developed into the present Real Estate Finance Association. The award is an annual recognition of an outstanding contribution made to the real estate industry either by lifetime example or specific achievement.

About REFA
Formed in 1988, The Real Estate Finance Association (REFA) is a trade association formed to bring together the best people, knowledge, and experience to provide informative programs and networking opportunities for commercial real estate finance professionals throughout the Greater Boston area. Real estate professionals from a variety of institutions join REFA to exchange ideas and promote the exchange of information between professionals in the real estate finance community, while fostering a platform for growth and education.  REFA is a division of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board (GBREB).

About GBREB
Founded in 1889, the Greater Boston Real Estate Board counts as its members more than 12,000 professionals engaged in all sectors of the real estate industry. One of the local boards of the National Association of REALTORS® (the largest trade association in North America), BOMA International and the National Apartment Association, GBREB is considered unique nationally due to its varied membership base. The Board also has five major divisions which are: Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA); Commercial Brokers Association (CBA); Greater Boston Association of REALTORS® (GBAR), Real Estate Finance Association (REFA); Rental Housing Association(RHA).