Ed Berkise and Barbara Fiorino, a brokerage team at New York-based DJK Residential, recently hosted an art exhibit and real estate networking event called “The Art of Real Estate: A New York Frame of Mind.”

The event was held at John Allan’s salon in the Financial District, where paintings by Berkise and photographs by Fiorino will continue to be exhibited and are available for purchase throughout the next month. Berkise’s paintings are priced from $295 to $850, while Fiorino’s photography is priced at $95. Michael Lomio, sales manager for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, provided wine.

Dottie Herman, Howard Lorber, Dina Lewis and Melanie Lazenbyg of Douglass Eliman along with David Mitchell Holdings hosted an exclusive broker event for the boutique luxury condominium, The Whitman on Madison Square Park last week.
Guests gathered at Eleven Madison Park’s private dining room to learn about the condo conversion, meet the developer, brokers and other building affiliates and have a glance at the building renderings that were on display.
The New Georgian style building at 21 East 26th Street, was originally built in 1924 as the corporate headquarters and showroom …

The Corcoran Group held its annual awards ceremony Wednesday, February 7th at the Tuscan Sun Restaurant in Southampton. CEO Pamela Liebman and Vice President of Sales, Tresa Hall, were on hand to celebrate the achievements of the 2012 East End sales year.

Avison Young today announced that it has been selected by Mack-Cali Realty Corporation to serve as the exclusive leasing agent for 7 and 9 Campus Drive, two office buildings within the Mack-Cali Business Campus in Parsippany, N.J.
The Avison Young team leading the assignment includes Jeffrey L. Heller, Principal and Managing Director of the firm’s New Jersey office; William E. McCaffrey, Principal and Executive Vice-President; Patrick R. Eichner, Senior Vice-President; and Peter C. Hedley,a Vice-President in Avison Young’s New Jersey office.
The team will be working closely with Mack-Cali’s leasing team, comprising Diane Chayes, Senior Vice President of Leasing; Jim Nugent, Senior Director …

She grew up in one of the city’s most successful real estate families, but don’t tell Elizabeth Ann Stribling-Kivlan that it was inevitable she would one day run the company.

“I grew up with a very successful mother in real estate, but everybody has their own dreams,” said Stribling, who took the reins of Stribling & Associates, the company her mother founded, in December last year.

Four months after Hurricane Sandy disrupted America’s fourth largest central business district, Lower Manhattan is back in business.
99 percent of commercial office space is open; 99 percent of residential inventory is open; 96 percent of hotel inventory is open, and; 90 percent of retailers are open.

The figures were released by Downtown Alliance president Elizabeth H. Berger during a business forum co-hosted by the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) this morning. “Lower Manhattan’s recovery from Sandy has been vigorous,” said Berger.

By Peter Angerame, director of sales, utiliVisor

With energy accountability a more critical factor in today’s commercial real estate market, lowering a building’s energy costs has became a matter of economic necessity in all types of commercial facilities.
A key element of any energy efficiency strategy is to ensure that an effective sub-metering system is in place.
In addition, Local Law 88 in New York City, part of the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan, will mandate sub-metering for large non-residential tenant spaces over 10,000 s/f by 2025, primarily as a means to get tenants …

Benenson Capital Partners, LLC, one of the nation’s oldest privately-held real estate investment and development companies, has completed the installation of state-of-the-art rooftop solar energy equipment and paneling at 1600 Summer Street in Stamford, CT.
The six-story, 260,000 s/f, technologically-advanced property is located on a five-acre campus.
Benenson commissioned Elliot Isban, of American Solar and Alternative Power, to oversee the project at the properties, currently leased to GE Asset Management, Philips Electronics, North American Corporation and Aon Corporation.
Richard A. Kessler, COO of Benenson Capital Partners., said, “Over the years, we have transformed …

KBS Realty Advisors and its affiliated companies announced that two properties have received high ratings for sustainability.
The Metropolitan Center, One Meadowlands Plaza, East Rutherford, NJ, achieved LEED EB Gold certification in 2011 and an EnergyStar rating in 2012.
And 600 Campus Drive, part of the Park Avenue at Morris County campus in Florham Park, NJ, which achieved LEED EB certification and a 2012 EnergyStar rating in 2012.
“KBS continues to demonstrate a genuine commitment to sustainability, and we are pleased that our properties successfully reflect our mission,” said Randi Kaufman, KBS senior …

RFR Realty announced the completion of the installation of charging stations for plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) in four of its seven Stamford office buildings. RFR has installed charging stations in three of the four Stamford Plaza office buildings and at 300 Atlantic Street.
“We are keeping up with and anticipating the requests and needs of our tenants with this proactive initiative,” said Frank Kozak, general manager of RFR Realty in Stamford.
“RFR is excited to take advantage of the opportunity to become a leader in clean technology. It will help us to …