DIG Named in Four Categories for “Best of 2023” for Mid-Atlantic Region

DIG has captured four Best of 2023 Awards from Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal (MAREJ), a leading regional publication focusing on the design, development/construction and brokerage sectors for commercial and public spaces. The magazine’s focus is the entire New Jersey, Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Washington DC corridor.

Each year, MAREJ’s leadership team seeks nominations across a wide range of commercial real estate categories, from architecture and development to sales, leasing and related professional-service providers. Honorees are chosen based on project merit, aggregate values and/or measurable results.

In MAREJ’s March issue, DIG’s outstanding projects were featured in the following categories:

Best New Government Project: Union County Government Complex [Elizabeth, NJ] – Size: 225,000 SF
Appointed by the Union County Improvement Authority, DIG developed a planned centralized hub for social services and administration in one location, thus reducing leasing and overhead costs while enhancing service delivery to county residents. The Administrative Building’s midrise structure sits atop one level of parking while the 7-story Human Services Building is located at the east end of the site, proximate to downtown, public parking and public transportation. In addition to stepped-back lower-floor curvilinear facades, upper floors are clad with complementary glass and metal facades that respond to interior uses and allow ample daylight.

Best Non-Profit Project: Lester Senior Living [Whippany, NJ] – Size: 20,000 SF
DIG was engaged to integrate modern, accessible amenities for senior residents at the existing Assisted and Independent Living residences in order to support a greater sense of community. Alterations include re-envisioning of the first floor area to make a more interactive space for residents, including the café/reading room and refurbished dining room. On the second floor is a new theater, with tiered seating and THX-quality surround sound, a marquee and concession area. The renovation also introduces improved access to the rear courtyard, where residents enjoy the outdoors. Phased construction was planned to minimize disruption to residents and staff.

Best Giving Back
As a firm focused on projects that are community regenerators, DIG is an ardent supporter of community outreach and activism. Being a certified MBE/DBE/SBE gives all team members a platform to serve as role models for others while bringing tremendous credibility to the communities DIG serves. Tapping into the talents of DIG’s multidisciplinary teams, the firm is involved in a wide range of charitable/philanthropic/educational endeavors, including an array of career exposure/mentorship programs, building community playgrounds, donating and distributing food through food pantries and helping to design a new school in Haiti following the country’s devastating earthquakes.

Best Place to Work
At its inception, DIG established a narrative to define its business model: each team member is valued, celebrated, praised and recognized. Today, DIG continues to support the advancement of individual creativity, vision and passion rooted in its own diversity and inclusion. A certified minority-owned business, DIG believes transformative designs and inclusionary business practices connect people, improve lives and enrich and strengthen communities – all while creating building blocks for its team members through mentorship, licensure development, career experience and networking.