BOSTON (6/21/2016) The National Apartment Association (NAA), the U.S. multifamily industry's leading trade group, has named Tierra Vista Communities in Colorado Springs, CO, as the 2016 Community of the Year the first time a military community has ever won the industry's top national honor.

Serving active duty service members and their families at Peterson Air Force Base, Tierra Vista is a 700-unit community of two, three and four-bedroom homes managed by WinnResidential Military Housing Services as part of a joint venture with Lendlease through the Military Housing Privatization Initiative.

We could not be prouder of our team at Tierra Vista or more grateful to the NAA for this honor, said Patrick M. Appleby, President of WinnResidential Military Housing Services. We believe our nation's military families deserve a quality living experience and this award stands as proof of our commitment to strive for excellence every day.

Located on a 1,500-acre property at the base of the Rocky Mountains, the apartments at Tierra Vista Communities recently underwent an extensive period of new construction and renovation. New welcome home centers, playgrounds, splash parks, dog parks and walking trails also were built.

The Community of the Year represents the best of the best, said NAA President and CEO Doug Culkin. By shining a light on this winning community, all members of our industry benefit.

Tierra Vista Communities was chosen for Community of the Year among properties that won category-specific NAA Excellence Awards. It also won an NAA Excellence Award for Best Community, Specialty (Military Housing).

In addition, William Wollinger, Chief Operating Officer of WinnCompanies, was inducted into the NAA Hall of Fame the highest industry honor that can be bestowed upon an apartment professional. Wollinger is the 19th person inducted during the 77-year history of NAA. In March, the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) honored Wollinger as its 2016 Industry Statesman, recognizing his decades of outstanding leadership and service to NAHMA and the affordable housing industry as a whole.

WinnCompanies earned two other honors at industry meetings this past weekend:

• NAHMA recognized 777 Main, a 284-unit mixed-income apartment community in Hartford, CT, with a Vanguard Award forMajor Rehabilitation of a Non-Housing Structure. WinnResidential has managed the property since its completion in 2014. It is owned by Becker & Becker Associates, of Fairfield, CT.
• The NAA gave a Return on Energy (R.O.E.) Award for Energy Reduction to Heritage House, a 101-unit property for seniors managed by WinnResidential in Newburyport, MA. The company's sustainability technology and operations expertise enabled the community to save 19.1% in common area energy consumption over a two-year period. Heritage House is owned by WinnCompanies.

About WinnCompanies
WinnCompanies is an award-winning national multifamily development and management company dedicated to the highest standards of excellence. Through its companies, WinnDevelopment, WinnResidential and WinnMilitary, WinnCompanies acquires, develops and manages affordable, senior, mixed-income, market rate, military and mixed use properties. Founded in 1971 and operating in 22 states and the District of Columbia, it is the fifth largest multi-family housing manager in the U.S. and the largest manager of affordable housing. www.winncompanies.com