Where Are the Best Office-Building Bathrooms? Kimberly-Clark Professional Announces Contest Winners

ROSWELL, Ga. -- As many people can attest, a good restroom is hard to find. A great one that is also clean and sanitary is even harder. After a nationwide search for entries for the "Best Office Building Bathroom" Contest, Kimberly-Clark Professional has selected two winners:

-- First place: Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Michigan "Metro Service Center"

in Southfield, Mich.

-- Second place: The world headquarters of Nationwide in Columbus, Ohio.

"The management of both these properties recognizes that clean and sanitary restrooms are essential to their employees," said Amy Walker Barrs, office building marketing manager for Kimberly-Clark Professional. "The importance of a clean restroom cannot be underestimated, especially when you consider that the average office building worker spends the equivalent of more than three workdays a year in the restroom. We commend these facilities for doing such an outstanding job of providing clean and sanitary restrooms for all of their employees."

Top-prize winner Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Michigan is a four-building, 702,834-square-foot campus with 3,200 employees, 2,400 of whom are women. Despite the fact that its 45 women's restrooms are in constant use, the restrooms are pristine and immaculately clean, with spotless cream tile on the walls and burgundy countertops. The property has two full-time female restroom attendants to make sure that the bathrooms are clean and sanitary throughout the day.

"Everyone is assured of finding a clean, hygienic environment that is well-stocked with quality restroom products no matter what time of day," said Thomas Giacobassi, RPA, FMA, SMA, regional property administrator for Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Michigan. "All of our facility functions should be this easy."

In lieu of the prize, Giacobassi chose to donate the $1,500 cash value to the Warming Center of Macomb County, which provides year-round assistance to the homeless and is operated by St. Margaret of Scotland Church in St. Clair Shores, Mich.

Second place winner Nationwide is a three-tower, 1.5 million square-foot facility with 7,500 employees. Its restrooms feature wall tiles that literally shine from fastidious cleaning standards as well as sleek, new product dispensers.

"Keeping the restrooms for so many employees clean is no easy job," said Joe Giuliani, building services manager. "Having quality products that dispense properly and last longer so we're not constantly refilling crucial restroom supplies is one key to our success. The other is a great janitorial staff that makes sure everything is perfect each and every day."

Giuliani donated the $500 cash value for the award to Operation Feed, an annual food drive coordinated by the Mid-Ohio FoodBank and United Way of Central Ohio, which provides food for distribution to food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other charities in eastern and central Ohio.

Kimberly-Clark Professional, based in Roswell, Ga., provides tissue and towel products, skin care products and industrial wipers for workplace settings.

Source: Kimberly-Clark Professional