The judges said they liked the combination of the whimsical design theme, which reflects Royal Caribbean's business, and the building's efficiency and environmental sensitivity. The building achieved the gold level of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

"We've been in this building now a year and a half. It's a recruiting tool, and it certainly also drives retention.

"If you like the environment you're in, you feel better," [Chris Monnette] said. "And since we sell cruises, the last thing we'd want is to sound like we're doing business in some dark, dingy hole."