AvalonBay Celebrates Grand Opening of Avalon at Mission Bay III, a Community Committed to Sustainable Living

Company partners with Creativity Explored and hosts ceremony to mark the occasion

SAN FRANCISCO, June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- AvalonBay Communities, a leading Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) with multi-family apartment communities in high barrier-to-entry markets of the United States, today is celebrating the grand opening of Avalon at Mission Bay III, located in San Francisco, CA. To mark the occasion, the Company is hosting a ceremony at the property and will be showcasing artwork commissioned from Creativity Explored, a non-profit visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit and sell art.

Avalon at Mission Bay III, which consists of 260 units, represents the third phase of the company's Mission Bay development and will be managed together with Avalon at Mission Bay North. It was built and will be maintained in an energy efficient and environmentally friendly manner, underscoring the company's commitment to sustainable development. Avalon at Mission Bay III is conveniently located near public transportation, and includes on-site recycling, easy access to Zipcars and top-performing Energy Star rated appliances. It is also one of the first green apartment buildings in San Francisco and the company has submitted for LEED certification, an independent third-party verification that a building project is environmentally responsible and a healthy place to live and work.

In an effort to reach out to the community and support local causes, Avalon at Mission Bay III has also teamed-up with Creativity Explored by commissioning artwork from the non-profit organization. Creativity Explored enables adults with developmental disabilities to express themselves artistically in a way that is personally rewarding and appreciated by others, and works to enrich the community by increasing awareness of the value and diversity of artistic expression. Avalon at Mission Bay III has been collaborating with Creativity Explored for the past year on the artwork and will be displaying it in public areas around the community. A number of the pieces are centered around the theme of sustainable transportation which was one of the key objectives in the planning of the community.

To celebrate the grand opening, AvalonBay will host a ceremony at Avalon at Mission Bay III this evening with over 100 guests including executives from the company, representatives from Creativity Explored and local community members and leaders. Guests will be given tours of the new development and have the opportunity to view the artwork from Creativity Explored first-hand.

Commenting on the grand opening, Meg Spriggs, Senior Development Director, Avalon Bay Communities said, "This is an exciting day for both AvalonBay and for the community. Avalon at Mission Bay III responsibly expands our presence in San Francisco, complementing our existing communities, and advances the company's green initiatives. Most importantly, it provides residents with a high quality, sustainable living experience. We are also proud to partner with Creativity Explored, an organization that is making a positive impact on the community. By showcasing the tremendous artwork we commissioned from their artists, we are taking advantage of local resources, creating an aesthetically-pleasing community and heightening awareness of this great cause."

"Partnering with Avalon at Mission Bay III was an excellent opportunity for Creativity Explored to fulfill its mission to increase the public's awareness of the talents of artists with developmental disabilities, as well as showcase our Art Services Program to the greater Bay Area residential and business communities," said Amy Taub, Executive Director of Creativity Explored.

"We are very proud of this project and the artwork that was specially created for Avalon at Mission Bay III. It is a thrill to see Creativity Explored studio artists' work installed in a space designed to display art. Many of the artworks were commissioned to highlight the talent, diversity of styles, and creative achievements of our artists, while other pieces were selected to complement the building's unique architecture and interiors."

Avalon at Mission Bay III includes studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartment options and superior amenities such as designer kitchens and baths, full-size washer and dryer and walk-in closets. It also features a 24-hour concierge, private fitness center, community areas, garage and storage.

About AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

AvalonBay is in the business of developing, redeveloping, acquiring, and managing apartment communities in high barrier-to-entry markets of the United States. As of March 31, 2009, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 173 apartment communities containing 50,291 apartment homes in ten states and the District of Columbia, of which 12 communities were under construction and seven communities were under reconstruction. More information on AvalonBay, an S&P 500 company, may be found on the Company's Web site at http://www.avalonbay.com.

About Creativity Explored

Creativity Explored is a nonprofit visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit, and sell art. We are committed to supporting people with developmental disabilities to become working artists, and to promoting their work as an emerging and increasingly important contribution to the professional art world. Creativity Explored provides workspace and materials in ongoing studio sessions facilitated by a team of professional artists who provide support and assistance to studio artists. Creativity Explored also operates a professional exhibitions program that promotes our studio artists' work to a wide array of local, regional, national, and international exhibition venues including commercial galleries, and corporate and public spaces.

Creativity Explored studio artists come from diverse backgrounds and bring with them a wide variety and range of experience, ability, and sensibilities. Some of our artists just turned twenty years old, while others are in their eighties. Some have lived lives of previous isolation or institutionalization, while others have lived their entire lives with their families in a supportive and accepting environment. Many of our studio artists speak different languages, or do not speak, and are unable to communicate with each other using spoken language. At Creativity Explored, visual art is language everyone can use to share culture, experience, and feelings.

At Creativity Explored, uncensored self-expression is both encouraged and celebrated. The result is art that is fresh, exciting, and innovative. We invite you to share our collective experience, to participate in our community, and to benefit from the significant contributions made by artists with disabilities to the cultural life of the broader community. Our common thread is the basic need to express self, and the tapestry we weave using art is a strong, durable community rich in color, form, and context. We invite you to become a part of our community.

SOURCE AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

Released June 18, 2009