Artist, developer and ?renaissance man? Andreas Bechtler recently received Charlotte Center City Partners' 2011 Vision Award, one of the city's top honors recognizing selfless achievement. What's so selfless about him? The Swiss-born visionary bestowed upon Charlotte his family?s art collection, a trove valued at $65M. Featuring the work of such artists as Giacometti, Mir , and Degas, it's now housed in the new Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, one of the jewels of the city's arts and entertainment district uptown.

The award itself, and a pair of binoculars, have been given in years past to such local dignitaries as former BofA exec Hugh McColl, former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt, and Panthers majority ownerJerry Richardson. The Charlotte Convention Center's Crown Ballroom lit up like the Oscars as more than 800 guests wined and dined during the two-hour ceremony. CRE luminaries included execs from BofA, Wells Fargo, CBRE, Hines, and PPM Global.