Alumni News & Events
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Alumni/ae News
2009 AACRE Spring Symposium: "Is There Light at the End of the Tunnel?"
Posted March 30, 2009
Everyone in real estate is asking, but on Friday, April 24th, some of the best minds in the field will answer the question, "Is there light at the end of the tunnel?" Top researchers, economists, and industry practitioners will come to MIT for a half-day symposium addressing challenges and opportunties in the current market. Register for AACRE's Spring Symposium.
Better Off Renting? Professor Fisher Presents New Research
December 4, 2008
In a talk sponsored by AACRE in the Brown Bag Lunch series, Professor Lynn Fisher shared her new research which questions the widely-held belief that home ownership is always preferable to renting. Specifically, her work shows that those who own homes tend to earn lower wages because they are less mobile, and so are not as responsive to changes in labor market demand. Learn more.
Guma Wins Award for Real Options Thesis
Posted December 5, 2008
MIT/CRE graduate Anthony Guma '08 has been selected to receive the 2008 Thesis Award from the MIT Alumni Association for the Center for Real Estate, sponsored by New Boston Fund. Entitled "A Real Options Analysis of a Vertically Expandable Real Estate Development," (pdf, 2.5M) Guma's work researches the value and feasibility of developing urban sites with the option to add more space vertically in the future. Read full article.
David Marvin '89 Wins Hilton's "Multi-Brand Developer of the Year" Award
Posted November 18, 2008
As noted in the Atlanta Business Journal's October 31 issue, the Hilton Hotels Corporation recently named David Marvin the Hilton Multi-Brand Developer of the Year. Honored as the developer behind the 242-room Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park, as well as the Doubletree Hotel Atlanta Northlake in Tucker, Marvin is President and CEO of Legacy Property Group.
What Bear Market?! For Dave Paladino '00, Now Is the Time to Grow
Posted July 16, 2008
Entrepreneur Dave Paladino '00 sees only growth in his future. As featured in the Midlands Business Journal, his Omaha-based Landmark Management Group focuses on single family housing; his Dino's Storage is an expanding network of self-stowage facilities. The two are growing synergistically in the current downturn market. "The self-storage business is insulated from the economy in general," Dave said. "If people aren't moving into bigger houses, they have to put [their possessions] into storage. Nobody wants to throw anything away." Read article (pdf, 530K).
Colin Riley '00 Featured in Caribbean News
June 13, 2008
On June 4th, Colin Riley '00 teamed up with the University Centre in Montserrat to offer a public lecture highlighting real estate opportunities for small investors. The lecture gave special attention to the value that real estate development could bring to Montserrat in a post-disaster context. Download article (pdf, 13K) or read online at CaribbeanNetNews.com.
2008 AACRE Spring Symposium Features Keynote Bill Wheaton, Who Assures of Coming Recovery
May 16, 2008
A recovery of the real estate market is "in the works" — that’s the good news from William Wheaton, MIT/CRE Professor of Economics. Wheaton shared his news as keynote speaker for the annual AACRE spring symposium, which on May 16th drew a large crowd of real estate professionals, alumni, and students to the MIT Faculty Club. Along with his upbeat forecast, Wheaton stressed that when and how the recovery will occur still remain to be seen. Read full article.
Heather Smith Fellowships for 2008 Awarded to Ai Kong and Yali Wang
Posted April 28, 2008
At a benefit/reception held at The Finale in Boston on April 28th, Ai Kong and Yali Wang were named to receive the Heather Smith Memorial Fellowships for 2008. Their awards bring to twelve the total number of fellowships presented since the program's inception. Find out more about the awardees and learn about the Fellowship.
Roberta Sydney '88 Profiled in Boston Herald Feature
April 1, 2008
"If you think Roberta Sydney was just handed real estate development and management company Sydney Associates by her dad, you’d be wrong. But if you think she carries on his tradition of being honest, decisive and trustworthy, you’d be right." Download article (pdf, 22K) or visit bostonherald.com.
Randy Nichols '89 Breaks Ground on Denver's "Spire"
May 15, 2007
Denver developer and MIT/CRE graduate Randy Nichols '89 broke ground on The Spire, a $175 million, 41-story project projected to be the tallest residential tower between Chicago and Las Vegas when it opens in 2009. Located across from the Colorado Convention Center, the Spire will stand 483-feet tall, and will include 503 condos with 10-foot ceilings, and 602 covered parking spaces. It will be a "green" building, with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) designation. Read more: download article (pdf, 33K) or view online.
AACRE/ ULI Sustainable Real Estate Symposium
May 11, 2007
In response to the growing need for environmentally sustainable (green) building, the Alumni Association of the Center for Real Estate (AACRE) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) presented a joint sustainability symposium. Reflecting the real estate industry's increasing interest in environmental impact, the rising cost of energy, and the mounting evidence of the benefits of building green, the program agenda explored how operators, investors, and developers can build, renovate, and operate sustainably. Read a review.
Heather Smith Fellowships Awarded for 2007
February 26th, 2007
Three women in MIT/CRE's Class of 2007 were named today to receive the Heather Smith Memorial Fellowship, bringing to ten the total number of awardees. Nadia Di Carlo, Marianne Ganster, and Katie Nash were chosen based on factors that included financial need and outstanding career promise. Find out more about the awardees and the Fellowship.
Frank Killilea '97 Launches Stratton Development Management
January 31, 2007
Alumnus Frank Killilea '97 has formed a new company that provides project management services to New England real estate developers, corporations, and tenants. Based in North Andover, Massachusetts, Stratton Development Management (SDM) provides end-to-end project management services for real estate developments, but can also focus on specific phases — feasibility, acquisition due diligence, entitlements, construction management, and more — with customized solutions. Read press release (pdf, 28K).
Tarpon Rising: Enhancing the Built Environment with Art
Posted December 2006
MIT Center for Real Estate alumnus David Marvin (MSRED ’89) recently commissioned a major public art project for the Embassy Suites Hotel that his firm developed in downtown Atlanta as a way of tipping his hat to the hotel’s new neighbor, the Georgia Aquarium. Created by artists Ralph Helmick and Stuart Schecter of Newton MA, Tarpon Rising hangs in the hotel atrium, a towering space that offers a long view of the suspended sculpture lit from above by continuous skylights.
Columbia CEO Oliver Carr '92 Announces Merger with JP Morgan
Business Wire, November 6, 2006
Columbia Equity Trust, Inc. today announced that JPMorgan Asset Management's Special Situation Property Fund will acquire Columbia in an all-cash merger valued at approximately $502 million. Oliver Carr '92, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Columbia Equity Trust, stated, "As we have indicated to our shareholders since our IPO last year, our sole focus at Columbia is on creating value for our investors, and we believe that the proposed merger with SSPF achieves that objective." Download article (pdf, 26K) or view online.
David Marvin '89 Profiled as "Visonary Developer"
Atlanta Style & Design, Fall 2006
Featured in Atlanta Style & Design, "self-deprecating" David Marvin '89 gets noticed for the changes his team has brought to downtown Atlanta: "You may not know Marvin's name, but you've certainly seen the influence of Legacy Property Group. Legacy is responsible for downtown's first new hotel in 15 years...and downtown's first luxury condominiums." Download article (pdf, 501K).
Heather Smith Fellowship Awarded for 2006
February 2006
On February 27, 2006, MIT Center for Real Estate graduate student Amy Merritt received the Heather Smith Memorial Fellowship Award. A member of the Class of 2006, Amy is the seventh recipient of the award, which is presented each year to one of the Center's female graduate students. Amy came to MIT after working for Green Street Properties, an Atlanta-based urban redevelopment firm specializing in mixed-use New Urbanist infill projects. Before working for Green Street, she worked for J.P. Morgan in New York as a financial analyst. Amy received her B.A. in Architecture and Certificate in Finance from Princeton University in 2001.
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Previous Alumni/ae Events
Please see the main MIT Center for Real Estate Events Page for upcoming events.
MIT Center for Real Estate Graduation
September 30, 2006
The 2006 graduation keynote address was delivered by Matthew Kelly, Vice President of Real Estate Strategy and Development for Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI).
10th and 20th Anniversary Class Reunions
September 29, 2006
To honor of the Classes of 1986 and 1996, the MIT Center for Real Estate invited members of both Classes and guests to attend a special dinner in concert with the Center’s Graduation Weekend.
San Fransciso Alumni Get-Together
May 18, 2006
Planned highlights for the San Franscisco Alumni get-together included touring a $15M home for the 2006 San Francisco Decorator Showcase, then walking down Sacramento Street for dinner.
New York City Annual Trip
May 4, 2006
The Alumni Association of the Center for Real Estate (AACRE) hosted its annual New York City trip on May 4, 2006, at the W Hotel / Icon Restaurant, 130 East 39th Street (on the corner of Lexington). Cocktail reception from 6pm to 8pm included guest appearances by David Geltner and Tod McGrath.
Symposium Addresses Risk and Return in Real Estate Development Ventures
February 16, 2006
On February 16, 2006, a symposium co-produced by the Alumni Association of MIT’s Center for Real Estate (AACRE) and New England Women in Real Estate (NEWIRE) brought together leaders in development theory and practice to address issues of risk and return in real estate development ventures. If developing real estate is far riskier than purchasing stable real estate, how much greater should be the returns on such investment?
Alumni/ae Reunion Weekend 2005
September 29 - October 1, 2005
The MIT/Center for Real Estate's Alumni/ae Reunion Weekend 2005 took place September 29 through October 1. The theme of the weekend was real estate theory versus practice. Click on the link above to learn more about the events that took place and view our webcast.
MIT/CRE NYC Annual Trip
April 28, 2005
In the spirit of hosting current students, AACRE put together a two hour cocktail reception with tasty bites and of course, healthy drinks. It provided a great opportunity to meet the Class of 2005, Tony Ciochetti, the Center's new Chairman, David Geltner, Director, and of course, Tod McGrath.
AACRE & MIT/CRE - New York City Forum on Issues and Innovations in Real Estate
November 3, 2004
A panel presentation featured a select group of Manhattan 's leading planning, design and real estate professionals in a discussion of the future of one of Manhattan 's last developable frontiers, the Far West Side. Download the invitation (pdf, 76k)
Alumni/ae Reunion Weekend 2004
September 30 - October 2, 2004
