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Construction & Design - What Amenities Do Students Really Want?

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Founding Partner

CUBE 3

Jack Boarman

Jack Boarman

CEO and Senior Practice Leader

BKV Group

Alan Greenberger

Alan Greenberger

Teaching Professor, Former VP Real Estate &Facilities

Drexel University

Ofer Ohad

Ofer Ohad

Managing Partner

DBI Projects

Jim Culkin

Jim Culkin

COO

KBE

Bob Keane

Bob Keane

Managing Principal

WDG Architecture

Megan Moyer
Moderator

Megan Moyer

Associate

Saul Ewing

Brian O'Connor

Founding Partner

CUBE 3

For more than 25 years, Brian has been distilling clients’ objectives into architecture that performs as beautifully as it looks. His primary focus at CUBE 3: architectural design and oversight of the studio teams. With extensive experience in base building and interior design for healthcare, commercial developers, and residences, Brian has seen and done it all. In the course of doing it all, he has amassed a wide range of skills, expertise and insight. On top of that, his abilities in design, production, and management of complex, time-sensitive projects have been critical to the firm’s rapid success. Brian has helped build almost every kind of building, a solid reputation and a great place to work all in just a few years’ time.

Jack Boarman

CEO and Senior Practice Leader

BKV Group

Jack Boarman founded the multi-discipline and award-winning firm, BKV Group, in 1978 and over the last 40+ years has expanded the company to be national student housing leader with over 190 design professionals working on projects throughout the United States. Jack is a Senior Practice Leader of Housing at BKV Group, focusing his work on the development of residential environments that utilize trend-setting ideas with a creative effort that translates client’s vision into a reality. Jack embraces a vision of growth and quality, which he incorporates in each of his designs. Jack is a renowned student housing expert, and speaks frequently at national and regional events and conferences including Interface, NMHC, Bisnow, and more. Recent and notable student housing projects Jack has designed include WaHu Student Apartments and The Marshall, both in Minneapolis, MN; Georgia Heights Apartments in Athens, GA; The Standard at New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ; The Standard at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC; and, The Standard at Auburn in Auburn, Alabama.

Alan Greenberger

Teaching Professor, Former VP Real Estate &Facilities

Drexel University

Since joining Drexel as a full-time faculty member in spring 2016, Alan has overseen the expansion of legacy programs in architecture and interior design as well as the creation of new graduate programs in research and urban strategy. Alan also serves on Drexel's Design Review Task Force, the Return Oversight Committee, and President Fry's Neighborhood Campus Development Group. Since Donald Moore's departure last year, Alan has been managing Drexel's critical external real estate and development-related partnerships.

Before coming to Drexel, Alan served in former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter's administration as Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Director of Commerce, as well as executive director and then chair of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. Under Alan's leadership, the city rewrote the Philadelphia Zoning Code and initiated a five-year long comprehensive plan, entitled Philadelphia 2035. Both initiatives were the first of their kind for the city in over 50 years, receiving the American Planning Association's National Excellence Award for a City Planning Agency in 2016. Alan's office also launched multiple programs to attract and support a burgeoning entrepreneurial community, attracted new, technology and venture capital firms to Philadelphia, and expanded business opportunities for small, minority- and women-owned businesses throughout the city. In recognition of his efforts on behalf of Philadelphia, the American Institute of Architects honored Alan with its 2017 Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Architecture.

For 34 years prior to joining the Nutter administration, Alan was a practicing architect with Mitchell/Giurgola Architects and its successor, MGA Partners, where he was the design lead on many award-winning projects at institutions of higher learning.

I want to thank Senior Vice President for Student Success Subir Sahu for chairing the search committee, as well as the other search committee members for their time and thoughtful consideration of the candidates for this role.

Ofer Ohad

Managing Partner

DBI Projects

As Managing Partner, Ofer Ohad is at the helm of DBI Projects’ diverse portfolio. With over twenty years of experience spanning every aspect of real estate and capital projects, Ofer is uniquely positioned to navigate intricate financial structures, sensitive negotiations, complex transactions, and challenging construction conditions. Drawing on a profound understanding of the industry, Ofer has developed and implemented strategic master plans across sprawling academic, residential, and commercial complexes. Ofer has extensive academic experience, having built a portfolio that includes Pace University, Bard College, St. John’s University, and the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). He also has years of practice supporting surety carriers, identifying and developing solutions for the multitude of challenges that can threaten the stability of a project, and he’s provided integral insight to institutional investors through various real estate transactions. His ability to conceive of innovative solutions for underperforming properties, capitalizing on their unseen potential, has led to decades-long partnerships with many of his clients. The versatility of his client portfolio has afforded Ofer the opportunity to direct developments around the world, from the NYC World Trade Center to historic properties in the streets of Paris, Rome, and Berlin.

Jim Culkin

COO

KBE

Jim Culkin is Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President, and a principal owner of KBE Building Corporation. He oversees Field Operations, Preconstruction and Estimating, and long-range strategic planning for the firm. Jim’s construction industry career began in 1986, working on projects in New York City and Long Island, among other locations. Since joining the firm in 1996, Jim has also served in the roles of Project Manager, Project Executive, and Director of Procurement.

Jim has led the preconstruction and/or construction phases of many significant projects in diverse markets. His 35+ years of construction experience includes projects in the municipal, K-12, higher education, retail, hospitality, institutional and health care sectors throughout KBE’s Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Western US markets. He received his BS in Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, and is a member of the Design Build Institute of America

Bob Keane

Managing Principal

WDG Architecture

Bob Keane, AIA, is a managing principal and owner of WDG Architecture, PLLC. Keane leads WDG’s

Higher Education Studio and has over 30 years of experience in the higher education sector. Prior to

joining WDG Architecture in 2004 to initiate the Studio, Mr. Keane spent 17 years at Design Collective,

Inc. (Baltimore, Maryland), where he led the design of a nearly two-and-a-half billion dollars of higher

education work. Mr. Keane’s university design experience is vast, ranging from campus master planning

and mixed-use developments, to health science and chemistry laboratories, to performing arts facilities,

and to student housing. His designs can be seen across the United States on more than 15 campuses.

Since joining WDG, Mr. Keane has directed numerous university projects, developing a national portfolio

with recent projects in Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, Georgia, Indiana and Michigan. Keane

has master planned and designed over 9.5 million-sf of student housing over the past 15 years,

providing public and private clients nearly 22,000 beds and wide-ranging amenities, totaling nearly three

billion dollars in higher education work. Projects have included on- and off-campus, traditional suites

and apartments, living-learning with classrooms, and retail.

In addition to his design experience, Mr. Keane speaks professionally and academically on the subjects

of urban planning, campus planning, student housing, and the profession of architecture. His ability to

conceptualize, coordinate, and explain solutions to complex design problems among team members and

client/user groups has proven invaluable to clients and the firm.

Mr. Keane has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Maryland. He is a member of

the American Institute of Architects, and regularly participates in The Association of College and

University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I) and the Society of College and University Planners

(SCUP).

Megan Moyer

Moderator

Saul Ewing

Megan Moyer is a real estate attorney who assists clients with matters involving leases, property sales and acquisitions, development projects and financings. Her work has supported REITS, particularly those who own and invest in shopping centers and medical office buildings, as well as health care providers and institutions of higher education. Her experience also includes work for ports and for pipeline companies. Megan has represented numerous property owners in connection with real estate tax appeals and applications for real estate tax exemptions.

A graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law, Megan was a judicial intern for the Honorable Cynthia M. Rufe in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. She was also a summer associate for Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, where she worked on matters involving real estate, labor and employment, and commercial litigation.

Investment & How Capital Views Student Housing

Justin Gronlie

Justin Gronlie

Director & Head of Education Real Estate

Harrison Street

Michael Erickson

Michael Erickson

MD, Student Housing Investments

Greystar

Mark Schundler

Mark Schundler

EVP, Investments

Campus Apartments

Daniel Bernstein

Daniel Bernstein

President & CIO

Campus Apartment​s

Michael Flanagan

Michael Flanagan

President - Development

The Michaels Organization

Gary Holloway Jr.

Gary Holloway Jr.

Chief Executive Officer & President

GMH Communities

Julie Skolnicki

Julie Skolnicki

Senior Managing Director

Greystar

Ken Wellar
Moderator

Ken Wellar

Managing Partner

Rittenhouse Realty Partners

Justin Gronlie

Director & Head of Education Real Estate

Harrison Street

Mr. Gronlie joined the firm in 2010 and is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. As a Director and Head of Education Real Estate in the Transactions group, he oversees the firm’s education investment platform. He is responsible for defining and implementing the firm’s investment strategy in university markets throughout the US as well as expanding Harrison Street’s Public Private Partnerships (P3’s). Mr. Gronlie has fostered relationships with public universities, academically selective private colleges and various other institutions, which has allowed Harrison Street to invest capital enabling its higher education partners to further their academic missions.

Prior to joining Harrison Street, Mr. Gronlie was an Assistant Vice President within the Commercial Real Estate Group at Citizens Bank. In this capacity, he was responsible for underwriting and portfolio management in the Mid-Atlantic region. He also served as the bank’s student housing specialist, whereby he analyzed each lending opportunity the bank evaluated within the asset class. Before working at Citizens, Mr. Gronlie was a Senior Acquisitions Analyst at GMH Communities Trust, a student housing REIT.

Mr. Gronlie holds a BBA in Finance from James Madison University.

Michael Erickson

MD, Student Housing Investments

Greystar

Michael Erickson is a Managing Director for Greystar Investment Management services and oversees the portfolio management of the Greystar Student Housing Growth and Income Fund (GEdR), a core-plus, open-end investment vehicle targeting high-quality acquisitions and developments at top tier universities throughout the US. Michael leads a team responsible for developing and executing GEdR’s strategy, while working collaboratively across Greystar on transactions, asset management, investment reporting, valuations, and capital raising to drive value for investors.

Before joining Greystar in 2014, Michael was a Senior Associate at Ernst & Young, where he was a member of the financial assurance services group. While at Ernst & Young, his clients included public and private firms in the software, financial services, and real estate sectors. Michael is a member of the Urban Land Institute.

Michael received a bachelor's degree and Master's in Professional Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin and is an inactive Certified Public Accountant in Texas.

Mark Schundler

EVP, Investments

Campus Apartments

Joined Campus Apartments in 2005

As Senior Vice President of Investments, Mark Schundler is responsible for sourcing, analyzing and evaluating on- and off-campus investment opportunities. During his tenure at Campus Apartments, Schundler has been involved in the acquisition and development of over 17,000 student beds and over $1 billion in total investment. He began his student housing career as a Hall Director at the University of Delaware and later worked at the University of Pennsylvania as Manager of Housing Operations, where he was responsible for a 3,600-bed area.

Daniel Bernstein

President & CIO

Campus Apartment​s

As President of Campus Apartments, Daniel Bernstein is responsible for the execution of Campus Apartments’ investment and growth initiatives, as well as oversight of its operations and asset management platforms.

During his tenure with Campus Apartments, Bernstein has invested over $2 billion in university-related real estate through the acquisition and development of housing, retail, hotel and academic / office space. Most recently, he led Campus Apartments through the successful launch of the Campus-Clarion Student Housing Partners fund.

A Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Bernstein has been an integral member of the Campus Apartments team since 1993, when he began working for the company while still in college. Over the past two decades, he has risen through the ranks at Campus Apartments, serving in various operational, asset management, and investment roles. Bernstein’s leadership and expertise have helped transform Campus Apartments from a regional student housing provider to the national leader it is today.

Michael Flanagan

President - Development

The Michaels Organization

Michael (Mick) Flanagan serves as President of Development for The Michaels Organization. In this role, Mick is an integral part of the Senior Leadership Team, overseeing all development activities for affordable, workforce, market-rate and student markets..

Mr. Flanagan has previously served as Executive Vice President for Michaels’ student and market-rate areas of expertise. Prior to this, Mr. Flanagan was Vice President of Capital Markets where he was responsible for supervising an acquisition platform for the overall operating company as well as procuring equity that supports the acquisition and development of multifamily housing projects.

Mr. Flanagan comes to The Michaels Organization with more than twenty years of experience in finance. Prior to joining Michaels, Mr. Flanagan held the position of Executive General Manager of Finance at Lendlease Corporation where he acquired more than $80 million dollars in assets, developed Telecom Infrastructure in the United States with initial equity of $400 million, and oversaw a renewable energy portfolio across 16 states. Before his work at Lendlease, Mr. Flanagan worked as a Portfolio Manager at AMP Capital Investors, where he led and executed more than $9 billion in funding for new facilities. Before that, he was Managing Director of AssetBacked Finance, a boutique finance and securitization company.

Mr. Flanagan holds a Master of Business Studies in Finance and Organizational Behavior from the University of Dublin. He received his Bachelor of Commerce in Corporate Finance and Accounting from the University of Queensland.

Gary Holloway Jr.

Chief Executive Officer & President

GMH Communities

As Chief Executive Officer & President of GMH Communities, Gary Holloway Jr., draws on 20 years of acquisition, property management, asset management, and development experience to lead the second generation of the family business. Gary focuses on GMH’s current portfolio of real estate assets while researching and investing in new niche-related multifamily housing opportunities nationwide. Gary sets company goals to meet the ever- changing market trends in the multifamily space making sure that GMH is at the forefront of the industry. Gary takes the lead in sourcing joint venture partnerships with institutional investors and takes pride in maintaining long term partnerships with well know institutions.

Gary pursues many philanthropic interests. Currently, he serves as a Trustee for the Westtown School. He is the Clerk of the Buildings, Grounds, and Environment Committee and serves on the Executive Committee and Athletic Advisory Council. Gary is a past board member of the Pennsylvania Apartment Association (PAA) and is a lifetime member of the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholars program that benefits deserving caddies in their pursuit of higher education.

Gary regularly lends his real estate knowledge by speaking at events for the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC) and BISNOW. He has also been a featured speaker for Villanova University and The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Gary is currently a member of NMHC’s Student Housing Advisory Group.

Gary received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Villanova University.

Julie Skolnicki

Senior Managing Director

Greystar

Julie Skolnicki is senior managing director of University Partnerships for Greystar, leading on-campus

development, acquisition, and long-term management partnerships nationally. She has executed over $3 billion

in mixed-use student life projects during her career advising and developing for universities, with an additional $2

billion in the pipeline. Julie joined Greystar in 2018 through the company’s acquisition of student housing leader

EdR, where she served as senior vice president of university partnerships. She came to EdR in 2013 with 15 years

of higher education planning and implementation experience at Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D), the University of

Cincinnati, and Turner Construction.

Ken Wellar

Moderator

Rittenhouse Realty Partners

Ken Wellar has fifteen plus years of experience in the multi-family housing industry. Ken specializes in the purchase, sale and financing of multi-family housing investments. In this role, Ken brings his clients first-hand experience in many aspects of the real estate industry including brokerage services, financing, property management and development experience. Throughout his career Ken has brokered the sale of over 23,000 units totaling north of $2,000,000,000 in consideration.

Ken is very active in the real estate industry and is a member of the National Multifamily Housing Council and the Jewish Federation Real Estate Group, as well as the Pennsylvania Apartment Association, the New Jersey Apartment Association, and the Delaware Apartment Association. He is also a member of the Urban Land Institute and on the Board for the Young Leaders of the ULI. Ken is an active member of the Building Industry Association as well as YPO. He recently earned his PA Broker’s License.

Student Housing Outlook

Noel Brinkman

Noel Brinkman

SVP, Public-Private Partnerships

ACC

Ed Datz

Ed Datz

Executive Director, Real Estate

University of Pennsylvania

Dominique Casimir

Dominique Casimir

SVP, Enterprise Asset Management

Thomas Jefferson University

Dailey Tipton
Moderator

Dailey Tipton

VP

Evolution Energy Partners

Noel Brinkman

SVP, Public-Private Partnerships

ACC

Brinkman spearheads ACC's the public-private partnership initiatives. He has participated in the award or development of approximately $4 billion of public-private partnerships across the country. One of his key responsibilities involves helping institutional leaders determine whether a partnership model is a viable alternative to develop purpose-built student housing and how institutions can leverage the private sector to deliver the types of housing that today’s student consumers demand. In his 21 years with ACC, Brinkman has served in a variety of capacities, including market analyst, director of development, and vice president of on-campus development. He is an active participant in numerous industry conferences, such as NACUBO, ACUHO-I, SCUP, AOA and NACAS. He graduated summa cum laude from Texas State University with B.B.A.s in marketing and finance.

Ed Datz

Executive Director, Real Estate

University of Pennsylvania

As Executive Director of Real Estate for the University oversee the strategic planning and management of Penn’s vast non-academic real estate holdings including real estate partnerships, off-campus housing, retail, development, brokerage (acquisitions and divestitures), third party leasing, urban planning and property management.

Dailey Tipton

Moderator

Evolution Energy Partners

Dailey Tipton has spent many years in senior positions of management where he is recognized for his expertise in energy and sustainability. He has a long history of growing companies, from start-up to Fortune 500 in size. As the leader for revenue generation for Evolution Energy Partners, Dailey focuses on creating opportunities for customers to drive impact to their bottom line through energy management projects while increasing their sustainable footprint. Prior to EEP, Dailey worked at CPower as a General Manager, SAP as the leader for Energy Management and Sustainable Applications Center of Excellence, DATUM as part of the management team and created, launched and managed a highly successful SAP sustainability practice for ERM.

Dailey started his career as a Naval Flight Officer and is a Veteran of Foreign War with multiple recognitions including two Navy Achievement Medals. He holds two degrees in Engineering: MS in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas and BS in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University. In his off time, Dailey is a competitive runner, cyclist, long distance open water swimmer and sails boats competitively. Dailey is on the Board of Directors for US Patriot Sailing, a wounded warrior program that provides support to the “Silently Wounded” warriors. Married 34 years to Jessica, who he met at Auburn, with two children Nate 30 and Leah 27.

Special Keynote with David Adelman

David Adelman
Keynote

David Adelman

CEO

76 Devcorp

Dave Jacobs
Moderator

Dave Jacobs

Managing Director

Ackman-Ziff

Dave Jacobs

Moderator

Ackman-Ziff

Dave joined Ackman-Ziff in 2011, bringing with him a diverse commercial real estate background in investment sales and capital advisory. He is responsible for originating, structuring and the placement of senior and sub-debt and preferred and joint venture equity. Dave has sold or financed every major asset class throughout the eastern half of the United States with a particular emphasis on the Philadelphia MSA and Mid-Atlantic.

Dave has spent his entire career in commercial real estate beginning in 2004 as an investment sales broker in the greater Philadelphia area, setting record price per square foot figures along the “Main Line”. He has represented high-net-worth individuals, private equity funds, private REITs, international investment groups, and pension fund advisors with their dispositions and structured finance needs.

As an avid writer, Dave has forged important relationships with prominent real estate publications through his commercial real estate and finance blog. His content has been featured in monthly columns on GlobeSt.com called the Philly 411, and has been quoted or published in the Wall Street Journal, the Mid-Atlantic Real Estate Journal, the Philadelphia Business Journal, Benzinga.com and numerous other publications. Dave graduated from New York University with a B.A. in economics.

Why This Matters

  • Student housing has been viewed as recession-proof due to the perception that millions of kids would want to get a college degree no matter what the economy looked like. However, the pandemic sent everyone home from college campuses, upending the assumption that as long as class is in session, college housing will be filled with students

  • Similar to businesses around the world, colleges were forced to put their plans on hold in 2020 and, for many, part of 2021 as well. Will new developments be returning in force as universities look to get back on track? 

  • Many of us have memories of small dorm rooms with smaller windows when we were in college. The pandemic has made many uncomfortable with small living spaces and lack of fresh air. How will the next wave of on campus and off campus developments make students feel safe? 

  • How are universities making sure they have the connectivity and technology to support students learning from their dorms or apartments? 

How You'll Do More Business: Despite the high cost, university enrollment continues to increase year over year. Schools will continue to need more on- and off-campus housing to accommodate their growing student bodies. Staying on top of trends that the pandemic brought on is paramount for staying ahead in student housing.

Agenda

Time Activity
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
Pre-Event Networking
3:00 PM
3:45 PM
Construction & Design - What Amenities Do Students Really Want?

Will de-densification of student housing continue? Gen-Z likes their own rooms, but lots of common areas - is that possible post pandemic? What amenities do college students actually want from their buildings.

3:45 PM
4:30 PM
Investment & How Capital Views Student Housing

How does capital currently view student housing? A lot of foreign capital invested in student housing before the Trump administration, will this new administration usher in a return of foreign investment?

4:30 PM
5:00 PM
Networking & Lunch
5:00 PM
5:30 PM
Special Keynote with David Adelman
5:30 PM
6:15 PM
Student Housing Outlook

What is the impact of students who deferred and potential lack of housing for incoming freshmen? How will schools handle the Omicron Variant and rise in Covid cases?

6:15 PM
6:30 PM
Post-Event Networking