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Event Host

University Place Associates

University Place Associates

University Place Associates (UPA), in partnership with Silverstein Properties and Cantor Fitzgerald, is shaping the future of life sciences, innovation, and public-private collaboration. Located in the heart of University City, Philadelphia, University Place is a transformative campus purpose-built to support government agencies, research institutions, and mission-driven organizations alongside leading life sciences innovators. Featuring advanced laboratory environments, GMP facilities, vivarium capabilities, and prime Market Street retail, University Place accelerates breakthroughs in cell and gene therapy, critical cure research, and next-generation laboratory infrastructure—while prioritizing health, sustainability, and community impact.

3.0 University Place stands as a trailblazing hub for innovation and partnership, offering unparalleled spaces designed to spark collaboration across the public, private, and academic sectors. As the first life sciences building in the United States to achieve both LEED® and WELL® Platinum certifications, it is more than a building—it is a high-performance ecosystem engineered to support global health initiatives, public missions, and a best-in-class tenant experience.

Experience the next frontier of life sciences and public innovation at University Place. Learn more at www.universityplacephl.com and follow us on social media: @universityplphl on X and UniversityPlacePHL on Facebook and Instagram.

Speakers and Panels

Remarks and Fireside Chats

Intimate Conversations With some of the Cities Most Influential Voices

Vincent Hughes
Opening Remarks

Vincent Hughes

State Senator

Pennsylvania

Peter Linneman
Keynote

Peter Linneman

Principal

Linneman Associates

Anthony Maher
Moderator

Anthony Maher

President

University Place Associates

Peter Linneman

Principal

Linneman Associates

Dr. Peter Linneman is a Principal of Linneman Associates, KL Realty, and American Land Funds, and is the Albert Sussman Emeritus Professor of Real Estate, Finance, and Business Public Policy at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He was a member of Wharton's faculty for 32 years, founding Wharton's Real Estate Department and the Zell-Lurie Real Estate Center. He is the founding co-editor of The Wharton Real Estate Review and has published over 80 articles during his career.

Anthony Maher

Moderator

University Place Associates

Anthony is well known for his entrepreneurial ecosystem engagement throughout the city of Philadelphia. He is Co-founder and former CEO of Benjamin’s Desk (now 1776), serving as a champion and growth strategist for entrepreneurs.

Anthony Maher joins Scott Mazo as Partner and President of UPA in January 2019. He is a strong advocate for public/private partnerships and will strategically curate every UPA building with the Philadelphia innovation ecosystem in mind. Anthony’s experience curating coworking space as Chief Growth Officer of 1776 is expansive. He looks forward to applying the same knowledge, experience, and zeal throughout the square footage of The Platinum Corridor®.

Anthony was also Partner of Philadelphia’s First Base Commercial Office Brokerage for several years, a brokerage that was created to help high growth tech startups secure their first traditional office space. Anthony was a First-Team College All-American and 10-year professional soccer player and brings the same focus and discipline that build effective teams to help create long term partnerships and impact. He can usually be found exploring the local playgrounds or community soccer fields with his wife and three young sons.

Life Sciences at a Crossroads – Filling Labs & Funding the Next Phase

John Gattuso

John Gattuso

CEO

Gattuso Development

Joseph Coletti

Joseph Coletti

Managing Director

JLL

Osagie Imasogie

Osagie Imasogie

Co-Founder and Sr. Managing Partner

PIPV Capital

Heather Steinman

Heather Steinman

Executive Director, Technology Transfer

The Wistar Institute

Matthew Weinstein
Moderator

Matthew Weinstein

Chair, Real Estate Lease Restructuring

Cozen O'Connor

John Gattuso

CEO

Gattuso Development

The Comcast Technology Center, the Comcast Center, the ongoing redevelopment of the Philadelphia Navy Yard and the Camden Waterfront; all of these iconic projects were developed under John’s guidance during his 30-year tenure at Liberty Property Trust, one of the nation’s largest real estate investment trusts.

During that time, John was responsible for the development of over 50 projects in Philadelphia and across the nation, representing almost $3 billion in investment. His projects include the TJX Distribution center in Northeast Philadelphia, recognized as a “Smart Growth” development by the Sierra Club; the Plaza at PPL Center in Allentown; and the spectacular Comcast Center that became Comcast’s international headquarters upon completion in 2008, both recipients of the Urban Land Institute’s Award of Excellence.

His most recent work consists of the 1,121’ tall, 1.8 million square foot Comcast Technology Center which features a five-star Four Seasons Hotel, the tallest hotel in North America; as well as the new waterfront headquarters for American Water.

In addition, John serves as the President of the Fairmount Park Conservancy; and serves as a board member of the Center City District. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, John and his family live in the greater Philadelphia region.

Matthew Weinstein

Moderator

Cozen O'Connor

Matthew has 25 years of experience representing real estate developers, owners, landlords, and tenants in all aspects of the acquisition, disposition, development, financing, and leasing of commercial property. He works with both entrepreneurial and institutional clients on their most critical real estate transactions. Matthew purposefully maintains a transactional practice that handles a wide range of real estate asset classes, including retail, office, warehouse/industrial, and life sciences. Leasing and lease restructuring are areas of particular focus for Matthew. He has led prominent leasing transactions for decades and founded one of the Am Law 100’s first dedicated lease restructuring teams, which he continues to chair. Matthew leads acquisition and disposition transactions, often in the context of major development projects. He has significant experience with ground leases, built-to-suit developments, reciprocal easement agreements, and construction issues.

Matthew earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and his law degree, magna cum laude, from Villanova Law School.

Why You Should Attend University City State of the Market

Why This Matters

University City is still one of the most resilient life sciences hubs in the country. Vacancy sits around 5 percent while Boston, San Diego and other major markets wrestle with double-digit levels and delayed development. Tenants have more leverage, but they are still choosing Philly because of cost advantages, a deep talent pipeline from Drexel and Penn, and access to NIH and private capital. Billions of dollars are tied up in towers, research centers and mixed-use campuses that will reshape the neighborhood and the skyline. Infrastructure commitments are ramping up as well, from SEPTA upgrades to improved pedestrian connections between campuses, labs and residential pockets. This event breaks down which projects are moving, which are paused, how capital is flowing and what the data tells us about leasing demand in 2026. The conversation matters for anyone trying to understand where development, investment, jobs and innovation are headed in Philadelphia’s strongest life sciences submarket.

What You Will Learn

  • Philly’s Relative Resilience: Despite a national slowdown, University City’s lab market held firm with low vacancy (~5% vs. Boston’s 22%). Panelists will explore how a disciplined supply (only 1.8M SF delivered in 2023, down from 2.1M in 2022) prevented a glut. This restraint matched the cooling demand and positioned Philly to “hold its own” while other hubs face big vacancies.

  • Adapting Strategies in a “Pause”: Leading developers and landlords will share how they’re navigating the downcycle. Expect insights on requiring pre-leases or sizable tenant commitments before breaking ground. We’ll hear about creative financing tools being used, from joint ventures with institutional investors to public-sector grants, and how stakeholders are positioning projects now so they can hit go quickly when the market improves.

  • Placemaking: Building a 24/7 Neighborhood: Beyond steel and glass, how are these projects activating the streets and serving the community? Public realm improvements are front and center, from murals and pedestrian paths around 3151 Market to plans for wider sidewalks and landscaping. Panelists will highlight the amenities (parks, retail, arts, grocery stores) being woven into projects to ensure a vibrant, livable University City.

  • Infrastructure & Big-Picture Impact: A bold new skyline needs equally bold infrastructure support. The panel will examine how these investments position University City as Philadelphia’s nexus of innovation: creating jobs, attracting companies, and even addressing citywide needs like housing. In sum, are these mega-projects delivering the economic ripple effects and inclusive growth promised?

     

For questions regarding content and speaking, please email our Director, Event Production, Virginia Baker, at Virginia.Baker@bisnow.com. Want to get involved? Contact Dane.Sinks@bisnow.com or Max.Kleinberg@bisnow.com  to get information on sponsorship, pricing and availability at this event. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact mackenzie.kunkle@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event.

Agenda

Time Activity
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
Registration, Networking, & Breakfast
1:00 PM
1:05 PM
Opening Remarks From Senator Vincent Hughes
1:05 PM
1:50 PM
Life Sciences at a Crossroads – Filling Labs & Funding the Next Phase

After a lab construction boom and a recent demand slowdown, what strategies will keep University City’s life sciences engine humming?

1:50 PM
2:45 PM
Science, Leadership, and the Business of Public Safety, Building Philadelphia’s Future Together

Fireside chat with Director Michael Garvey and audience Q&A

2:45 PM
3:00 PM
Networking Break
3:00 PM
3:45 PM
Fireside Chat with Peter Linneman
3:45 PM
4:15 PM
Post Panel Networking

Sponsors

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