The University of Virginia established a Center for Real Estate and the Built Environment at the McIntire School of Commerce. It is a hub that will bring together commercial real-estate curriculum and research from across the University for the mutual benefit of students, alumni, and the entire industry.
Funding was initiated by Robert M. White Jr. (a McIntire alumnus from 1987), founder and former CEO at Real Capital Analytics Inc.
Nicole Thorne Jenkins (dean of McIntire School) said that Bob’s support has been a huge help in bringing together the University’s many academic pursuits in real property under one umbrella. The center will be a pan-University hub for real estate. It will bring together alumni and students from a variety od disciplines to support our academic programs. It will also expand and strengthen our UVA/industry networks and support the production and dissemination faculty and industry research.
This is White’s second major gift to support real estate at the University. In December 2019,White donated $3 million to McIntire School to establish the Bicentennial Professorship Fund for Real Estate FinanceThe position was created by Drew Sanderford who will be the first director of the new center. Whites gift, matched by $2 million more from the Universitys Bicentennial Professors Fund to provide $5 million in support for faculty initiatives in real-estate finance, ultimately netted $5 million.
White, whose finance studies at Commerce School prepared him for a successful career in tracking capital markets for international property, has been vocal and deliberate about helping the Commerce School grow its presence in cross-curricular realty. White’s latest gift will help to spur high-impact activities and provide a welcoming learning and networking environment that supports the University and historically underrepresented communities.
White stated that the center’s mission is to build bridges and facilitate the exchange of knowledge about the built environment and commercial real estate. I’m eager to see the center enhance UVA’s real estate experience for all students, alumni, and industry partners. The center will provide points of exploration, exchange, and information about real estate finance, investment, development, urban data analysis. Urban planning, economics, economics, and the effect of the built world on society.
The University’s long-standing goal to create meaningful interaction between Commerce School and all other schools is reflected in the new center. This includes the School of Architecture and the College of Arts & Sciences, as well as the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and Darden School of Business, Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of Law. The Commerce Schools’ seventh center of excellence, in support of the 2030 Strategic Goals of UVA, will increase and amplify commercial real estate-related programming, support and create resources to students and faculty in multiple units, and provide avenues for alumni networking and engagement.
Although the center won’t create curriculum, it will strengthen cross-disciplinary academic programs such as McIntires multicourse real estate trackIts interdisciplinarity real estate minor,It began its first classes this semester. The center will also support specialized programs like the School of Architectures recent graduate certification in real estate design and development, and the School of Engineerings program in construction engineering and management. The center will encourage alumni and student engagement through activities and other events, often in collaboration and cooperation with McIntire and Darden student clubs and UVAs Alumni Real Estate group.
The new center is the next step in a tradition of intellectual engagement in commercial real estate investment and the built environment that began with professor George Overstreet’s 1984 course, Sanderford stated. The center could not have been created without strong leadership, thoughtful administration, and the generosity of our alumni friends. It’s an exciting opportunity to expand our ability to be great and good.
