We are a strategic real estate + planning + design consulting firm that brings interdisciplinary sizzle to development with visionary design grounded by strong real estate acumen.
With 20 years of experience creating innovative and iconic places across the world for universities, governments, institutional developers, mission-driven organizations, nonprofits and everything in between, we’ve perfected the art and science of creating visionary concepts that are grounded in the hard-nosed realities of what it takes to get things built.
- It is our mission to solve the most intractable problems facing the built environment with relentless curiosity, unique insight, and creative design solutions. We believe our holistic interdisciplinary approach unlocks solutions otherwise not possible.
- We bring that special sauce to projects by combining big-picture design visioning with practical detail-oriented know-how.
We specialize in formulating visionary, actionable solutions that connect purpose with people, place and profit.
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We create scalable ideas that get people excited and cut through the things that derail ambitious projects, whether it be long and contentious entitlements, the risk-averse world of real estate finance or a lack of innovation in the construction world. We synthesize complex information into elegant insights and innovative ideas.
- We create inspired concepts and cutting-edge design communicated through compelling visual narratives that can win over the community and investors.
- We expertly transcend silos to create value for projects and usher them through every stage in the development process.
- As interdisciplinary practitioners with deep institutional real estate development expertise, we know the challenges large development projects face.
- We know the metrics that matter. We know what levers need to be pulled to make something pencil . We know how to read the market. We know how to navigate board rooms, investor groups, contractors, community groups and everything in between.
We are lateral thinkers and thought-partners capable of bridging traditional divides.
- We work differently. We listen before we act. Through deep collaboration and in an iterative, open-book fashion, we cut-short long, circuitous processes and arrive at real outcomes more quickly.
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We lead by challenging assumptions and applying reverse logic to ensure the right problem is being solved. We generate as many new ideas as possible, regardless of how unconventional they might seem at first.
- We utilize a systematic process with defined evolutionary stages to arrive at an innovative and practical solution: Empathize (Listen and understand users), Define (the problem), Ideate (brainstorm refined solutions), Prototype (build concepts and models), and Test (evaluate and iterate).
About Ryan, the Founder
Ryan is a recognized thought leader on innovation in the built environment. His work is cited in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Architect’s Newspaper, and Architecture Magazine, among other publications. A respected technologist, he currently advises a number of proptech companies and AEC technology start-ups. He is also an active member of the Urban Land Institute, serving on the Innovation Council and NEXT in Los Angeles, a registered architect in the State of New York and a Certified Urban Planner (AICP) by the American Planning Association.
Ryan previously served as Head of Design at Lendlease (ASX: LLC), a global development, construction, and investment management company, where he worked across regions, providing strategy and design leadership throughout its development portfolio. He formulated the vision and led direction from origination through construction on a number of prominent mixed- use projects across the US, including Habitat, a mixed-use 260 unit multi-family and creative office complex in Los Angeles, Hayes Point, a 300 unit condo and office tower in San Francisco, Southbank, a 7-acre Master Plan in Chicago, One Java, an 830-unit multifamily building in New York City, and Forum, a 350k sf life science building in Boston. Ryan also served as Regional Head of Practices, Lendlease’s internal innovation group, where he led a number of cross-functional initiatives and special projects focusing on next generation sustainability strategies, office-to-residential conversions, new asset classes and building materials including cross laminated timber.
Prior to Lendlease, Ryan was the Director of Urban Design and Development at SHoP Architects, the globally renowned architecture firm based in New York City, where he led the firm’s large-scale projects. Through his experience at SHoP, Ryan combined his backgrounds in real estate, design and urban planning to become an industry leader in the creation of innovative mixed-use development, including the Ion District for Rice University in Houston, the Berkeley Global Campus in Richmond, CA for UC Berkeley, Essex Crossing master plan in New York City’s lower east side, and the Schuylkill Yards master plan in Philadelphia for Drexel University and Brandywine Realty Trust. He also contributed to the design of some of the most iconic architecture projects in the world, including the Collins Arch in Melbourne, Australia and 111 W 57th St in New York City.
Ryan holds a dual Master of Architecture and Master of Science in Real Estate Development from the Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation where he received an Honor Award for Excellence in Design and the 2012 AIA Heritage Ball Scholarship. He also holds a B.A. in Architecture and Ecological Design with High Honors from the University of California Berkeley where he was awarded the Raymond L. Watson Prize and the Alpha Rho Chi award.