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State of the Center
The U.S. News & World Report once again ranked the Real Estate Department #1 in the country. The Center provides thought leadership to the real estate community by supporting cutting-edge research for current and future business leaders and policy makers. It helps to facilitate a partnership between industry professionals and Wharton faculty and students. The Center is committed to pursuing excellence in education, making research accessible and providing a forum for the real estate community to discuss critical issues. The research agenda has been maintained in five areas of on-going interest: developments in debt and equity markets, technology and real estate, corporate real estate, real estate and public policy, and real estate cycles and market fundamentals. Research is disseminated in the Wharton Real Estate Review and Brooking-Wharton Papers on Urban Affairs, the Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center Working paper series and the new web site. Center programs continue to include the Fall and Spring Members' Meetings, the Farash Distinguished Lectures, International Housing and Finance Program, Student Awards and Scholarships and the Max M. Farash Roundtable. Career planning and placement are facilitated by the Mentor Program, the Resume Book, career panels and the Ballard Executive Visitor Series.
Last year brought the appointment of a new Wharton Dean, Patrick Harker. In the Real Estate Department, a gift from the Bucksbaum family, through the impetus provided by Center Executive Committee member John Bucksbaum, created the Martin Bucksbaum Endowed Professorship. Two new courses were introduced, Real Estate Entrepreneurship and Advanced Real Estate Investment and Analysis. There are also two new personnel currently at the Center, a post-doctoral researcher, Dr. Christian Hilber and a research specialist, James Knight-Dominick. The undergraduate Real Estate Club has been revitalized and the MBA Club continues to do well. There is increased student interest in real estate and two new clubs have been formed -- one at the Law School and the other at the Graduate Center of Fine Arts. Real Estate Club activities include building tours, entrepreneurial panels and social activities. A new Center web site http://realestate.wharton.upenn.edu has been launched, consistent with Center branding initiatives and encouraging usage by students and younger professionals. Future strategy includes maintaining and attracting strong members in the face of continuing industry consolidation, successfully integrating new course offerings into the curriculum and raising money for an additional endowed professorship in the Real Estate Department.
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Based on a Report Given by Zell/Lurie Center Director, Professor Joseph Gyourko, at the Fall Members' Meeting, October 12, 2000.
There are currently 206 Primary Members of the Center. The Membership committee is chaired by Steven Karpf and comprises Lizanne Galbreath, Bob Lieber, and Asuka Nakahara. Membership initiatives include targeting non-East Coast younger associates and seeking thought leaders. The committee continues to find ways to refine membership benefits for Supporting, Sustaining and Research Sponsors and to regularly contact the membership to ensure that the Center maintains relevancy.
