Related exec takes Columbia position funded by SL Green CEO
September 09, 2009 05:30PM By Sara Polsky
Vishaan Chakrabarti
A Related Companies executive is heading back to school as the leader of Columbia University's real estate development program.
Vishaan Chakrabarti, a developer, architect and planner, is leaving his position as executive vice president of design and planning at Related this fall to take charge of the real estate development program at Columbia's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, the university announced today. Chakrabarti will be responsible for expanding the program's faculty, reviewing the curriculum and making admissions more competitive, he told The Real Deal.
"The idea is to make it the best in class real estate program in the world," Chakrabarti said. "There [are] actually very few terminal professional degrees in real estate…[and] it has all the makings because it's housed in one of the greatest architecture and planning schools and it's got an affiliation with one of the best business schools."
Chakrabarti said he thinks the 23-year-old master's program, which recently expanded to three semesters, is at "a great pivotal point" and can accomplish its goals within five years.
The funding for Chakrabarti's position, the Holliday professorship, comes from a donation from SL Green CEO Marc Holliday, an alumnus of the program, and his wife Sheree Holliday.
The chance to reshape Columbia's program and to make use of his architecture and planning background made the position a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity for Chakrabarti, he said. Before coming to Related, Chakrabarti spent three years as the director of the Manhattan office of the Department of City Planning, where he worked on Hudson Yards, the High Line and the reconstruction of Lower Manhattan. He was previously an associate partner in the New York office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and a transportation planner with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Chakrabarti won't be leaving his previous work completely behind. He plans to continue working in an advisory capacity on Moynihan Station, his primary project at Related, after he assumes his post at Columbia. There might even be the potential for students to get involved in that project, if the university's conflict-of-interest rules permit, he said.
Chakrabarti said he'll also be opening his own urban planning firm, to allow him to do non-academic consulting work on the side.
"I'm going to be a busy man," he said, "but in this economy, busy is good."
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Comments
Anonymous
Why doesn't someone focus on getting us graduates from real estate programs (NYU or Columbia) some real jobs rather than continue to peddle dreams! How's that for an idea?!
Comment #1 Posted By: Anonymous 09/09/09
Anonymous
I agree with #1.
Comment #2 Posted By: Anonymous 09/09/09
Anonymous
after graduating from one of those programs, you should be able to make your own job!
Comment #3 Posted By: Anonymous 09/09/09
Anonymous
I graduated from Columbia - didn't need help finding a job - make your our luck I say. Well done Michael Buckley. Thanks for the countless hours - good luck fine sir.
Comment #4 Posted By: Anonymous 09/09/09
Anonymous
This guy use to work for the city, then he worked with Related and now he is off to Columbia. Sounds like he is going to have a fine future.
Comment #5 Posted By: Anonymous 09/10/09
Anonymous
Having a Related insider will help grads get a job there. As a grad of CBS, I will say that there are great resources for assisting a job search including recruiting relationships and an alumni database. However, you still need to put in your own effort, it's not just handed to you.
Comment #6 Posted By: Anonymous 09/10/09
Anonymous
Columbia could not have found a more talented, respected and thoughtful person to move forward their program. Mr. Chakrabarti is one of the rare people who offer a fresh global perspective and understanding of the political and private sector to solve problems. In fact, he may be too good for Columbia, but he will succeed!
Comment #7 Posted By: Anonymous 09/10/09
Dinosaur Barebeque
My vote was for Coco but this guy seems pretty good too.
Comment #8 Posted By: Dinosaur Barebeque 09/10/09
Anonymous
well said #4 I also graduated from Columbia a couple years ago...also found a job thanks to the program. My gratitude then to Michael Buckley!
Comment #9 Posted By: Anonymous 09/10/09
Anonymous
This new director should shed the bad, and build on the good. Good luck on furthering this top tier program! However, please spare future students of busy work like summaries and non core real estate material.
Comment #10 Posted By: Anonymous 09/10/09
Anonymous
i vote for coco too...
Comment #11 Posted By: Anonymous 09/10/09
Anonymous
I vote for coco 3
Comment #12 Posted By: Anonymous 09/10/09
Anonymous
I vote for the BBQ Dinosaur Master usless speaches!
Comment #13 Posted By: Anonymous 09/10/09
Anonymous
Columbia's program is currently a big hoax. They've been banking on the name for years and not delivering a quality education in return. Good move getting Buckley out and Chakrabarti in, but I'll still be cursing the Columbia name every month until my fancy Ivy loans are paid off. Too little, too late.
Comment #14 Posted By: Anonymous 09/10/09
Anonymous
buckley was quite the interesting guy, he will do interesting things down at his new position at UTA. unfortunately, who knows what those things will be and if they will be relevant at all. although, every project he has had a hand in has been a huge success, except for those that have not
Comment #15 Posted By: Anonymous 09/10/09
Anonymous
The Columbia MsRED program is world class. Among the Real Estate community it is frequently touted as the Number #1 Real Estate program in the nation. There is no other program in the nation that offers three rigorous semesters of real estate finance, coupled with classes in real estate law, construction, and development. I have met several graduates of this program, and they never cease to impress me. Kudos to Buckley...Goodluck to Chakrabarti
Comment #16 Posted By: Anonymous 09/11/09
Anonymous
Agreed Buckley did a great job, best of luck in his future interests. Chakrabarti, if you read this, there is a LinkedIn group for Columbia MSRED alumni - a lot of us are willing to volunteer time to return something back to the program. Marc and Sheree should also be given a note of gratitude. Although nothing less should be expected from a Columbia and Lehigh Grad...
Comment #17 Posted By: Anonymous 09/11/09
Anonymous
There was a certain group in last year's class who thought that Columbia was there to get them a job, like it was some god-given right of theirs. This assumption is not only arrogant, but also out of touch with reality (and nowhere in the Columbia website does it say that jobs are guaranteed). The degree is there to help open doors to interviews. After that it's up to you - like with any job. If you are not getting the jobs or interview,s then you should look in the mirror and contemplate the idea that it's because of you, your interview technique or your resume. Also, you cannot blame any degree program for the downturn in the economy or job market. Stot playing the blame game, and grow up. To Post #14 - keep bad-mouting the program like that, that's really going to enhance the value of the investment you made. Columbia MSRED - great program, and great new appointment. Good luck.
Comment #18 Posted By: Anonymous 09/11/09
Cookie Monster
Columbia MSRED, like any degree program, had its share of good and bad. While it provided some graduates a springboard they were seeking, it failed to meet the expectations of others who thought that an Ivy League program means instant success and easy money. Being a recent graduate from this program, I personally admire Prof. Buckley for all the effort he had put into the program over the years, but on the other hand I think the time was right that a new Director takes on this program. This program has the potential to be the "Top Real Estate Program of the World" not only by virtue of its affiliation to one of the best Universities but also because of the vast pool of resources and experience New York City has to offer. I congratulate Vishaan Chakrabarti on accepting this position and wish him good luck to achieve unprecedented heights for this program which not only benefits the future graduates but also adds credibility to the alumni from this program.
Comment #19 Posted By: Cookie Monster 09/11/09
Anonymous
I wish to congratulate Mr. Chakrabarti and thank Prof. Buckley. Prof. Buckley has been the driving force behind the program since its origin and I am grateful for all the time and effort he's invested. You will not be spoon fed at Columbia's real estate program, the resources are there. I am a recent graduate, I feel fortunate to have been surrounded by a number of great lecturers and a brilliant group of students, it was a privilege. I wish Mr. Chakranarti good luck and hope he stays connected to the alumni.
Comment #20 Posted By: Anonymous 09/17/09
Anonymous
I am at UTA under the new program Buckley is heading up and it is great. Very timely and relevant and he is certainly focused on career jump starting. Sounds like there are some cry babies.
Comment #21 Posted By: Anonymous 09/18/09