Launched in 2026, the Tony Kepano Joint Center for Real Estate brings together Georgia Tech’s academic strengths to advance interdisciplinary learning, research, and industry engagement related to real estate and the built environment. Led by the Ernest Scheller Jr. College of Business and the College of Design’s School of Building Construction, the center connects coursework, research, and experiential opportunities across disciplines including finance, design, construction, city planning, engineering, supply chain, and emerging technologies.
The center supports undergraduate and graduate students through academic programming, professional development, research, and engagement with industry professionals, drawing on faculty expertise from across the Institute. Located in Atlanta —one of the nation’s major commercial real estate markets — and supported by Georgia Tech’s strong alumni network, the center bridges academic study and professional practice.
The center was established through a significant commitment from Tony Kepano, IMGT 1986, a Georgia Tech alumnus and accomplished leader in commercial real estate. With a career spanning more than four decades, Kepano currently serves as vice chairman of CBRE’s Industrial and Logistics Advisory & Transaction Services. This commitment builds upon his longstanding philanthropic support for Georgia Tech, as well as his volunteer leadership through his service on the Georgia Tech Foundation Board of Trustees and the Scheller College Advisory Board.
Kepano has emphasized the value of an integrated approach to real estate education, bringing together multiple disciplines to help students better understand the field. He said, “My vision is for Georgia Tech to become one of the top thought leaders in commercial real estate — producing students who are uniquely qualified, prepared, and capable of driving the next wave of innovation in the industry.” At the intersection of business and real estate, the Tony Kepano Joint Center for Real Estate is uniquely positioned to integrate education, research, and industry engagement —preparing the next generation of leaders to drive innovation in the built environment.
