Education National/International

Partnership Expands Firms’ Real Estate Capabilities

National – Cottonwood Group (“Cottonwood”) and Shawmut Design and Construction (“Shawmut”) jointly announced the formation of a strategic partnership through which the two groups will join forces to expand their combined real estate capabilities and portfolio in the education sector in the United States.

The new partnership will further strengthen and enhance Cottonwood’s development capabilities with academic real estate by allowing the firm to tap into Shawmut’s solid and time-proven construction platform, deep regional expertise, and extensive industry sector experience. Collectively, the partnership will be able to offer investors turn-key solutions to education real estate investments, from sourcing, acquisition, financing, preconstruction, construction, fit-out, operations, and ultimately, disposition.

This partnership will be targeting opportunities in such primary markets as New York, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C., but with an initial focus on New England, and eventually expanding nationally. Michael Schumacher, formerly senior vice president of development services at Cottonwood, has joined Shawmut on June 8 as the New England Commercial Division Lead and will be charged with the development and growth of the sector. Schumacher is expected to be a key leader in setting up the partnership for success.

Together, Cottonwood and Shawmut will be well positioned to capitalize on opportunities from the growing demand for top-quality academic real estate assets throughout the nation.