News & Insights

WASHINGTON, DC – Gone are the days of a college or university settling for a sprawling, siloed park. Instead, many institutions now recognize the value in the live, work, play dynamic that comes with developing dense, 24/7 innovation districts on or adjacent to campus.

Sensing that growing demand for reimagined innovation campuses and knowing the potential benefits for both the institution and the broader community, B&D is excited to welcome Eileen Kennedy Byrne to our firm to further build out this practice group.

Eileen has over 25 years of experience in managing university-related real estate development processes from concept through long-term operations. Prior to joining B&D, she developed, financed, and operated the University of New Orleans’ knowledge park from ground up to 95% occupancy. This complex is now home to corporate, nonprofit and governmental tenants specializing in IT systems, cybersecurity and information assurance, aerospace, civil and maritime engineering, food analytics, energy resources, and earth and environmental sciences.

During her three decades on the UNO campus, Eileen served as the President and CEO of the UNO Research and Technology Foundation as well as the assistant vice president for property and facilities development, among other roles. Through her career she has cultivated expertise in structuring and managing sophisticated mission-driven, multi-sector collaborations designed to support and expand existing capabilities and lure new industry to the campus and region.

Byrne notes “as the workforce has shifted from the information age into the conceptual age, universities are uniquely positioned to meet evolving needs with innovation communities intentionally designed to foster collaborations, inspire discovery, and contribute to vitality.” She underscores that “higher ed has heard the clamor for a better-prepared workforce and is teaming with the private sector to provide a pipeline of market-ready workers with creative-problem skills acquired through industry-led curricula and experiential learning programs within walking distance of the campus core. Through the creation of new innovation districts and the rapid modernization of established research and tech parks, campus leaders are developing mixed-use, collegial, and culturally rich communities with the authenticity, vibrancy and social inclusion expected by the next generation of knowledge workers.”

We are excited for the experience and thought leadership Eileen brings with her to B&D and look forward to the opportunities this will afford our clients looking to explore the development of an innovation community on their campus.  Eileen can be reached directly at ebyrne@bdconnect.com or (202) 540-2474.

If you would like to learn more about Campus Innovation Districts, check out our five-part series on the Higher Ed P3 Resource Center.