Department of Real Estate Advisory Board Speaker Series
“Current Hot Topics in Real Estate Development”
Speaker: Douglas Durst
The Durst Organization
Time/Date: 4:10 – 5:25 pm, October 10, 2012
Venue: Oak Room (137 E 22nd Street, Room 203)
Douglas Durst is the chairman and a member of the third
generation to lead the Durst Organization.
Douglas was born in New York City in 1944. He graduated from
the Fieldston School in 1962 and the University of California at
Berkeley in 1966. Returning to New York in 1967, he married
Susanne, with whom he has three children: Anita, Alexander, and
Helena. After two years of study at the Urban Studies Program at
New York University, he joined The Durst Organization, learning
the business from his father, Seymour, and two uncles, Roy and
David.
Under the leadership of Douglas and his cousin Jody, The Durst Organization built the
nation’s first sustainable skyscraper, 4 Times Square, and the first LEED Platinum hi-rise
office tower, The Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park. Today, the company
owns, manages and operations a 13 million square foot office portfolio and 2 million
square feet of residential rental units as well as overseeing the development, management
and leasing of One World Trade Center.
Douglas is a director of the Real Estate Board of New York, The Graduate Center of City
University Foundation, The New School, The Trust for Public Land, and Project for
Public Spaces. He is also the co-chair of Friends of the Hudson River Park. Douglas has
been involved with the theatrical arts for many years and is a member of the board of
directors of The Roundabout Theater, Primary Stages, and The Town Hall.
Along with other family members, he is a trustee of The Old York Foundation,
established by his father, which is committed to helping people through education to
understand the history and issues facing New York City. In addition, Douglas has been an
environmental activist for many years and created one of the largest organic farms in
New York State.