CA Ventures, a Chicago-based real estate investment company, today announced Peter Isaac has joined the firm as executive vice president of public-private partnerships. In his new role based out of CA’s Chicago headquarters, Isaac will help source and execute P3s with leading academic institutions across the U.S., supporting them with CA’s extensive experience in the acquisition, development and management of on- and near-campus real estate developments, including student housing. 

“For years, Peter has been one of the go-to advisers in the P3 space, having consulted more than 70 universities throughout his career, so when we were looking to grow this portion of our business, we knew his longstanding relationships within the higher-education sector would supplement our own expertise,” said Tom Scott, CEO of CA Ventures. “We are thrilled to welcome him to our growing leadership team as we enter new markets and expand in existing ones – increasingly through partnerships with academic decision-makers who share our vision of building community by supporting the people who live there.”

Isaac joins CA Ventures from Washington, D.C.-based program management firm Brailsford & Dunlavey Inc., where he most recently served as vice president of public-private partnerships. During his nearly 12 years at the company, he ascended from his role as a project analyst to various leadership positions, ultimately becoming the youngest vice president in the firm’s history. Isaac was instrumental in growing the firm’s national practice by establishing new lines of business and managing regional offices in Chicago and Austin, TX.

Throughout Isaac’s career, he has served as a development adviser and program manager on more than 100 projects. In that capacity, he has led the design, planning, financing, construction and operation of developments valued at nearly $2.5 billion, including large-scale public-private partnerships with a mix of uses.

“I am honored to have spent my entire career working in close partnership with some of the smartest minds in our industry, including sophisticated and ambitious college and university leaders,” said Isaac. “I was fortunate to learn, firsthand, the drivers and challenges institutions face as they wrestle with key questions about campus growth and long-term financial stability in pursuit of their respective missions.

“I am excited to be joining a forward-looking firm whose diverse, cross-sector portfolio aligns with the various types of projects many universities are looking to execute in partnership with the private sector,” continued Isaac. "My vision is that my passion for empowering university communities, combined with CA Ventures’ entrepreneurial approach to developing, financing and operating world-class facilities, will create an innovative, client-centric partnership model that prioritizes balanced partnerships and long-term institutional sustainability.”

In addition to helping universities execute and operate on-campus student housing developments, Isaac and the CA Ventures team will leverage their experience across other disciplines, including hospitality, multifamily housing, retail and office, to complete mixed-use, campus-edge projects that bridge with surrounding communities. CA’s P3 work will also encompass state-of-the-art academic buildings, high-tech research labs, and public sports and entertainment venues.

Isaac holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A recognized industry leader, Isaac has been the recipient of several awards, including being named a “20 Under 40” by Engineering News-Record and “40 Under 40” by Building Design + Construction – both in 2016. He also served as a judge for the Building Design + Construction 2017 Building Team Awards, the Student Housing Business 2016 and 2017 Student Housing Innovator Awards, and the P3 Bulletin 2017 and 2018 P3 Awards.

About CA Ventures:

CA Ventures LLC is a Chicago-based real estate investment holding company whose international portfolio includes $6.7 billion in assets throughout the U.S. and Latin America. While initially focused on student housing, CA Ventures has since diversified into other sectors, including office, senior lifestyle, multifamily, and hospitality. In addition to development and renovation, the firm specializes in institutional joint ventures; value add investing; equity and debt sourcing; and asset management services. CA Ventures serves as the holding company for the CA family of companies, including CA Student Living, CA Office / Vanderbilt Partners, CA Senior Living, CA Residential, CA International, CA Hospitality, and CA Asset Services. For more information, visit www.ca-ventures.com.