Summary
We spend most of our lives in buildings and see new ones being created around us all the time. But the number of people and disciplines involved in a building's creation make it hard to understand the process as a whole.
The Birth of a Building is an introduction to those aspects of finance, law, urban planning, architecture, engineering, and construction which underlie this fascinating event.
Reviews
For architects, real estate finance can seem shrouded in complexity. The Birth of a Building explains it thoroughly and succinctly. It’s indispensable knowledge for architects wanting to increase their value during the design process.
ALAN BARKER, ARCHITECT
I don’t believe you can be a successful planner if you don’t understand how a development proposal landed on your desk in the first place. That’s why this book is a must-read for planners. It explains the project from start to finish.
JESSICA VAUGHN, URBAN PLANNER
The Birth of a Building is the perfect asset for all who are interested in the built environment. Construction professionals can increase their project and client impact greatly through this valuable dive into the real estate process.
JORDAN SCHULZ, CONSTRUCTION MANAGER
Development can be a black box for most. Our cities would be better off if that weren’t the case. The Birth of a Building is a timely primer.
BRANDON DONNELLY, REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER
A concise, a-to-z guide to real estate development. Ben brings a unique perspective and explains complex concepts in easy to understand ways.
SPENCER BURTON, INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR
Jargon-free, educated, and packed with relevant analogies—highly recommended for anyone who wants to be a developer.”
DR. ANDREW BAUM, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
This is the perfect text for an introductory course. It’s a clear, concise, and relevant summary of the development process.
LAUREN LOFTON, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
In addition to his understanding of the development business, Ben has captured the wisdom of several disciplines and shared those insights in an accessible, enjoyable way. I highly recommend it!
DR. JAIME LUQUE, ESCP MADRID
The Author
Ben Stevens is a project manager for a real estate development firm in Chicago. He received his MBA, with focus in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He's the creator of
The Skyline Forum, an online interview series with developers, architects, and urban planners. Find him on his
website,
Twitter, or
LinkedIn. You can message him
here.
Order
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