Shawmut Leaders Share a Year in Review and 2025 Outlook

Two Shawmut team members contributed to New England Real Estate Journal and New York Real Estate Journal’s Year in Review spotlights. From their 2024 accomplishments to their key insights into emerging trends for 2025, read what our Shawmut team members said below.

Ryan Lynch, Vice President, Education in New England

What noteworthy transactions or deals from this year best exemplified key market trends or shifts?

New England’s emphasis on education is reflected in its leading institutions, which are increasingly prioritizing sustainability across their campuses and in their buildings. Shawmut is proud to partner with many of these institutions, helping them shape the future of their buildings and create environmentally conscious spaces. This year, the funding from the Inflation Reduction Act has been a catalyst for many to be able to achieve their sustainability goals while also contributing significant cost savings to their projects. This shift exemplifies how policy and innovation can drive impactful change in educational infrastructure.

What was your greatest professional accomplishment or most notable project, deal, or transaction in 2024?

I’m proud of our work on Hardy Elementary School in Wellesley, MA – a net-zero-ready, all-electric facility. The school features cutting-edge spaces like a STEAM lab and media center, a two-story library, and collaborative classroom clusters. With outdoor classrooms, a kiln-equipped art room, and a performance-ready music room, every space is tailored to inspire learning and creativity. Targeting LEEDv4 Silver certification, the state-of-the-art school is NZE-certified including an all-electric mechanical system and is photovoltaic ready. Built in partnership with The Town of Wellesley, Vertex Companies, SMMA, and MSBA, this project reflects our shared commitment to sustainability, innovation, and shaping the future of education.

What emerging trends will drive investment and development in 2025?

In 2025, the competitive higher education landscape will drive increased investment in both student and faculty housing as institutions strive to attract and retain top students, faculty, and researchers from around the world. Institutions are prioritizing modern, high-quality living environments that support students’ academic and personal success. Many face aging housing stock that requires extensive renovations to meet the needs of 21st century students, prompting a surge in both new construction and transformative upgrades. These investments reflect a commitment to creating spaces that foster focus, collaboration, and well-being, ensuring institutions remain competitive on a global scale.

Read Ryan’s Q&A on New England Real Estate Journal here.

Jonathan Fiato, Senior Director in New York

What noteworthy transactions or deals from this year best exemplified key market trends or shifts?

At Shawmut we continue to work in the towers that are paving the way for the new office model — most notably 425 Park Ave., where we completed Four Twenty Five restaurant and continued our work on tenant build-outs and amenity spaces. In 2024, we saw continued investment in the NYC commercial office market, especially in Midtown, and anticipate even more growth in 2025. This focus on amenities, initially rooted in class A and AA properties, is now expanding into preventative care and wellness centers. This approach redefines the typical healthcare experience through a luxury healthcare delivery.

What was your greatest professional accomplishment or most notable project, deal, or transaction in 2024? 

I’m so proud of our ongoing work with The People’s Theatre Project (PTP), a nonprofit cultural organization that makes theatre with and for immigrant communities to build a more just and equitable world. PTP was recently awarded EDC funding for a first-of-its-kind immigrant and performing arts center, which Shawmut has the privilege of partnering on. Located in Inwood in upper Manhattan, the client and entire project team have made great strides in community engagement — going well beyond community roundtables to include both local Inwood and MWBE suppliers, vendors, and subcontractors.

What emerging trends will drive investment and development in 2025? 

For more than a year, we’ve focused on the potential impacts of the presidential election and interest rate cuts. Now, with the election behind us and rates beginning to fall, capital is expected to loosen, paving the way for continued development in 2025 and beyond. We anticipate more public-private partnerships that bring together not only funding sources but best-in-class skills to deliver impactful projects. The recent passage of the “City of Yes” is a step in the right direction for zoning approvals gaining traction, helping to spur more development and improve NYC’s accessibility and opportunity. 

Read Jonathan’s Q&A on New York Real Estate Journal here.