The center will bring together the strengths of Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business and College of Design’s School of Building Construction, serving as the Institute’s primary platform for preparing students to pursue careers in the real estate industry. The center is a priority for the leaders of the two Colleges: Anuj Mehrotra, dean of the Scheller College and Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. Chair, and Ellen Bassett, dean of the College of Design and John Portman Chair. Designed to support both undergraduate and graduate students, the center will provide academic support, professional development opportunities, academic research, and deeper connections with industry partners.

Kepano credits the lessons he learned at Georgia Tech with profoundly influencing his life and career. 

“I would not be where I am without my Tech experience,” said Kepano. As an out-of-state football and track-and-field student-athlete, he carried a full academic load while working night shifts at Delta Air Lines. The discipline, perseverance, and problem-solving mindset he honed at Tech laid the foundation for his successful four-decade career in commercial real estate. Today, Kepano serves as vice chairman at CBRE’s Industrial and Logistics Advisory & Transaction Services. 

This latest commitment builds upon Kepano’s previous philanthropy directed to Georgia Tech, including support for scholarships and fellowships for business students and for athletics. He also provides volunteer leadership to his alma mater and currently serves on the Georgia Tech Foundation Board of Trustees and Scheller College Advisory Board. 

Kepano sees the center’s interdisciplinary model, which integrates business, design, architecture, city planning, and building construction, as uniquely powerful. Students, he said, will graduate with a “360‑degree understanding of development” and a significant advantage in the field.

“My vision is for Georgia Tech to become one of the top thought leaders in commercial real estate, producing students who are uniquely qualified, prepared, and capable of driving the next wave of innovation in the industry,” said Kepano. “I hope that 10 or 20 years from now, we can look back at all the people this program has influenced, and how they’ve gone out and impacted their environments and communities in a positive way.”

With a focus on offering students a pathway into one of the state’s most dynamic fields, the center will serve as a bridge between academic study and real-world practice. 

Funding from Kepano’s commitment will support a wide range of activities, including student programming and collaboration, faculty and industry outreach, operational needs, technology, and conference participation. His support will allow Georgia Tech to respond nimbly to emerging opportunities in the real estate sector.

“At Georgia Tech, we have a broad base of offerings that are related and connected to real estate. That gives us a competitive edge in providing a well‑rounded education and a portfolio of courses and activities that most universities can’t offer. The center brings all of this together — engineering, design, construction, business — so students can experience the full range of real estate opportunities across the Institute,” said Rick Porter, director of the College of Design’s Master of Real Estate Development program.

By strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and expanding opportunities for students interested in real estate, the center aligns with Georgia Tech’s commitment to preparing leaders who can shape the built environment and the business landscape surrounding it.

Jonathan Clarke, senior associate dean for strategic initiatives at Scheller College, said, “The future of real estate will be shaped by rapid advances in technology and innovation. Success in this evolving industry will require an integrated understanding of finance, design, and technology. The Tony Kepano Joint Center for Real Estate will play a vital role in preparing students with this multidisciplinary foundation so they’re ready to lead where real estate is headed.”

Kepano’s investment is included in Transforming Tomorrow: The Campaign for Georgia Tech. The $2 billion comprehensive campaign, running through 2027, is a generational effort to make a lasting impact across campus, providing essential resources for Georgia Tech students, faculty, and programs.