Shaping the Skyline: The World According to Real Estate Visionary Julien Studley ebook

by Peter Hellman

Written by globally known real estate writer Peter Hellman, this book draws on Hellman's hundreds of hours of interviews with Studley, along with friends both in and out of the business world (since, almost to a person, those who know Julien Studley consider him a friend). Julien Studley's story is much more than a standard corporate biography.

Julien Studley is one of the great leaders in the real estate industry. He built a thriving business based upon hard work, creativity, integrity, and skill. In a time when the news is full of corporate scandal and executive excess, it is gratifying to read Julien Studley's story-he has always focused on doing the right thing.

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Reuters: "New York real estate pioneer Julien Studley dies at 88 October 15, 2015.

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n New York Times: "Julien Studley, a Refugee Who Built a Commercial Real Estate Empire, Dies at 88" By Sam Roberts October 17, 2015. a b c The Real Deal "Julien Studley" By Lauren Elkies retrieved October 24, 2015. Reuters: "New York real estate pioneer Julien Studley dies at 88 October 15, 2015. The New School: "The New School Remembers Julien J. Studley" October 14, 2015.

Julien J. Studley, a real estate broker, in his Manhattan office in 1999

Julien J. Studley, a real estate broker, in his Manhattan office in 1999. Chang W. Lee/The New York Times. Our business is brains, he said, not bricks. Mr. Studley was involved in assembling the sites for or renting offices in, among other properties, Citicorp Center (now Citigroup Center) and the Time Warner Center in New York, and the Newseum in Washington.

book by Peter Hellman. Julien Studley is one of the great leaders in the real estate industry. He built a thriving business based upon hard work, creativity, integrity, and skill

book by Peter Hellman. In a time when the news is full of corporate scandal and executive excess, it is gratifying to read Julien Studleya s story-he has always focused on doing the right thing.

Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

"Julien Studley is one of the great leaders in the real estate industry. He built a thriving business based upon hard work, creativity, integrity, and skill. In a time when the news is full of corporate scandal and executive excess, it is gratifying to read Julien Studley's story-he has always focused on doing the right thing. As Julien's career and life amply attest, how you conduct business is integral to your success. Julien's talent is unique and his story inspirational." --Jerry I. Speyer President and CEO Tishman Speyer Properties "An intimate portrait of Julien Studley, a man whose keen intellect, ambition, and courage have made him into one of the most successful business leaders of our time-a true real estate visionary." --Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-MO) Julien Studley's story is much more than a standard corporate biography. It is, in fact, a riveting tale of late twentieth century corporate America, a time in which America's global business dominance was built on the vision and sacrifice of individualists who were strong, stubborn, and above all, resourceful. Shaping the Skyline examines Studley's long and distinguished career and reveals his unique approach to real estate, negotiating strategies, leadership, and management that have led him to create one of the most successful commercial real estate companies in the nation.

Arador

The author, Peter Hellman, walks us through Julien Studley's upbringing and professional life in a story-telling manner that is fun, engaging, and full of interesting details. His quotes from individuals and depiction of Studley are not imbalanced with ingratiating self-promotion -- like that of other real estate "tycoon" books. Rather he tries to portray a soft-spoken, strong-willed immigrant who's seen every kind of deal in NYC. Ultimately, one may not be entirely convinced that Studley was "Shaping the Skyline" of NYC, but that he is an unusual character that played a part in NYC's real estate history as a broker.

In this authorized biography, Studley aims to demonstrate that amongst a crowd of boisterous competitive brokers he is sophisticated and honorable with some examples within the context of some deals. Because of his Holocaust-escaping experience, he speaks several European languages and immigrated to the US with a strong sense of purpose and survival skills. After decades of street-smarts and experience-led-wisdom, his rough edges may have been softened, but his skills as a negotiator and arbiter are amongst the best.

Reason for a 4-star (rather than a 5-star) rating is the author tends to exaggerate the impact of brokers on real estate developments and outcomes. Although understandable because his sources are mainly brokers, one does question the reality of intermediaries -- even those as successful as Studley. Similar to why high-energy sales people may never make good CEOs, front-line brokers are unaware or uninterested in the complexities of how property developments materialize after the paper marked "sale" is signed. For instance, on pg 131, Michael Colacino, a high-performance broker, is described as completing Time Warner's innovative $1 billion synthetic lease. The analysis, due diligence, and decision to execute a synthetic lease involve a company's lawyers and bankers far more than its broker. And for a broker to claim a leading role on a synthetic lease deal causes the reader to wonder about the bravado during that particular interview.

Another mild disappointment about the book is that it spends many chapters talking about Studley's company and not about him. Anecdotally, it talks about their company outings, offices, and managers but the reader is left wondering how does this relate to the "visionary" and his story. I would have rather seen chapters about Studley's homelife, how he invests, or evolving religious views.

In sum, however, a good book and an entertaining read that can inspire a real estate professionals or not -- alike.

Bludsong

OK reading, some good brokerage stories for that time in NYC, but impossible to say Studley shaped the skyline.

Eigeni

I would encourage anyone to read this book if you are interested in learning more about how Commercial Real Estate Brokerage works. Especially if you are currently a broker, this book is for you.

However, if you want to learn about development of huge commercial real estate projects, this book might not be what your looking for. It goes in-depth on deals made over the last 40 years in NYC but speaks more on the sales/leasing end and less on the development end.

However the man's story is a great American Dream turned true and will no doubt give you a great look into the Commercial Real Estate world.