Boston Real Estate Times Honors Industry Leader Who Has Redefined Urban Development Through Innovation, Design, and Community Building
BOSTON — Young K. Park, founder and president of Berkeley Investments, and now CEO of the recently formed strategic joint venture, Berkeley Garbe, will receive the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award from Boston Real Estate Times at its annual Excellence Awards Gala on September 24, 2026, at the Boston Marriott Burlington in Burlington, Massachusetts.
The award recognizes Park’s remarkable career spanning more than three decades, during which he has transformed underutilized urban properties into vibrant mixed-use destinations, pioneered sustainable development strategies, and built one of New England’s most respected privately held real estate investment and development firms.
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Under Park’s leadership, Berkeley has become synonymous with thoughtful urban planning and revitalization, adaptive reuse, transit-oriented development, and innovation-driven real estate—creating projects and developments that strengthen communities while generating long-term value.
“Young Park has consistently demonstrated that great real estate is about far more than buildings—it is about creating places where innovation, business, culture, and community come together,” said Upendra Mishra, publisher of Boston Real Estate Times and Life Sciences Times. “For more than 30 years, he has quietly transformed neighborhoods, preserved historic landmarks, advanced sustainable development, and elevated Boston’s position as one of the world’s premier innovation ecosystems. His leadership, integrity, and long-term vision make him exceptionally deserving of our 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Park said this award is a reflection of the extraordinary people he has the privilege to work alongside each day.
“I am truly honored to receive this award from the Boston Real Estate Times. Receiving this recognition at such an exciting moment—following the recent announcement of our new joint venture, Berkeley GARBE—makes it especially meaningful,” Park said. “This marks an important new chapter for me personally and our Berkeley GARBE team since we’re all looking forward to partnering with this world-class, institutional organization to help us expand our entrepreneurial real estate initiatives while preserving the collaborative, team-oriented culture that has been the foundation of Berkeley’s success for many years.”
“This award is a reflection of the extraordinary people I have the privilege to work alongside each day. I share this honor with our talented and dedicated team, whose commitment and professionalism continue to inspire me every day. I’m also proud to stand among the distinguished recipients who have received this award before me—individuals whose leadership has helped shape our industry. Together, we remain committed to strengthening the Greater Boston commercial real estate community and contributing to its continued growth and success,” added Park. “Finally, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to my wife, Anja, and our three children for their unwavering love, encouragement, and support throughout my career. Their belief in me has made this achievement possible.”
Building a Legacy of Vision
Founded in 1991, Berkeley Investments has grown into one of the region’s leading real estate investment and development firms, with a portfolio spanning Flex/R&D, laboratory, life sciences, multifamily residential, office, mixed-use, arts, and commercial properties throughout Greater Boston.
Park has guided the company with a philosophy that innovative design, strategic urban planning, place making, and deep local knowledge create enduring value—not only for investors but for cities and neighborhoods and the residents who live and work there.
His developments have consistently anticipated market shifts, from the adaptive reuse of historic industrial buildings to the emergence of life sciences, clean technology, and transit-oriented urban redevelopment.
Today, Berkeley Garbe’s current development plans are concentrated in the Greater Boston market, encompassing approximately 2.5 million square feet of creative office and life science space, and nearly 1,000 multifamily units in the new joint venture’s pipeline.
Expanding onto the Global Stage
This year marked one of the most significant milestones in Berkeley’s history.
In June 2026, Berkeley announced a landmark strategic joint venture with GARBE, one of Europe’s largest real estate investment and asset management firms. The partnership created Berkeley Garbe LLC, a new investment platform designed to pursue industrial, multifamily, infrastructure, and mixed-use opportunities throughout the Northeastern United States.
The alliance represents GARBE’s first major expansion into the United States and positions Berkeley on an international platform while preserving the entrepreneurial culture Park established more than three decades ago.
“Through this joint venture, Berkeley has established a long-term partnership with a global institutional platform that strengthens our entrepreneurial initiatives while preserving the privately owned, team-oriented culture that has defined Berkeley for years,” Park said when announcing the partnership.
The venture is expected to accelerate investment throughout New England while bringing significant international capital to one of the nation’s strongest innovation economies.
Championing Neighborhoods, Design, Innovation and the Clean Energy Economy
Park has long recognized that real estate plays a critical role in supporting emerging neighborhoods, scientific discovery and technological advancement.
One of Berkeley’s most important and pioneering projects is Fort Point’s FP3 and the acquisition of 13 historic brick-and-beam warehouse buildings, two parking garages, and several surface lots along Congress Street in this historic neighborhood in 2004. As one of the earliest investors in this market, Park converted two buildings and a vacant lot into the award-winning, design savvy FP3 Condominiums, re-positioned the office properties to attract some of the city’s most innovative companies and start-ups, and attracted some of the city’s top chefs who launched the district’s first high-end restaurants and cafes, including Row 34, Flour Bakery, Menton, Drink, Sportello, to name just a few. Through visionary investment and lasting design, Park led the transformation of this neighborhood long known for its vast parking lots into one of Boston’s most popular neighborhoods, paving the way for the vibrant and popular Seaport area today.
Another major adaptive re-use project spearheaded by Park and Berkeley is the award-winning Waltham Watch Factory which successfully integrates 171,000 square feet of first class office space, 163 loft style apartments, and a café and restaurant, in an historic mill complex that also boasts landscaped urban courtyards, exceptional views of the Charles River and numerous on-site amenities that make the Watch Factory one of the most unique office and residential communities in the Greater Boston / Route 128 region.
Exchange 200 in Malden stands out as a success for Park as well, given this is where battery technology company Alsym Energy opted to relocate its headquarters in one of Greater Boston’s largest recent cleantech laboratory leases. The project reinforced Exchange 200’s emergence as one of the region’s premier destinations for clean technology, advanced manufacturing, and research companies.
Similarly, Berkeley’s redevelopment of 64 Pleasant Street in Watertown transformed a historic mill building into state-of-the-art laboratory and research space, attracting innovative companies like Via Separations, whose breakthrough filtration technology is helping reduce industrial carbon emissions worldwide.
The significance of the project was highlighted when Governor Maura Healey selected 64 Pleasant as the site to announce Massachusetts’ landmark Climate Tech Initiative, underscoring Berkeley’s role in helping position the Commonwealth as a global center for climate innovation.
And presently, Berkeley Garbe just announced the groundbreaking for 161 Concord Road in Billerica, a 150,000 square foot Flex / R&D building that is expected to be completed by April 2027. This new advanced manufacturing and innovation hub is taking shape along the Route 3 Corridor, one of Greater Boston’s most established centers for technology and industrial growth, and will be developed entirely on spec in order to be ready to accommodate the timing requirements of tenants in this prolific market.
A Commitment to Design Excellence
Park’s background uniquely bridges architecture, urban planning, and real estate development.
A graduate of MIT with a degree in Urban Studies and holder of a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Park has consistently emphasized that successful development begins with thoughtful planning and exceptional design.
As noted, his projects—including the adaptive reuse of the historic Waltham Watch Factory, several of Fort Point’s landmark brick-and-beam conversions including FP3 and 381 Congress Street, and a brand new residential building, The Charley in Allston, along with numerous revitalization efforts in Malden, Somerville, Watertown, Charlestown, and Billerica—reflect a commitment to preserving historic design while preparing communities for the future.
His current flagship project at 176 Lincoln Street in Allston, Berkeley Garbe’s largest development project, exemplifies that philosophy by developing an innovation village of more than 1 million SF combining housing, laboratory-ready office space, retail, arts, and publicly accessible open space into a dynamic mixed-use neighborhood in Allston.
Leading Beyond Real Estate
Park’s influence extends well beyond development.
Throughout his career, he has dedicated significant time to civic leadership and public service.
He is a former president and current board member of the Massachusetts Chapter of NAIOP, serves on the Executive Committee of A Better City, is a board member of Beth Israel Lahey Health alongside his wife, Anja Langbein-Park, and serves on the Visiting Committee of MIT’s Department of Architecture as well as the Real Estate Advisory Board at Roger Williams University.
His leadership has helped strengthen collaboration among government, business, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations across Greater Boston.
Building for the Next Generation
Colleagues describe Park as a thoughtful leader who balances entrepreneurial vision with humility, collaboration, and long-term stewardship.
His approach has enabled Berkeley to remain agile through changing economic cycles while continuing to invest in projects that benefit both investors and communities.
Whether revitalizing historic neighborhoods, supporting groundbreaking research companies, creating new, diverse housing opportunities, expanding internationally, or mentoring future industry leaders, Park has consistently demonstrated that successful development is measured not only by financial returns but by lasting public impact.
As Boston Real Estate Times presents its 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award, it honors more than a distinguished career. It celebrates a visionary whose work has helped reshape Greater Boston’s built environment, foster innovation, strengthen communities, and establish a lasting legacy that will influence the region for generations to come.
