From Dorms to Districts. What you universities need from P3 developers - SHI 1028

🎙️ Episode Summary

In this episode of the Student Housing Insight Podcast, host Wesley Deese sits down with William Davis, Chief Development Officer and Managing Principal at Capstone Development Partners, and Johno Harris, Senior EVP at Lincoln Property Company. Recorded in-person in Atlanta, the conversation explores the recent acquisition of Capstone by Lincoln and what this powerful partnership means for the future of on-campus development.

The trio discusses the rapid evolution of public-private partnerships (P3s) in higher education. Moving far beyond simple dormitories, universities are now seeking massive mixed-use spaces, retail, healthcare facilities, and dynamic sports entertainment districts. They also dive into how changes like the #NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rules in college athletics are directly driving the need for premium, specialized student housing to help universities recruit top talent and create vibrant campus experiences.

 

⏱️Time Stamps

00:00:25 – Sponsor intro: Teal Systems and infrastructure reliability

00:02:00 – Podcast introduction and platform overview

00:09:04 – Interview Starts

00:10:30 – Guest introductions: William Davis and Johno Harris

00:15:00 - An overview of Lincoln Property Company's 60-year history and full-service approach.

00:25:33 – Shift from single-use housing to mixed-use developments

00:30:45 – Universities becoming destination ecosystems

00:32:14 – Sports and entertainment influence on campus development

00:37:13 – NIL impact on development and funding

00:39:10 – Real-world challenges student-athletes face with housing

00:48:19 – Universities stepping in as capital providers

00:55:12 – Real-world example: crypto mining in student housing

00:56:54 – Outro: Final thoughts

 

🤝 Sponsor Spotlight

Teal Systems This episode is brought to you by Teal Systems, a provider of managed central plant infrastructure designed specifically for #StudentHousing and multifamily developments.

Teal delivers reliable hot water, heating, and cooling through a “central plant as a service” model. Their systems are monitored 24/7 using proprietary Beacon technology, allowing issues to be identified and resolved before they impact residents. For operators and developers, this means fewer headaches, lower operational risk, and more predictable performance.

👉 Learn more: https://www.tealsystems.com

 

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned

Student Housing Insight: https://studenthousinginsight.com

ShopTalk: https://shoptalk.info

Capstone Development Partners: https://capdevpartners.com/

William Davis’s LinkedIn Page: https://linkedin.com/in/william-davis-883645a

Johno Harris’s LinkedIn Page: https://linkedin.com/in/johno-harris-282186255