U3 Advisors helps anchor institutions develop and execute strategies for growth while uplifting surrounding communities.

For most of our clients, which include colleges and universities, medical centers, nonprofits, cities, and civic organizations, that growth comes in the form of physical development, improved operations, or the creation of new opportunities. Whatever your goal, we can help you achieve it through a holistic approach that considers placemaking and real estate, redeploying and rethinking institutional resources to catalyze local economies, and the formation of enterprising new partnerships, among other strategies. 

In every collaboration, we draw on expertise from six interrelated Practice Areas to discover and distill critical data, craft engaging narratives that motivate stakeholders to take action and make plans to achieve your goals. 

Most importantly, we’ll work alongside you to implement those plans. We’re in it for the long haul. As committed partners, we’re invested in your success and will engage with you every step of the way.


Practice Areas

Every project leverages expertise across multiple Practice Areas to craft custom holistic strategies supported by proven methods.


Anchor Strategy

Anchor institutions have nearly unrivaled power to drive investment and open economic opportunities to stakeholders throughout your community.

 

Our signature Live-Buy-Hire-Build Local programs are customized to leverage an institution’s demand and purchasing power to uplift local businesses and drive economic growth in the surrounding community.

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Practice Area Leader:

Tatianna Swenda

 

SELECT CLIENTS:

Buffalo Purchasing Initiative

Newark Live Local

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

University of Pretoria

Featured Projects
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Memphis Medical District Collaborative
Creating Vital Connections
Creating Vital Connections
University of Chicago
From Theory to Practice in Neighborhood Investment
From Theory to Practice in Neighborhood Investment
Kresge & Hudson Webber Foundations
Incubating the Transformation of Midtown Detroit
Incubating the Transformation of Midtown Detroit

Real Estate Analysis and Delivery

When real estate is developed with a purpose beyond profit, it can have a positive impact on neighborhoods for years to come.

 

Actionable plans and guidance to help clients realize the full potential of their existing real estate assets — or navigate the market to acquire new ones.

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Practice Area Leader:

Natalie Sutherland

 

SELECT CLIENTS:

Brooklyn Public Library

Cornell University

Delaware Valley University

Harvard University

Hebrew Union College

International House – New York

Lafayette College

Mississippi State University

Princeton University

University of North Dakota

Washington University in St. Louis

Featured Projects
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Hazelwood Green
Forging New Ideas
Forging New Ideas
University of Maryland, College Park
Bridging Town and Gown
Bridging Town and Gown
University of North Dakota
A Comprehensive P3 Student Housing Strategy
A Comprehensive P3 Student Housing Strategy

Urban Design & Campus Planning

A vibrant campus can unite people and connect your institution to its surrounding community.

 

Designs for sustainable, innovative, and inclusive places that foster civic engagement, strengthen community, and reimagine the edges between universities and cities as vibrant and prosperous districts.

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Practice Area Leader:

Janne Corneil

 

SELECT CLIENTS:

Audi Somerville

Chattanooga Innovation District

Tulane University

University of Calgary

University of Nevada Reno

Featured Projects
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Chattanooga Downtown Innovation District
Fostering Civically-Engaged Innovation
Fostering Civically-Engaged Innovation
Tulane University
Big Vision for the Big Easy
Big Vision for the Big Easy
University of Calgary
Translating Creativity into Economic Prosperity
Translating Creativity into Economic Prosperity

Capacity Building

Our partners need intuitive internal structures and coherent decision-making processes that can swiftly surface, develop, and launch big ideas.

 

Empathetic counseling on organizational restructuring, building internal teams, adopting new management strategies, or creating and standing up new entities to realize their goals.

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Featured Projects
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Drexel University
Turning Ambition into Action
Turning Ambition into Action
Columbia University
A Long-Time Partnership for Long-Term Growth
A Long-Time Partnership for Long-Term Growth
Chestnut Hill College
Expanding the Small College Narrative
Expanding the Small College Narrative

Community Partnerships

Building strong, healthy communities that enrich everyone’s quality of life is central to our work and our ethos – but we know this work cannot happen alone.

 

Uniting diverse community stakeholders to form lasting partnerships and organizations that can act more effectively to improve the quality of life for all.

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Featured Projects
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Marygrove Conservancy
Centering Education at the Heart of Community
Centering Education at the Heart of Community
Reimagining the Civic Commons
Affirming the Power of the Commons
Affirming the Power of the Commons
City of Memphis Parks & Neighborhoods& Overton Park Conservancy
Reimagining Two Iconic Memphis Buildings
Reimagining Two Iconic Memphis Buildings

Innovation & Commercialization

Our clients are global leaders in innovation, cutting-edge research, and building new industry sectors.

 

Place-based strategies and partnerships to cultivate thriving innovation hubs founded on research and commercialization efforts by local institutions and their partners. 

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SELECT CLIENTS:

ASU Polytechnic

Chattanooga Innovation District

Cornell Tech

Oakville Green Innovation District

Rice University

Texas A&M University

University of Washington Innovation District & Real Estate Foundation

University at Buffalo

University of Calgary

University of Toronto

Featured Projects
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University of Toronto
Four Corners, One Cohesive Vision
Four Corners, One Cohesive Vision
Cornell Tech
Bringing Big Tech to the Big Apple
Bringing Big Tech to the Big Apple
Arizona State University
Redefining A Campus through Innovation
Redefining A Campus through Innovation

The proof is in the prosperity