Real estate development has been an integral part of Varsity’s history, including the origins of the company’s name. The firm is considered one of the nation’s most well-respected real estate developers in the United States. Varsity redefined the concept of student housing when it opened its first Varsity development at the University of Maryland. Since then, the team has built Varsity communities at college campuses across the country and, in doing so, has set the standard for unparalleled living experiences for college students while activating and energizing the communities around them.

Besides redefining the student housing landscape, Varsity has become a pioneer in repositioning commercial buildings into residential communities. The team was one of the first development firms to popularize the concept of converting underperforming commercial assets. Kathy Orton penned an article in the Washington Post on Varsity for its conversion of a ten-story office tower into a bustling 187-unit community that overlooks the District of Columbia.

On the other end of the spectrum sits Varsity’s newest development focus, active adult living. The team saw an underserved segment of the aging population looking for a rental option without the traditional large deposit associated with retirement communities. Varsity has created a robust planned concept that will allow seniors the freedom and flexibility of single-family living or the convenience of having it all under one roof. Varsity’s gated community concept offers seniors a variety of right-sized living options that fits their needs for today and tomorrow. In addition to its concentration within multiple specialized verticals, Varsity also develops market-rate communities and mixed-use and retail centers across the continental United States. The team’s best-in-class approach has translated to some of the largest dispositions within their given verticals with various publicly traded real estate investment trusts, pension funds, and global investment firms.