Crown acquires, leases, manages and redevelops commercial real estate assets across Canada. Crown has a well established track record, an experienced team and takes a hands-on approach to provide superior returns for our investors and better workplaces for businesses operating within our portfolio.
The Partners of Crown co-invest alongside the corporations, institutions, pension funds and family offices that entrust us with their capital, ensuring strong alignment of interests.
Our history and track record highlight our deep experience and strong fundamentals. Crown has grown with thoughtful, strategic expansion and succession planning to ensure the best outcome for our investors.
Crown is formed in 2001 as partnership between entrepreneurial real estate operators and key members of Crown Life Insurance Company’s real estate team. The firm’s objective is to create a smarter, more integrated, more responsible model for commercial real estate investing and management.
Crown expands into the Winnipeg market with the acquisition of a 276,000 sq. ft. office building located at the iconic corner of Portage Avenue and Main Street. The following year, Crown acquired another asset at the same intersection, bringing Crown’s total space under management in Winnipeg to just over 800,000 sq. ft. Crown ultimately sold the two assets as a portfolio to an institutional investor.
Crown introduces its first value-add fund for Canadian institutional investors. The fund is focused on identifying undervalued real estate assets and optimizing every detail of operations to maximize their potential.
Following in the same theme of CR LP, Crown’s second value-add fund is launched.
Crown worked with a large tenant at Concorde Corporate Centre in Toronto to transform a large paved terrace into a rooftop “Garden in the Sky.” Inspired by a study showing that green roofs reduce urban heat, Crown partnered with the tenant to create their urban oasis. In addition to improving air quality and reducing energy consumption, the garden created 7,500 sq. ft. of useable space that is enjoyed by building occupants and the surrounding community.
We prioritize the health and wellbeing of building occupants and have earned a number of other certifications.
Building on the success of Crown’s value-add investment strategy, CR III LP kicks off.
Scott Watson and Emily Hanna appointed Partners of Crown
Crown expands its leadership team with the addition of Scott Watson, Partner Leasing & Acquisitions and the promotion of Emily Hanna to Partner, Investments.
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Les Miller and Jamie Christie appointed Co-Managing Partners.
Les and Jamie were both integral to Crown’s business, having become partners at Crown in 2002 and 2010, respectively.
At this time, Crown also introduces a governance structure and forms an Executive Committee, intended to provide counsel to the partnership. The Committee, chaired by Michael Pittana, is also comprised of the other founding partners of the firm (Stephan von Buttlar, Alan Rowe and Brian Johnson).
Crown forms a closed-end fund consisting of $400M of stable real estate assets intended for long-term hold and ongoing distributions.
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Crown aligns its interests with several organizations including Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). In 2016, Crown’s 15th anniversary provided our team the opportunity to focus our fundraising efforts and Team Crown was proud to be the top fundraiser in the JDRF real estate ride, campaigning over $72,000 for the cause that affects many of our team members’ lives.
Following in the same theme of past funds, Crown’s fourth value-add fund is focused on real estate assets across Canada.
Through our Workfit by Crown fitness amenity model, we help our building occupants achieve their health and wellness goals.
WorkFit by Crown helps our building occupants live a more robust, productive and healthy lifestyle, while encouraging a stronger sense of community in each of our buildings.
Longtime members of the Crown team, Gary Summers and Mark Dimmell are added to the Partnership. Each is continuing as a leader of a Crown business unit, overseeing the Operations & Construction and Finance & Reporting teams at Crown, respectively.
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Over the past two decades, Crown has become known for finding value in commercial real estate assets and maximizing their potential. 5255 Yonge presented an opportunity to add value through large-scale building repositioning which includes Crown’s first, and the GTA’s largest, full-floor repositioning.
Crown also introduced its first and the GTA’s largest full-floor model suite which resulted in its successful lease-up, bringing building occupancy to 90% from 30% in just over one year.
2019 is Crown’s first year reporting on its overall sustainability strategy and specifically the performance of the assets within its Core Fund.
Crown pursues health and well-being for our tenants, earning certifications across the portfolio. Crown’s submission also earned the Green Star designation, reinforcing Crown’s sustainability-focused Management, Policy and Implementation across its portfolio.
Crown adds a 415,561 sq. ft. portfolio of flex office space in Ottawa, Ontario. This marks Crown’s second major acquisition in the Ottawa market and motivated the establishment of an office in Ottawa.
A new management office is established in Ottawa, led by Michael Stones who is charged with building the platform in our country’s capital.
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Consistent with the value-add philosophy of its predecessor funds, CR V focuses on commercial real estate assets with value enhancement opportunities located within Canada’s primary office markets, especially the Greater Toronto and Greater Ottawa areas.
Crown and Vestcor have a long history, with Vestcor investing in Crown’s limited partnership funds since 2009. With Vestcor as an institutional partner, Crown reinforces its commitment to its fiduciary duties, good governance and ESG.
Scott Watson and Emily Hanna appointed to Managing Partners of Crown
Crown continues to expand its leadership team with the promotion of Scott Watson to Managing Partner, Leasing & Acquisitions and Emily Hanna to Managing Partner, Investments.
2021 marks Crown’s 20th anniversary. More than ever, Crown is committed to advancing our ESG platform and continuing to operate healthy office communities.
We invest in relationships: connecting capital with opportunities, organizations with engaging workspaces and buildings with their communities.
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Crown was formed in 2001 as a partnership between a group of entrepreneurial real estate operators, led by Michael Pittana and Crown Life Insurance Company. Their vision was to create an integrated commercial real estate investment company focused on asset repositioning and creating value through a hands-on management approach. Through the partnership, Crown Life committed seed capital to invest in opportunities alongside private investors.
In 2002, Crown Life, seeking to divest itself of its real estate activities, ultimately sold its interest to key members of its real estate team, including Stephan von Buttlar (former Vice President, Real Estate and Mortgages of Crown Life), Brian Johnson (former CEO of Crown Life) and Alan Rowe (former CFO of Crown Life).
Michael’s entrepreneurial spirit and creativity were a great balance to Crown Life’s institutional quality reporting and governance-based approach, giving Crown Realty Partners an advantage in the market.
Fine-tuning every aspect of leasing and operations to realize untapped potential.
Responsibly delivering value for investors, tenants and the communities in which we operate.
Co-investing to ensure Crown’s interests are closely aligned with those of our investors.
Delivering the services and amenities that businesses and their employees value most.
Investment Savvy
At Crown, we specialize in identifying undervalued real estate assets and optimizing every detail of operations to maximize their potential. With our reputation and long-standing relationships, Crown often gains early access to opportunities. To this we add our rigorous due diligence methodology. Once the decision is made to acquire an asset, we establish debt and equity financing solutions to maximize investor returns and minimize risk. From re-zoning and redevelopment to property branding and parking operations, no consideration is too small…or too big.
Dedicated Asset Management
A Crown building is an actively managed one. We work tirelessly to elevate each asset’s profile. For each property, a multi-disciplinary team of Crown professionals with expertise in investing, asset management, property management, construction and leasing develop a comprehensive strategic plan to deliver the best experience for our tenants and achieve higher performance for our investors.
Taking the Lead on Leasing
We actively seek the best and brightest organizations as tenants who are looking to unleash their potential. Our leasing team is experienced at matching tenants needs with property offerings, helping to unlock efficiency and productivity to maximize each tenant’s business potential.
Relocating to a Crown building is easy. Through a seamless leasing process, a variety of construction options and the creative structuring of lease terms, Crown is able to attract and retain a unique roster of businesses within its portfolio.
Tenant Focused Property Management
We strive to be the manager of choice for tenants. By understanding what high performing businesses and their employees value, we deliver the details that businesses appreciate most from welcoming lobbies, to on-site amenities (including concierge services, fitness clubs and shared meeting spaces), to shuttle buses and initiatives that benefit the well being of occupants. The customer and client experience is our priority. Our in-house construction management team can facilitate any fit-out, partnering with our tenants to create customized workplace solutions that suit each organization’s needs.