Aleks Baharlo appointed director of Abbey MRED+D
The College of Environmental Design is delighted to announce that Aleks Baharlo (MArch 1997) will take the helm of the Nancy and Douglas Abbey Master of Real Estate Development + Design program as its executive director in January 2025.
As a real estate development executive with over 25 years’ experience at both public and private development companies, Baharlo has managed a diverse portfolio of multifamily and industrial real estate assets and has been responsible for land acquisition, forward planning, entitlements, land development, and construction for master-planned communities, urban infill housing, and single-family detached communities totaling more than 3,000 units across California.
He succeeds Greg Morrow as director of Abbey MRED+D, an innovative real estate development and design program founded in 2018. Incorporating finance and design, the Abbey MRED+D has quickly become one of the most respected programs in the country.
“We are thrilled to welcome Aleks back to Bauer Wurster Hall,” says William W. Wurster Dean Renee Y. Chow. “His deep expertise in both real estate and design makes him a perfect match for our Abbey MRED+D program. His impressive track record in innovative infill development, master-planned communities, and affordable housing aligns with CED’s commitment to sustainable and equitable practices. We look forward to his leadership.”
Baharlo has taught for over 15 years at the undergraduate and graduate levels in environmental design, architecture, and real estate development at UC Berkeley, UCLA, and USC. He received a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder, a Master of Architecture from UC Berkeley, and a Master of Real Estate Development from USC.
He served as a member of the Los Angeles Urban Land Institute Housing Committee and as president of the Los Angeles chapter of the Building Industry Association of Southern California. Baharlo practiced as an architect and builder in the Bay Area for several years and was the founding partner of East Bay Design and Architecture in Berkeley.
“I am excited to take on the leadership of this unique multidisciplinary program and continue to develop MRED+D’s reputation for academic excellence while fostering its connections to the professional community,” says Baharlo. “As a CED alum, I am especially thrilled returning to the Berkeley campus and Bauer Wurster Hall.”