Hines

Hines is a privately owned global real estate investment, development, and management firm established in 1957 by Gerald D. Hines. The firm operates with a global presence, employing approximately 4,600 individuals across 30 countries. Hines manages and operates $91.8 billion in assets across various property types for a diverse range of institutional and private wealth clients. The company's operations span nearly 400 cities, demonstrating its extensive reach and local market proficiency.

With a history spanning 68 years, Hines draws on its experience to invest in, develop, and manage real estate globally. The firm has 156 developments currently underway around the world. Historically, Hines has developed, redeveloped, or acquired 1,857 properties, encompassing over 636 million square feet. The company's current property and asset management portfolio includes 832 properties, representing over 288 million square feet. This extensive experience covers investments across the risk spectrum and all property types, positioning Hines as a significant real estate organization.

Hines is committed to a foundational principle of sustainability and aims to be an industry leader in this area. The firm adheres to "The Hines Standard," which represents a global real estate benchmark for value creation, integrity, services, and quality for all clients. This standard ensures that all Hines products and services meet high levels of quality appropriate for their mission. The company also fosters a culture where employees are respected and valued, recognizing them as the primary example of the Hines Standard and the firm's most valuable asset.

Hines maintains a significant focus on the Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) sector, particularly within the UK and European markets. The firm entered the global student housing market in 2016 through the acquisition of six prime development sites in the UK from McLaren Property. These sites, situated in Aberdeen, Cambridge, Kingston, Oxford, and two locations in Brighton, were planned to deliver more than 1,100 beds. Specific projects included an all-studio plan in Aberdeen, Vogue Studios with 44 studios, and Stoneworks providing 51 studios. The Cambridge development was designed to feature townhomes, ensuite bedrooms, and 48 studios, with completion anticipated for the 2018/2019 academic year.

The firm's commitment to the student accommodation sector continues, as evidenced by its March 2024 acquisition of a new 260-bed PBSA development at Gas Lane in Bristol for the Hines European Property Partners Fund (HEPP), expected to be completed for the 2025/26 academic year. Hines Research has identified a growing opportunity in the European PBSA market, noting its expansion from 1.9% of total European investment activity in 2019 to 5.3% as of Q3 2024. The firm's research indicates that investment in PBSA is no longer a niche, driven by increasing demand from both domestic and international students and a shortage of high-quality accommodation. Beyond the UK, Hines has engaged in PBSA projects in other European locations, such as a 650-bed development in Valencia and its first PBSA project in France, aparto Paris Liberté, which will comprise 660 student beds. The company's broader "Living" sector, which encompasses student housing, aims to curate communities that support personal growth and academic success through fully equipped and appealing spaces. Hines has delivered 11,726 student housing beds across Europe.