David Simon ’90 MSRED and Bob Hale

David Simon ’90 MSRED, Founder and Managing Principal of BARDAS Investment Group, and Bob Hale, Creative Director and Partner at RIOS, will present two recent projects: Television Center and ECHELON Studios in Los Angeles, CA.

This event is organized by the M.S. in Real Estate Development Program at Columbia GSAPP. This event is open to Columbia University affiliates with a valid University ID.

SPEAKERS

David Simon ’90 MSRED is the Founder and Managing Principal of BARDAS Investment Group, a real estate development and investment firm founded in 2018 that focuses on developing environments for the media and entertainment industry. Expressed through the ECHELON brand, the company’s focus includes the development of sound stages, production space, and creative space. He’s spent over 20 years specializing in the development and redevelopment of creative environments that prioritize user experience by incorporating a strong sense of hospitality, design, and attention to detail. His unique understanding of the media and entertainment space has led him to develop some of the most high-profile projects in the Hollywood market such as Columbia Square, a historic media village. Several of his projects have been recognized by the Urban Land Institute, the Los Angeles Conservatory, and the Southern California Development Forum.

David received a Master’s Degree in Real Estate Development from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Florida. He is a full member of the Urban Land Institute, Vice Chair of the Board for Oakwood School, Board Member of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and a former Board Member of Alternative Living for the Aging. He also founded the Simon Family Drug Research Fund at the University of Alabama.

Bob Hale joined RIOS as a principal in 2001 after over a decade of collaboration with the firm. In 2003, the firm changed its name to Rios Clementi Hale Studios in recognition of Bob’s leadership contributions.

Bob’s expertise extends to all facets of the design process, strategic project planning and programming, and overall project leadership and client relations. He has extensive experience in urban planning, architectural, landscape, interior design, and master planning.

Over his distinguished career, Bob has led creative collaborations for corporate, entertainment, retail, cultural, commercial, and residential clients. For 7 years he worked for Universal Studios as Creative Director and as Vice President of Design and Planning. For 12 years prior, he worked for Frank O. Gehry Associates, where as a Principal, he oversaw many of Frank Gehry’s award-winning projects like the Temporary Contemporary for MOCA, Loyola Law School, The Retail + Entertainment Center for Euro Disney, The Vitra Design Museum, The American Center in Paris, and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.