gattuso

Our mission is to build exceptional workplaces by delivering creative solutions and consistently exceeding our clients’ expectations.

About
Gattuso
Development
Partners

Gattuso Development Partners is a developer of exceptional, sustainable high performance workplaces. We recognize that the right work environment is the most critical asset a business can offer to attract, retain and inspire its employees and promote long term success.

Our success is easy to see. The Gattuso team has played a key role in reshaping the Philadelphia skyline and revitalizing its urban landscape. Sharing a history as leaders of the urban development group at Liberty Property Trust, our work represents more than $3 billion of development on projects like the extraordinary Comcast Technology Center and the Comcast Center, in Center City, Philadelphia. Our work includes the redevelopment of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, considered the most successful redevelopment of a former military facility anywhere in the country; the Camden Waterfront; and more than 50 office/flex buildings across the nation.

Today Gattuso is committed to building upon this legacy to develop new and creative work environments that reimagine the workplace for our clients.

The Gattuso Approach

We believe a successful project is a cooperative venture that capitalizes on our proven ability to:

  • Drive excellence;
  • Deliver creative solutions that consistently exceed expectations;
  • Promote environmental and social sustainability;
  • Benefit each community we serve;
  • Maintain the highest levels of integrity and open communication;

Who We Are

John S. Gattuso Headshot Message

Through his visionary work as the leader of urban development, John Gattuso has changed the face of Philadelphia’s skyline and helped the city to reimagine its limitless possibilities.

The Comcast Technology Center, the Comcast Center, the ongoing redevelopment of the Philadelphia Navy Yard and the Camden Waterfront; all of these iconic projects were developed under John’s guidance during his 30-year tenure at Liberty Property Trust, one of the nation’s largest real estate investment trusts.

During that time, John was responsible for the development of over 50 projects in Philadelphia and across the nation, representing almost $3 billion in investment. His projects include the TJX Distribution center in Northeast Philadelphia, recognized as a “Smart Growth” development by the Sierra Club; the Plaza at PPL Center in Allentown; and the spectacular Comcast Center that became Comcast’s international headquarters upon completion in 2008, both recipients of the Urban Land Institute’s Award of Excellence.

Before Liberty’s strategic decision to focus exclusively on industrial real estate, John lead Liberty’s Urban Development Group in completing the 1,121’ tall, 1.8 million square foot Comcast Technology Center which features a five-star Four Seasons Hotel, the tallest hotel in North America; as well as the new waterfront headquarters for American Water.

In 2018, John and former Liberty Property Trust Colleague, Anne Cummins founded Gattuso Development Partners with a primary focus on the development of high-performance, premier quality commercial office, life sciences and manufacturing facilities. Under its new banner, the company competed for and won a national competition to develop a 137,000 RSF, $125 million state-of-the-art cell and gene therapy production and research facility for San Carlos, CA based Iovance Biotherapeutics. Despite being developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the building was completed in January 2021- on schedule and 5% under budget.

In November 2021, the company began development of a 130,000 RSF speculative flex production building at 2500 League Island Boulevard at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia. This $66 million facility will provide critical manufacturing capacity to support the Greater Philadelphia region’s growing life sciences sector.

In March 2022, Gattuso Development Partners announced it had entered into an agreement with Drexel University to develop a 500,000 RSF, $400 million state-of-the-art life sciences research and development building adjacent to the heart of the Drexel University campus. Scheduled for completion in early 2025, 3201 Cuthbert Street will set a new standard for life sciences facilities in the region. The building is being designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and is targeting LEED Gold certification.

In addition, John has served as the President of the Fairmount Park Conservancy; and as a board member of the Center City District. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, John lives in the greater Philadelphia region.

Janice Wong Headshot Message

With more than 15 years of experience in commercial real estate, Janice Wong has dedicated her career to creating high-quality, thoughtfully designed, and environmentally sustainable urban places. As a key member of the executive leadership team at Gattuso Development Partners, Janice oversees the firm’s daily operations and drives strategic initiatives across real estate development, marketing and leasing, business development, construction, and asset management.

Prior to joining Gattuso Development Partners, Janice served as Director of Real Estate Development & Leasing at Liberty Property Trust, one of the nation’s largest real estate investment trusts. In this role, she evaluated and underwrote commercial urban development and redevelopment projects valued from $25 million to $500 million. She also played a central role in the master planning of 21 acres along the Camden Waterfront in New Jersey, including the development of the LEED Platinum–certified American Water Headquarters.

Earlier in her career, Janice practiced architecture with SUH Architects in Seoul, South Korea, and KPMB Architects in Toronto, Canada. She is a licensed architect in Canada and holds both LEED and WELL Accredited Professional credentials. Janice earned a Bachelor of Architecture from McGill University, a Master of Architecture from the University of Southern California, and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Deeply committed to community engagement, Janice serves on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, where she previously completed two terms as Board Chair. Her leadership and industry contributions have been recognized with the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Women of Distinction Award (2019) and as a Bisnow Philadelphia Power Woman nominee (2022).

Conversant in Cantonese and French, Janice lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughters.

Jim Mazzarelli Headshot Message

Jim Mazzarelli is a senior real estate executive with more than four decades of experience in industrial and commercial real estate development, leasing, operations, and portfolio management across the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast markets.

Jim spent 33 years with Rouse and Associates and its successor, Liberty Property Trust, where he held several senior leadership roles, ultimately serving as Senior Vice President and Regional Director. In that role, he was responsible for the leasing, development, and operations of a 45–50 million-square-foot commercial office and industrial portfolio valued at more than $5 billion. He played a key role in setting market strategy, executing development and disposition initiatives, and supporting capital markets initiatives through presentations to analysts and institutional investors.

Earlier in his career, Jim served as Director of Leasing and Marketing for One Pennsylvania Plaza (now the Comcast Center), where he worked with Liberty Property Trust’s urban development team to secure Comcast as the project’s lead tenant. He also collaborated on the design and repositioning of major urban assets, including early planning efforts at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Throughout his career, Jim has been recognized for his ability to create value through strategic leasing, development execution, land acquisition, and close collaboration with public-sector stakeholders.

Jim most recently served as Partner, Investment and Leasing Officer at Exeter Property Group, where he focused on identifying industrial investment opportunities and stabilizing portfolios across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He remains deeply engaged in education and industry leadership, having developed and presented real estate case studies at The Wharton School, Villanova University, MIT, and NYU, and having provided real estate market insight to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

Kathy Kiczula headshot Message

Kathy Kiczula is certified public accountant with over 30 years of financial and accounting experience.

As Vice President of Finance at Gattuso Development Partners Kathy oversees the firm’s financial and accounting processes as well as fiscal reporting functions.

Prior to joining Gattuso, Kathy served as Vice President and Regional Controller for Liberty Property Trust, where she developed and implemented financial systems, policies, and controls for various functions and regions in Liberty’s portfolio including the Comcast Center and the new Comcast Technology Center. Considered as a trusted financial partner, she is known for her extensive knowledge, accountability, and attention to detail.

Kathy holds an MBA in Finance from Temple University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Shippensburg University. She resides with her family in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

Serge Nalbantian Headshot Message

Serge Nalbantian brings more than 30 years of expertise in managing multidisciplinary and international teams to design and execute iconic, mixed-use urban developments. As Executive Vice President of Development he provides creative, and solution focused leadership to complex development challenges from inception through occupancy.

Prior to Gattuso, Serge was Vice President for Development & Construction at Ensemble Real Estate Investments, in Philadelphia where he oversaw the 109-acre Navy Yard Master Plan and led the teams responsible for delivering a portfolio of life science, hospitality, and residential projects.

Earlier, Serge served as Vice President of Development at Liberty Property Trust where he played a significant role in delivering the Comcast Center 975’ tall and the Comcast Technology Center 1,121’ tall. Both are award winning, mixed-use towers successfully integrating complex entitlement, design, public space, environmental, and technical objectives. The projects included a public concourse and plaza over an active commuter rail station and a pedestrian tunnel under a public street. In addition, Serge managed world-renowned artists, producers, and manufacturers to deliver several first-of-their-kind artworks and installations incorporated into the public spaces of both towers – Universal Sphere, Exploded Paradigm, For Philadelphia, Humanity in Motion and Comcast Experience.

Serge has also held leadership positions internationally with Eagle Hills Jordan in Amman, Jordan where he led a mixed-use resort and residential development on the Red Sea in Aqaba, Jordan and Mubadala Development Company in Abu Dhabi, UAE where he led the Mina Zayed Waterfront & MGM Grand Complex, a mixed-use master planned development of an underutilized pier in the port of Abu Dhabi.

Prior to his career in real estate development, Serge practiced architecture with several award-wining firms in Philadelphia. Notable projects he led include Phase I of the Pennsylvania Convention Center and the Philadelphia Criminal Justice Center. His interest in high-profile and complex projects are complemented with a commitment to design excellence. Serge’s passion for design extended to academia where he served as Adjunct Assistant Professor at Drexel and Temple Universities teaching design and thesis studios. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Drexel University and a Master of Architecture degree from Syracuse University in Florence, Italy.

John G Spitz Headshot Message

From Seattle to Saudi Arabia with multiple stops in between, John G. Spitz brings to Gattuso Development Partners an international reputation for excellence in commercial project management and construction. A veteran of two tours with Liberty Property Trust, where he served until recently as Senior Director of Development and Construction, John has vast experience in contract negotiations, scheduling, estimating, value engineering, project programing, and project/construction management that he earned in the successful construction of multiple high-profile projects around the world.

From 2009-2016, John was the Senior Vice President and Regional Manager for Hill International’s operations in Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he managed over $40 billion in construction projects. In this capacity, John oversaw the dramatic expansion of Hill International’s Middle Eastern workforce, growing its staff from 37 to 385 employees. During his tenure, John also led the company’s efforts to train and mentor in-country engineers, and he served as a guest lecturer at project sites throughout the Middle East and in Turkey.

Before joining Hill, John was Vice President of Construction and Development for Liberty, one of the nation’s largest real estate investment trusts, where he led the team responsible for the construction of all Philadelphia projects, including the award-winning Comcast Center, the signature 975-foot tall, 1.25 million square-foot office tower that became Comcast’s international headquarters upon its completion in 2009. Before that, John was Vice President of Design and Construction for the Arden Group, where he managed the design and development of various luxury commercial projects, including the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Center City Philadelphia.

Mr. Spitz earned his B.S. in building sciences from Auburn University.

Katherine O'Neil - Vice President Message

A skilled and certified construction manager whose experience includes a $300 million tenant improvement project for the Comcast Technology Center as well as a host of large and small projects across the nation, Katherine O’Neil serves as Vice President, Development at Gattuso.

She currently leads the firm’s project management of 3201 Cuthbert Boulevard in the heart of the Drexel University campus, a $450 million project that when completed will be the city’s largest life sciences research space.

Before joining GDP, Katherine served as Senior Project Manager for Rubenstein Partners, where she managed due diligence and loan capital expenditures for the firm’s Mortgage Fund and led capital projects to reposition office properties. Prior to Rubenstein, she was a Senior Project Manager for Talson Solutions where, while contracted to Liberty Property Trust, she managed Comcast’s tenant improvements and related base building alterations at Comcast Technology Center. Katherine also served as Director of Project Management at CBRE, leading a team that specialized in executing ground-up projects and office renovations for GSA nationwide.

Katherine is a member of CMAA and CREW Philadelphia Chapters and is a Certified Construction Manager. She earned her Master of Architecture from Arizona State University, a Master of Science in Operations Research from Georgia Tech, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Operations Management from the University of Delaware. Katherine resides with her husband and two children in Haddonfield, New Jersey.

Fred Dougherty - Vice President Message

A veteran commercial real estate professional with expert knowledge of the regional marketplace, Fred Dougherty is Vice President for Property Management, overseeing the firm’s property management and building operations activities, expertly accommodating the highly specialized needs of life science, laboratory, and cGMP clients. His most recent complex property management project includes 300 Rouse Boulevard for Iovance Biotherapeutics.

Before joining Gattuso, Fred worked for 22 years at Liberty Property Trust, where he served as Vice President for Philadelphia Urban Development; and before that, as Vice President for Portfolio Technology. While at Liberty, Fred managed the technology design integration and construction project management of the Comcast Technology Center in Center City. In this role he oversaw the integration of the Center’s core and shell as well as the dazzling new rooftop Four Seasons Hotel. A long-time advocate of high-performance building and sustainability programs, Fred focused on the application of advanced technology, telecommunications, and energy management to enhance the occupant experience, improve operational best practices, and increase property net operating income. He is known throughout the industry for his highly effective property, leasing, and construction project management skills and his sophisticated analytical and financial planning knowledge.

In his earlier role at Liberty, Fred managed site license and service partnership agreements for Liberty’s national real estate portfolio, effectively developing competitive technology advantages with lower costs. Before that, he was a Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager for Boston-based Leggat McCall Properties. Throughout his career, Fred has been recognized for his skill in developing and implementing plans to maximize the tenant experience and achieve outstanding tenant retention rates.

Fred is a Licensed Pennsylvania Real Estate Broker and Certified Appraiser. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from Hobart College in Geneva New York, along with extensive post-graduate real estate continuing education activities and credits. Originally from New England, Fred and his family make their home in suburban Philadelphia.

Jennifer Bosner Headshot Message

Jennifer Bonser is Director of Operations and Administration for Gattuso Development Partners. After spending nearly a decade working with Liberty Property Trust’s urban development team, Jennifer understands what it takes to manage the expectations of first rate clients, while effectively running business operations.

Jennifer is responsible for all back office operations within Gattuso Development Partners, some of which include: accounting procedures, insurance coverage, human resources management, and administration governance.

Ivan Chin Headshot Message

As Controller at Gattuso Development Partners, Ivan plays a central role in shaping and executing the organization’s financial strategy. He oversees all accounting, financial, and reporting functions, working closely with leadership and project teams to ensure that financial data is accurate, actionable, and aligned with organizational goals. His approach emphasizes both technical proficiency and collaborative partnership, making him a trusted resource throughout the organization.

Ivan joined Gattuso Development Partners after an 18-year tenure with Prologis and Liberty Property Trust, where he built a distinguished track record in project accounting and financial oversight for large-scale, high-profile development projects. As Project Controller, he was responsible for managing the full accounting lifecycle for notable projects across Philadelphia. His portfolio includes the Comcast Technology Center and the Comcast Center, two of the most significant commercial developments in the city, along with 800 Walnut Street, a major mixed-use medical office tower. His work extended to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, where he contributed to the financial management of several key projects, including the GlaxoSmithKline US headquarters at 5 Crescent Drive and the Tasty Baking Company production facility at 4300 S. 26th Street. Across these assignments, Ivan partnered with project managers, engineers, and leadership teams to implement effective financial controls, monitor progress, manage budgets, and deliver reliable reporting for complex and often fast-moving development programs.

Ivan holds an MBA in Accounting and a BA in Finance from Temple University. His academic background, combined with over two decades of hands-on experience, contributes to the depth of financial expertise he brings to his role at Gattuso Development Partners.

Jim Lutz Headshot Message

Over a distinguished career spanning more than three decades, Jim Lutz has built an international reputation as a developer of world-class sustainable buildings and communities. Before joining Gattuso Development Partners, Jim was Senior Vice President for Development at Liberty Property Trust, one of the world’s largest real estate investment trusts. At Liberty, Jim was responsible for all of the company’s new developments in its 20 markets, averaging more than $700 million annually in development.

Among his accomplishments, Jim created and grew Liberty’s England office, living in the U.K. with his family while developing a 1,000-acre sustainable mixed-use community known as Kings Hill. Its growth over two decades has received national recognition as one of the best places in the U.K. to work, live and raise a family, owing primarily to its excellent mix of public parks, playgrounds, woodland walks, cycle paths, and sports facilities.

Jim’s commitment to creating high-performance sustainable environments resulted in the development of more than 90 LEED buildings, a collection that totals more than 22 million square feet of LEED projects valued at over $2.2 billion.

Jim is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council; a founding member of the Delaware Valley Green Building Council; the Urban Land Institute; a Board member of the Peoples Light & Theatre Co. in Philadelphia; and a former member of the Walnut Street Theater Board of Directors. He is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business.

Projects

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Press

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