I M A G I N E A W O R L D

PEOPLE PLANET PROFIT

B E Y O N D I M A G I N A T I O N

Known as both a visionary and a rainmaker, Jack has built his career upon addressing unique development and

marketing challenges that require creative solutions, comprehensive market knowledge, and industry expertise.

Past clients range from hospitality and entertainment firms, to cities and business districts, development groups

and national investment trusts. In addition to experience from working in multiple markets across the country

and around the world, his expertise is derived from hands on involvement in past projects in a wide variety of

roles, from project inception through completion, stabilization and ongoing operations. Jack is widely known for

his uniquely creative, market-focused business strategies.

Starting with an academic background in Urban Studies and Public Policy at the University of Southern

California, Jack began his career with R & B Properties, the originators of lifestyle-oriented multifamily

properties. Jack had an exciting tenure with The Ernest Hahn Company, participating in the creation of many

award-winning retail, entertainment and hospitality projects in Southern California, across the US, and abroad.

Initial responsibilities for the leasing of then-groundbreaking urban projects such as Horton Plaza in downtown

San Diego, led to roles in strategic partnerships, conceptual design, branding and creative business

development strategies for new projects in New York, Boston, Denver, Mexico City, Toronto, Las Vegas, Los

Angeles and San Diego, as well as Europe and Asia.

After founding Urban Labs, a design-focused advisory practice, Jack secured the contract to create a

comprehensive Market Strategy Plan for the 18-block Waikiki Properties of The Queen Emma Foundation, and

later served as Creative Principal for the proposed International Market Place redevelopment in Waikiki. Jack

also led the Urban Labs creative efforts for a number of mixed-use and hospitality projects for leading

hospitality, real estate and gaming companies including Harrah’s Entertainment, Madison Marquette, Alexander

& Baldwin, and DMB Associates.

Jack joined with a hospitality client to help create The Hardage Group, in charge of design and development

for five-star luxury waterfront hotel and retail projects in San Diego and Los Angeles, as well as mixed-use

projects in Salt Lake City, Tampa and Silicon Valley. He also helped reposition the existing 17-hotel portfolio,

rebranding the hotels and redesigning hotel public areas and creating the prototype guest suite.

Most recently, Jack has led the conceptual design, branding, business development and community engagement

efforts for Miami Wilds, a proposed media-focused entertainment destination encompassing water and theme

parks, and hotel and retail uses at the Miami Zoo. He was responsible for forming strategic alliances with

Twentieth Century Fox, CAA, and local stakeholders to secure project approval.

Jack serves on the Board of Trustees of Antioch University Los Angeles, where he is a member of the Executive

Committee and chairs the Academic Affairs Committee. He is a member of SAG-AFTRA, and lives in the

Koreatown district of Los Angeles atop a landmark building built in the golden era of Hollywood.

jack illes

C O A S T T O C O A S T

BOSTON LOS ANGELESNEW YORK

A R O U N D T H E G L O B E

Prudential Center

Boston

University Town

Center

La Jolla

West End City Center

Budapest, Hungary

World

Trade

Center

New York

World Trade Center

Mexico City

Times Square

New York

CN Tower

Toronto

P L A C E S O F M E A N I N G

I T S T A R T S W I T H A S T O R Y

S T Y L E A L L I T S O W N

M O R E T H A N A N A D D R E S S

E V E R Y T H I N G ‘ S I M P O R T A N T

N O O R D I N A R Y T H I N G S

Project Profile

Miami Wilds: GeoPark Florida

CASE STUDIES

Project: Miami Zoo Entertainment District Project

Location: South Miami Dade County

Opportunity: Following a panel on The Future of Retail and

Entertainment in Miami Dade County, I was asked by the

County Parks Department to consider responding to an RFP

for the development of a unique retail and entertainment

destination.

The project site, to be located at the gateway to

Everglades National Park. includes Zoo Miami and the 700-

acre property surrounding the Zoo. The County had

completed a 25 year planning process and targeted sites

for theme and water parks, two hotels and retail and F&B

amenities to complement the zoo and two local heritage

museums.

I joined with a team of local partners to develop the RFP

response, and was responsible for developing the project

concept and market positioning, developing partnerships

with media partners Twentieth Century Fox, and Creative

Artists Agency (CAA), identifying local strategic partners,

public outreach and stakeholder approvals, and identifying

and managing the creative team for planning and design.

Outcome: Planning and preliminary design now underway.

Action Media Camp

Worldbuilding Discovery App

Surf Park and Pleasure Beach

Adventure Lake Club

Boardwalk and Alfresco Market

Dining and Retail:

• Redland Farm

• Everglades Outpost

• Artisan Market Hall

Forest Lodge and Conference Center

• Treehouses

• Trailer Colony

• Safari Camp

Water Garden Spa

Project Profile

The Pennsylvania

New York

Project: The Pennsylvania New York

Location: New York City

Opportunity: Highgate Hotels, Manhattans’ largest hotelier

by room count, hired me to develop a comprehensive

redevelopment strategy for the historic 1900-key, 1.4M sq. ft.

Hotel Pennsylvania, across from Madison Square Garden. The

proposal was for a proposed partnership with Steve Roth and

Vornado Realty Trust.

My responsibilities included identifying potential market

opportunities for food, entertainment and hospitality uses,

media studio space and creative offices, and developed the

design and retail partnership strategies for 400,000 sq. ft. of

now-vacant space, including three basement levels devoted to

artisan-driven food factory and market hall, two levels of

luxury retail targeted toward the visitor and office markets,

two levels of media broadcast studios, and two levels of

rooftop meeting, event and F&B spaces.

Outcome: Following the presentation of the porposed

concepts and designation of the Highgate bid as the

preferred strategic partner, I was invited by Steve Roth to

advise on his 9M sq. ft. holdings of retail and office space

surrounding Madison Square Garden in the Penn Plaza

district.

Project Profile

Honest Man

Lincoln

Project: Lincoln Downtown Business District

Location: Lincoln Nebraska

Opportunity: I was asked by the Downtown Lincoln

Association and the City of Lincoln to help identify

and develop strategies to attract new customers to the

Downtown business district . The efforts focused on

improvements for the principal downtown pedestrian

spine. We developed business development strategies

to link each stakeholder group, including the civic

center, University of Nebraska, financial district, and

the historic Haymarket entertainment district. Areas of

emphasis included media and sponsorship

opportunities, small business incubators, retail

cooperatives, artisanal merchant development,

property reconfiguration concepts and individual

merchant development strategies.

Outcome: The master plan strategy we developed

was approved, and we developed a store concept

and merchandising strategy for the top local womens

store merchant for unused space next door to her

shop, as well as developed designs for a new outdoor

entertainment garden incorporating existing F&B

operations.

Project Profile

Queen Emma’s Garden

Waikiki

Project: Queen Emma Waikiki Properties

Location: Honolulu, Hawaii

Opportunity: My business partner in Urban Labs, Brian

Church AIA, and I were asked to identify the long range

market opportunities and to reimagine the 18-Block Waikiki

holdings of the Queen Emma Land Co.

Project scope included 5 hotels, 18 multifamily properties

and the historic International Market Place, the first specialty

retail center in the world, built by Don the Beachcomber.

We developed planning and design strategies for the

creation of an urban resort destination incorporating the five

resort hotels; adaptive reuse programs for the multifamily

and outparcel retail properties; and developed design

concepts for the reconceived International Market Place,

focused on a restored Queen Emma’s Garden and Don the

Beachcomber’s famous treehouse located in a giant Banyan

tree. Our visual history of the site history and the legacy of

Don the Beachcomber was published locally, and projected

outdoors above the Banyan tree for almost a decade.

Outcome: The redeveloped International Market Place

celebrated its grand reopening in Fall 2016.

Project: Lane Field Hotels

Location: Downtown San Diego

Opportunity: The Port of San Diego held an RFP competition

to identify developers and operators for a twin tower, 800

key hotel project. As principal at Urban Labs, I developed

the design and strategy plan for submittal by Lane Field

Partners with flagship Intercontinental Hotel and new five

star boutique resort hotel. Following selection of Lane Field

Partners by the Port, I was hired to come in house to help

form The Hardage Group.

As Senior VP Design and Construction, I was responsible for

identifying both hotel design teams, managing the design

process, creating the brand identity and market positioning

for the boutique property, serving as liaison to IHG,

developing the F&B and retail concepts and identifying

outside tenants for retail podium.

Outcome: Phase One complete. Project now underway to

construct the second phase Intercontinental Hotel

Project Profile:

Lane Field

San Diego

Project Profile

Lane Field

San Diego

Project Profile

Kentucky Social House

Newport

Project: Kentucky Social House

Location: Covington, Kentucky

Opportunity: I was asked by the client, Price Entities of La

Jolla, to develop creative marketing, media and tenant

strategies for a lifestyle center anchored by AMC theatres, 17

eateries, a bowling/entertainment complex and the Newport

Aquarium, across the river from Downtown Cincinnati.

I created new a large scale digital media strategy to attract

attention from a complex of sports venues across the river in

Cincinnati, and worked with Kroger Co. and others to develop

social media strategies. We developed a new signature

anchor for a two level 25,000 sq ft brick building intended to

draw traffic and attention across the Ohio River from

downtown called the Kentucky Social House. Patrons could

sample a selection of Kentucky’s bourbons and award winning

regional food items, as well as intriguing gift shops featuring

locally made crafts and Kentucky products, as well as kitchens

offering Kentucky food products showcasing local recipes.

Outcome: Secured rare city approval for large scale digital

display program and developed strategic partnerships with

project vendors and strategic partners. Awaiting completion of

hotel and multifamily phase now under construction.

KENTUCKY

SOCIAL

HOUSE

Project Profile

Prudential Center

Boston

Project: Prudential Center Boston

Location: Boston Massachusetts

Opportunity: Representing The Hahn Company, I was

responsible for securing the first ever Asset Management

contract from Prudential Realty Group to oversee master

planning and redevelopment of the landmark 23-acre

Prudential Center complex in the Back Bay of Boston.

The project was the first mixed-use development in New

England with 620,000 Sq. Ft. of retail shops and

restaurants, three multifamily towers, three hotel towers,

and three office towers above a two level parking podium

wrapping Mass Pike and Amtrak Main Line. The innovative

master plan update developed a series of glass enclosed

retail arcades that linked existing Saks Fifth Avenue and

Lord and Taylor stores with existing and new office towers,

and a new Mandarin Oriental Hotel with existing Sheraton

Boston Hotel and Hynes Convention Center.

Outcome: One of the most productive retail centers in the

United States with sales in excess of $1500 per sq. ft. Won

the ULI Award for Best Mixed Use Project.

Project Profile

Park Meadows

Denver

Project: Park Meadows

Location: Denver Colorado

Opportunity: Park Meadows was intended as the

centerpiece of a new master planned mixed use

development at edge of the Denver suburbs. At the time

the development was conceived, the site was in a rural

area well past the existing suburban fringe.

To lure shoppers and patrons in search of an

entertainment destination and community gathering place,

I proposed to position the project as an aspirational retail,

entertainment and hospitality “resort destination” for the

region, themed after the famed local mountain towns.

We developed a brand identity inspired by the Colorado

mountain resorts to create a regional draw for customers

accustomed to closer in options, and successfully attracted

the dominant retail collection in the region, as well as

multiple hotel, retail and office uses.

Outcome: One off the most successful super regional malls

in the United States, Park Meadows inspired a similar

project on the opposite side of the trade area and other

“retail resort” brand identities at South Coast Plaza and

elsewhere.

Project Profile

Desert Passage

Las Vegas

Project: Desert Passage

Location: Las Vegas Nevada

Opportunity: At the height of the themed retail

development boom fueled by the success of the Forum

Shops at Caesars, senior executives at TrizecHahn

Development formed a relationship with the owners of the

Alladin Hotel. The hotel was to be redeveloped as a new

luxury resort with a new circular retail arcade surrounding

the existing Alladin Theater for the Performing Arts.

I identified and lead a team that developed a theme for

the project inspired by the opening and closing scenes from

The English Patient- the idea of a desert adventure from

Morocco to India through a series of distinct, interactive

environments designed to immerse the patron in the

atmosphere of the unique cultures along the ancient trade

routes.

Our team included set designer Dean Tavoularis, architects

Jordan Mozer and David Rockwell, designer Todd Oldham

and a live performance and interactive experience

program designed by Karin Bacon.

Outcome: Project completed. The live performance

program was eliminated because of capital shortfalls prior

to opening. Property sold for in excess of $1B in 2016.

Project Profile

Hollywood & Highland

Academy Theatre

Project: Hollywood & Highland/Academy Awards Theatre

Location: Hollywood CA

Opportunity: As the head of Entertainment Strategies at

TrizecHahn, I was asked to identify potential new entertainment-

anchored retail opportunities, and identified a former Walt

Disney Company project that was originally envisioned as a

companion to their El Capitan Theatre.

We secured the development rights to the project from the CRA,

and proposed a new theatre to become a new home for the

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The $600M

mixed use redevelopment project components included a Metro

Rail Red Line subway station; conversion and expansion of a

former Holiday Inn to a four star hotel; renovation of the historic

Chinese Theatre, construction of a new theatre and rooftop

ballroom for the Academy Awards, 90,000 sq. ft of retail and

F&B; and the recreation of the famed Babylon Court set of the

D.W. Griffith film Intolerance to frame the Hollywood sign in the

distance above Lake Hollywood. I was directly responsible for

securing the Academy as anchor tenant, as well as sponsor

interest from Kodak, CAA, and other strategic partners.

Outcome: The project has been credited with being the catalyst

for the resurgence of Hollywood, which is undergoing a

development boom of new hotels, retail and apartments.

Project Profile

New Media Initiative

Hollywood

Project: Hollywood New Media Initiative

Location: Hollywood and Highland

Opportunity: TrizecHahn Development asked me to

identify additional revenue opportunities at the complex

then under construction that was to become the new home

of the Academy Awards Ceremonies.

We developed a strategy to connect the public spaces

with on site media spaces- theatre, ballroom, hotel media

suites, broadcast studio- blended with strategic partner

content- to create an on site media network. The network

would feature content from strategic partners- American

Film Institute, Turner Classic Movies, Hollywood Film

Festival, and others, with commercial messaging in a new

media context designed by Imaginary Forces.

Project components included an array of large scale

digital displays, interactive terminals, media pick up

points, and a proprietary Hollywood Motion Picture

Collection visitor experience with Debbie Reynolds and

Todd and Carrie Fisher based on their rights to

Hollywood classic films and memorabilia collection.

Outcome: Packaged for sale to third party media

groups. Received two bids in excess of $50M.

On-Site Media Network

Media Spectaculars

Panorama

The Big Screen

Portal Arch Screen

The Hollywood & Highland Zipper

Sign

Media Venues

Hollywood Sign Television Studio

Fashion Forecourt

Music Garden

Outdoor Cinema

Orange Grove

Media Portals

Media Partner Retail Store

Personal 360

Personal Panorama theater

E-commerce Pavilion

Interactive Touch Pads

Technology Showroom

.com Icon Pavilion

Photo Gallery

Media Lab

Distributed Network:

Rotunda

On Stage at the Academy Awards

Stand Still Locations

Chinese Forecourt Connection

Actor’s Alley Headshots

Los Angeles

New York

Boston

San Diego

Chicago

Miami

Mexico City

St Louis

Dallas

Tokyo

Budapest

Toronto

Las Vegas

Frankfurt

Hollywood

Honolulu

Kansas City

Salt Lake City

Silicon Valley

Denver

past projects

Jack Illes

about.me/JackIlles

www.linkedin.com/in/jackilles

619 540 3286

jack@urban-california.com