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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
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