Scott Levitan is a transformational executive leader whose career has been defined by visionary development, institutional leadership, and a lifelong commitment to creating communities that foster innovation, collaboration, and economic vitality. With more than four decades of experience spanning commercial real estate, architecture, economic development, urban revitalization, and institutional planning, Scott has established himself as one of the nation’s most respected leaders in large-scale mixed-use development and research park transformation. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated the ability to unite public, private, academic, and nonprofit stakeholders around ambitious projects that generate sustainable growth and long-term value.
Currently serving as President and CEO of the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina, Scott leads the strategic vision and operational direction for Research Triangle Park (RTP), the largest research park in the United States. Since assuming leadership in 2017, he has spearheaded one of the most ambitious redevelopment and modernization initiatives in the history of the Park. Under his guidance, RTP has embraced a bold transformation strategy known as RTP 3.0, a comprehensive effort to reimagine the Park’s physical infrastructure, economic model, and long-term sustainability for the next fifty years. His leadership has positioned RTP as a global innovation hub supporting more than 400 companies and approximately 55,000 employees, including internationally recognized organizations such as IBM, Cisco, Lenovo, Fidelity Investments, Biogen, RTI International, and United Therapeutics.
One of Scott’s most notable accomplishments at RTP has been the launch and advancement of HUB RTP, a multi-billion-dollar mixed-use downtown development designed to reshape the traditional suburban research park into a vibrant live-work-play innovation ecosystem. The project reflects Scott’s deep understanding of the evolving relationship between talent, community, infrastructure, and economic competitiveness. Through strategic planning, rezoning, stakeholder engagement, and public-private collaboration, he has successfully guided the organization toward a future-oriented model that blends technology, entrepreneurship, residential development, hospitality, retail, and public spaces into one cohesive vision.
Before joining the Research Triangle Foundation, Scott served for more than a decade as Vice President and Development Director for Forest City Realty Trust, where he oversaw the transformational redevelopment of East Baltimore surrounding Johns Hopkins Medicine. This landmark initiative, known as the Science + Technology Park at Johns Hopkins and the Eager Park community, represented a $1.5 billion effort to revitalize a historically underserved urban area that had suffered decades of economic decline and disinvestment. The project required extraordinary collaboration among local communities, city and state governments, universities, private investors, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic foundations. Scott’s leadership helped create a thriving mixed-use environment featuring life science facilities, office and retail space, educational resources, hospitality development, public parks, and residential housing.
What distinguishes Scott throughout his career is not simply his expertise in development, but his ability to manage highly complex projects involving multiple constituencies with competing priorities. He has built a reputation as a collaborative leader who understands how to balance economic objectives with community impact and long-term sustainability. His leadership style is rooted in thoughtful consensus-building, strategic vision, and disciplined execution. Whether revitalizing urban neighborhoods, guiding institutional real estate strategy, or shaping innovation districts, Scott consistently demonstrates an ability to align diverse interests toward a shared mission.
Prior to his work in Baltimore, Scott served as Executive Director for Real Estate at the Georgia Institute of Technology. During his tenure, he played a central role in the development of Technology Square, a transformational mixed-use project that became a catalyst for the revitalization of Midtown Atlanta. The project integrated research facilities, office space, hospitality, retail, parking infrastructure, and academic institutions into a dynamic innovation district that connected Georgia Tech more directly to Atlanta’s growing business community. The success of Technology Square has since become a nationally recognized model for university-driven economic development and urban innovation ecosystems.
Earlier in his professional journey, Scott spent nearly twelve years at Harvard University, where he held leadership roles in university and commercial real estate development. During this period, he gained extensive experience in property operations, institutional planning, development oversight, and long-range real estate strategy. His work at Harvard provided him with a sophisticated understanding of how world-class academic institutions leverage real estate, design, and infrastructure to support mission-driven growth. The experience further refined his expertise in balancing operational priorities with architectural excellence and community integration.
Scott’s career foundation began in architecture and construction, disciplines that continue to shape his strategic perspective today. He worked with Hall Davison & Company in Boston and with Olympia & York in New York, where he contributed to the construction of the World Financial Center. These formative experiences exposed him to large-scale commercial development early in his career and helped cultivate the design sensibility, operational discipline, and project management expertise that have become hallmarks of his leadership style. His background as an architect provides him with a unique ability to bridge technical design considerations with broader economic and organizational strategy.
Academically, Scott possesses an exceptional educational background that reflects both creative and analytical rigor. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Louisiana State University, followed by a Master of Architecture degree from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and a Master of Science in Conservation Studies from the University of York in England. He is NCARB certified, licensed to practice architecture in North Carolina, and maintains active involvement in professional organizations including the American Institute of Architects. His international academic and professional experiences in England and Qatar have further broadened his perspective on global development trends, innovation infrastructure, and cross-cultural collaboration.
Throughout his career, Scott has remained deeply involved in civic leadership, industry associations, and governance initiatives. He has served on numerous boards and advisory groups, including the Association of University Research Parks, the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, the Qatar Science & Technology Park, and multiple chamber organizations and planning commissions. He currently serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Industry Roundtable and continues to contribute thought leadership to conversations surrounding economic growth, innovation districts, urban planning, and institutional development. His governance experience provides boards with a seasoned executive perspective grounded in both operational leadership and strategic foresight.
In addition to his executive accomplishments, Scott is recognized as an engaging public speaker and thought leader on industrial development, innovation ecosystems, mixed-use planning, and community revitalization. He is passionate about creating environments where businesses, institutions, and communities can thrive together. Colleagues and stakeholders frequently describe him as a calm, visionary leader who possesses the rare ability to see both the immediate operational realities and the long-term transformational potential of a project or organization.
Outside of his professional responsibilities, Scott values creativity, culture, and personal connection. He enjoys gardening and ballroom dancing, pursuits that reflect his appreciation for balance, artistry, discipline, and lifelong learning. These personal passions mirror the thoughtful and community-oriented approach he brings to leadership and development initiatives throughout his career.
Scott Levitan offers organizations and boards an extraordinary combination of executive leadership, strategic vision, architectural insight, economic development expertise, and transformational real estate experience. Having successfully led multi-billion-dollar projects, institutional transformations, and public-private partnerships, he brings practical wisdom, governance experience, and a collaborative mindset to every endeavor. His career reflects a consistent commitment to building not only successful developments, but stronger communities, sustainable economies, and meaningful long-term impact.
Character:
Scott demonstrates integrity through his collaborative leadership style and unwavering commitment to serving communities through thoughtful development and strategic growth. He consistently prioritizes long-term impact over short-term gains, ensuring that projects create sustainable value for all stakeholders involved. His ability to lead with humility, patience, and professionalism has earned him the trust and respect of colleagues, community leaders, government officials, and industry partners alike.
Knowledge:
He possesses deep expertise across commercial real estate, economic development, architecture, urban revitalization, and institutional planning developed over more than four decades of executive leadership. His broad professional background allows him to navigate highly complex projects involving financial strategy, design oversight, governance, stakeholder coordination, and operational execution. Through his leadership of transformational initiatives across multiple sectors, he has developed a sophisticated understanding of innovation ecosystems and the evolving dynamics of economic growth.
Strategic:
Scott has consistently demonstrated the ability to envision and execute large-scale transformational initiatives that position organizations for long-term relevance and success. He approaches leadership with a future-oriented mindset, carefully balancing economic opportunity, infrastructure planning, community needs, and organizational sustainability. His strategic thinking has enabled him to lead multi-billion-dollar redevelopment efforts that continue to shape industries, institutions, and regional economies.
Communication:
An effective communicator who excels at building consensus among diverse stakeholders with varying priorities and perspectives. Whether speaking publicly, leading executive discussions, or engaging with community partners, he communicates with clarity, diplomacy, and authenticity. His ability to articulate complex ideas and inspire collaboration has been instrumental in advancing transformational projects and fostering trusted relationships throughout his career.
