A Conversation with Andrew Schimmel, Director of Acquisitions & Public-Private Partnerships at UC San Diego
- dlight0
- Jun 29
- 2 min read
I sat down with Andrew Schimmel, Director of Acquisitions and Public-Private Partnerships at UC San Diego, for an episode of the RIZZ Podcast. We discussed real estate, housing, public-private partnerships, campus growth, and how universities think about long-term planning.
Real Estate as a Long-Term Strategy
One of my biggest takeaways from the conversation was that university real estate is not just about buildings or land. At UC San Diego, real estate supports students, faculty, staff, research, innovation, and the broader campus community.
Andrew explained how his role focuses on strategic real estate opportunities that support UC San Diego’s long-term goals. That can include acquisitions, campus-adjacent opportunities, housing, mixed-use projects, research-related space, and partnerships with private-sector developers, investors, and operators.
Why Public-Private Partnerships Matter
Public-private partnerships are becoming more important for universities, especially in California. Housing is limited, construction costs are high, land is constrained, and universities need to think creatively about how to support growth.
Andrew shared that the right private partner needs to bring more than capital. They need to understand the university’s mission, process, constraints, and long-term priorities.
That really stood out to me because these are not short-term transactions. They are long-term relationships.
What Makes a Strong Partner
For developers, investors, operators, and capital partners interested in working with a university, preparation matters.
A strong partner should understand the university’s goals before reaching out. Experience, design quality, execution, affordability, community impact, and mission alignment all matter.
The best opportunities are the ones that clearly support the campus community and create long-term value.
Housing Is a Major Opportunity
Housing was a major theme in our conversation. Across California, student, faculty, and staff housing continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing universities.
Housing impacts access, recruitment, retention, commute times, and quality of life. For UC San Diego, delivering housing faster and more thoughtfully is an important part of supporting the university’s future.
Thinking About Land Differently
In a market like San Diego, land is limited and incredibly valuable. Andrew discussed how underutilized land and campus-adjacent assets can be evaluated for housing, research, mixed-use, commercial, or community-serving projects.
The question is not only what can be built today. It is how the land can support the university’s mission for decades.
The Future of University Real Estate
My biggest takeaway is that the future of higher education real estate will require more collaboration between universities and private-sector partners.
The opportunity is not just to build more projects. It is to create real estate solutions that support housing, research, education, innovation, and community impact.
Thanks for reading. If you found the conversation helpful or if there’s a topic about CRE marketing, business development, or real estate strategy you would like to hear more about, drop us a message.
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