Colvin Institute Staff

The Colvin Case Study Challenge is a national real estate case study competition for full or part-time students enrolled in a college or university real estate program (undergraduate or graduate or a university sanctioned real estate club/organization).

John B. Colvin Capstone Competition

The Capstone is the final, signature project for the Master of Real Estate Development Program and culminates with the John B. Colvin Capstone Competition, a juried competition that takes place during the student’s final semester.

About John Colvin 

John Colvin, founder of the Colvin Institute, was a 1969 alumnus of UMD and principal owner of Questar Properties. He contributed extensively to the community and real estate industry, serving as president of Maryland's National Association of Home Builders and participating in state commissions.

The Colvin Institute of Real Estate Development provides opportunities for students, industry professionals and allied disciplines that promote the practice of real estate development aligned with the "Quadruple Bottom Line": financial viability, environmental respect, social responsibility and sustainable design. It enriches Maryland’s Master of Real Estate (MRED) Program, covering finance, law, design, construction and asset management, while fostering understanding of the industry's role in vibrant community creation.

From studios working with real-world clients and meaningful project sites to competing in national competitions, our students produce creative, environmentally thoughtful and socially conscious projects that bring new energy to urban spaces, uplift community culture and create vibrant places for all. 

To view individual student theses, projects and dissertations, visit The Digital Repository at the University of Maryland (DRUM).

Over 60% of our faculty are actively engaged in creative and professional practice while teaching in our programs. These faculty work in top design studios, development firms and agencies in the Baltimore-Washington area, bringing their expertise and talent into the classroom for the next generation of practitioners. 

Our faculty research tackles challenges in transportation, housing, water quality, heritage preservation, building tech and the most pressing challenges of our built environment. 

To learn more about our faculty research interests, visit our people page.