SHVO, the New York based real estate investment and development firm, is one of the few companies in the United States to have expanded its portfolio significantly in recent years. Despite the pandemic and resulting upheaval, the company has continued investing across asset classes, building a portfolio that is today valued at more than $8 billion.

In an exclusive conversation, Seren Shvo, Managing Director & Head of Communications at the firm, spoke to us about the firm’s decision to continue investing heavily in real estate and the communications approach they take to ensure the firm’s success.

Q. SHVO has continued investing heavily in sectors such as commercial real estate, despite the increased pressure the sector is facing from the growing work from home trend. What are you seeing that others aren’t? 

A. The office market has certainly faced its challenges in recent years. However, the fact that we are a long-term investor provides us with the ability to take a patient approach. While others may be focused on how the market is performing this year or next year, we look at investments from at least a ten, or twenty-year horizon.

While the pandemic did make many people believe that they could work just as efficiently from home as they could from the office, what I do feel people miss out on working from home is the camaraderie and development that comes from being around colleagues in a shared working environment. In due course, we believe these factors will become more apparent, particularly as a new generation of people join the work force.

As such, we believe people will inevitably return to the office, and that is what is driving our investment decisions – this confidence in the long-term prospects of office buildings.

Q. SHVO has made several notable acquisitions, and announced major redevelopment projects, in recent years. The Coca Cola Building on Fifth Avenue, 530 Broadway in Soho, Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, and so on. What is it about these properties that attracted SHVO? 

As a firm, SHVO has invested purely in ultra-luxury real estate, whether that’s in terms of residential developments or commercial acquisitions.

All the buildings you mentioned – whether it’s 711 Fifth Avenue, 530 Broadway, or the Transamerica Pyramid Center – have one thing in common: they are all rightly considered to be amongst the most prestigious properties in their respective cities.

That’s the tie that binds these properties together.

Q. From a communications perspective, do you feel it is easier or harder to work with such well known assets? 

There is an enormous sense of responsibility that comes with our role as custodians of these properties that are amongst some of the most recognized in the world. In everything we do, whether that’s transforming the common spaces or conducting a marketing campaign, we aim to do justice to the iconic nature of the property in question. While that brings a certain amount of pressure, I am very conscious of the fact that it is a privilege to be able to represent these properties.

Q. Where will SHVO be 10 years from now? 

Michael, our Founder & CEO, was once asked in an interview what he wanted people to say about him 10 or 20 years from that moment in time. He had responded that he wants people to say they want to live in a SHVO building. If I could paraphrase him, I’d say that 10 years from now, I want people to say they want to live, work, and stay in SHVO buildings.