The Philadelphia Business Journal has recognized Donald Moore, Drexel’s vice president of real estate and facilities, as one of the top minority business leaders in the region for 2020. Moore will be honored along with the other 24 recipients of the 2020 Minority Business Leader Awards in a special edition of the Business Journal on Aug. 21.
Moore came to Drexel in the summer of 2018 with over 35 years of experience of facilities and operations management, master planning, real estate development, and executive leadership experience under his belt. As vice president, he is responsible for providing strategic master planning, design and construction implementation, general management and professional direction for all of Drexel University's buildings and properties. He is also active in many community and development organizations in the region, including Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia and the Urban Land Institute's University Development & Innovation Council and Philadelphia Advisory Board.
“I’m truly motivated by a strong desire to support the positive advancement of people and communities, particularly by stewarding the physical transformation of places and spaces that I hope, for them, will become a stabilizing and safe refuge for their contributions to and participation in society,” said Moore. “The same way that my neighborhood library on the South Side of Chicago was at times a refuge for me from the negatives of the streets throughout high school and college, my constant desire is to provide similar spaces that positively impact people through housing, healthcare, research and education, all so they each can become their best selves in the world.”
In his first two years with the University, Moore made his mark by leading the University’s complex deal with developer Wexford Science and Technology to construct a new K-8 public school building and 450,000 square foot Academic Tower at the former University City High School Site on the western edge of Drexel’s campus.
Construction on the Powel Elementary/Science Leadership Academy Middle School building is well underway, with project completion targeted for spring 2021 occupancy. A virtual groundbreaking for the Drexel Academic Tower is being scheduled for next month, and when completed, the building will consolidate the College of Nursing and Health Professions, as well as various academic and administration functions of the College of Medicine, on the University City Campus.
The projects were both named among the region’s “Best Real Estate Deals of the Year” by the Philadelphia Business Journal this spring.