2025 VISIONARY LEADER

John Gattuso

President & CEO
Gattuso Development Partners

Through his visionary work as the leader of urban development, John Gattuso has changed the face of Philadelphia’s skyline and helped the city to reimagine its limitless possibilities. 

The Comcast Technology Center, the Comcast Center, the ongoing redevelopment of the Philadelphia Navy Yard and the Camden Waterfront; all of these iconic projects were developed under John’s guidance during his 30-year tenure at Liberty Property Trust, one of the nation’s largest real estate investment trusts. 

During that time, John was responsible for the development of over 50 projects in Philadelphia and across the nation, representing almost $3 billion in investment. His projects include the TJX Distribution center in Northeast Philadelphia, recognized as a “Smart Growth” development by the Sierra Club; the Plaza at PPL Center in Allentown; and the spectacular Comcast Center that became Comcast’s international headquarters upon completion in 2008, both recipients of the Urban Land Institute’s Award of Excellence.   

Before Liberty’s strategic decision to focus exclusively on industrial real estate, John lead Liberty’s Urban Development Group in completing the 1,121’ tall, 1.8 million square foot Comcast Technology Center which features a five-star Four Seasons Hotel, the tallest hotel in North America; as well as the new waterfront headquarters for American Water. 

In 2018, John and former Liberty Property Trust Colleague, Anne Cummins founded Gattuso Development Partners with a primary focus on the development of high-performance, premier quality commercial office, life sciences and manufacturing facilities. Under its new banner, the company competed for and won a national competition to develop a 137,000 RSF, $125 million state-of-the-art cell and gene therapy production and research facility for San Carlos, CA based Iovance Biotherapeutics.  Despite being developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the building was completed in January 2021- on schedule and 5% under budget. 

In November 2021, the company began development of a 130,000 RSF speculative flex production building at 2500 League Island Boulevard at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia.  This $66 million facility will provide critical manufacturing capacity to support the Greater Philadelphia region’s growing life sciences sector.   

In March 2022, Gattuso Development Partners announced it had entered into an agreement with Drexel University to develop a 500,000 RSF, $400 million state-of-the-art life sciences research and development building adjacent to the heart of the Drexel University campus.  Scheduled for completion in early 2025, 3201 Cuthbert Street will set a new standard for life sciences facilities in the region.  The building is being designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and is targeting LEED Gold certification.   

In addition, John has served as the President of the Fairmount Park Conservancy; and as a board member of the Center City District. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, John lives in the greater Philadelphia region.