Cultural Institutions, Museums,
& Foreign Government

JM Zell's expertise in cultural institution and museum organizational structures, operations, specialized space utilization, grant and fundraising processes, space planning, construction, and real estate, offers client leadership teams a comprehensive, all-in-one solution for both planning and execution.

Tailored Solutions

JM Zell works with world-renowned museums, cultural institutions, and foreign governments to provide real estate solutions that meet stringent operations requirements and satisfy the fiduciary responsibility of our client’s leadership teams to their various stakeholders, all while achieving overarching business goals.

Organizations have leveraged our expertise to identify and select sites for notable theaters and museums, and renovate, expand and develop highly specialized spaces for exhibitions, archival storage, performing arts, and diplomatic functions.

Engagements have included but not been limited to one or more of the following core services and related activities:

- Space use analysis and operations planning
- Complex financial analysis and sources and uses strategies
- Asset monetization strategies
- Highest and best use studies, zoning and entitlement processes
- Occupancy strategy (buy vs. lease analysis)
- CAPEX vs. OPEX analysis and strategy
- Financing strategies, grant applications, award support
- Capital campaign, planning and implementation
- Research and oversight of government/jurisdiction incentive application(s)
- Site identification and selection (legal, physical, and financial viability)
- Transactions (acquisition, disposition, leasing, subleasing, etc.)
- Due diligence management
- Tax mitigation strategy and support
- Legal documentation advisory and support
- Pre-construction planning and support
- Contracting strategy and legal document advisory
- Third-party consultant selection, on-boarding, and oversight, including exhibitions design and other specialized consultants
- Zoning, entitlements, and permitting approval strategy / oversight
- Construction oversight and reporting
  - Base building, interior renovations, and ground-up construction
- Furniture, fixtures, and equipment planning / procurement
- Move management
- Highest and best use studies with associated financial analysis
- Zoning and entitlement process management
- Complex joint venture/ownership structure
- Monetization strategies and implementation (sale-leaseback, ground lease, third party leasing, etc.)