Tina Ladd of Aker | How Aker’s Core Values Drive Redevelopment and Community at Kinwood
Courtesy of Aker
Inside The Garden-Style Apartments in Update New York
Stephen Ross had an uncompromising vision for a transformational park built over a highway as part of an ambitious Detroit master plan. The challenge was cost. Tina Ladd has built her career remaining determined in the face of challenges. Through her work on both the Detroit master plan and Hudson Yards, she honed her skills to turn the impossible into possible. Today, that same relentless, solutions-driven mindset defines her work at Aker, where she shows that determination applies just as much in multifamily value-add as it does in billion-dollar mixed-use developments.
The Kinwood redevelopment in Rensselaer, New York exemplifies Aker's approach to value-add properties. What began as "Mansions at Technology Park" — a deteriorating 390-unit complex with 21 years of deferred maintenance—became a case study in strategic repositioning. Rather than chasing luxury branding, Aker focused on authentic values that brought a sense of community into a once transient neighborhood.
By building a strong brand around values like dependability, authenticity, accessibility, and even playfulness, the Aker team laid the groundwork for more than just property upgrades — they set the stage for community impact. With a clear phasing strategy, Tina’s team addressed deferred maintenance, added connection-driven amenities, and refreshed apartments with smart, high-impact materials. The result shows how intentional branding, paired with strategic capital investment, can breathe new life into overlooked assets while building a genuine sense of community.
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“We wanted Kinwood to be the best of what it could be, and the best of what it can be is a beautiful community where people feel at home.”
Courtesy of Aker
About Tina Ladd
Tina is a Managing Director at Aker, where she leads the development team. Prior to joining Aker, she was with Related, directing the design of major ground-up projects—including large-scale urban master plans and a range of residential high-rises, from luxury condominiums to workforce housing.
A licensed architect, Tina began her career at Kohn Pedersen Fox, contributing to master plan and commercial towers of Hudson Yards, and later worked at Morris Adjmi Architects. She holds a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University.
Clubhouse - Before
Courtesy of Aker
Clubhouse - After
Courtesy of Aker
Episode Timestamps
(01:47) Early career lessons from Hudson Yards and exposure to large-scale development
(04:40) Mentorship lessons in people management and problem-solving
(12:05) Joining Aker, an employee-owned company focused on community building
(19:13) Evaluating and repositioning Mansions at Technology Park
(25:13) Unit renovation strategy based on Aker’s core values
(34:41) Working with branding consultants and creating cohesive guidelines across assets
(40:01) Current projects, including first fund launch and expansion closer to New York City
Living Room
Courtesy of Aker
About your host:
Atif Qadir is a licensed architect and entrepreneur, interested in solving big problems through innovation and technology. He has founded two proptech companies and a real estate development firm, building products ranging from software to workforce housing.
His work has been covered by Technology Review, The Real Deal, Commercial Observer, and Propmodo. He’s also a frequent speaker on the future of buildings and cities on popular industry podcasts and at conferences, including this past year at the Commercial Observer National DEI Conference, Yale AREA Conference, Columbia Real Estate Symposium, Open Data Week NYC and Austin Design Week.
About Michael Graves
The world-famous design firm Michael Graves is also a founding sponsor of American Building. Its namesake, the iconoclastic designer Michael Graves, FAIA was a fierce advocate for people-centric design. His work defines a generation of American architecture and includes the Portland Building, the Humana Building and the Denver Public Library. The 1st season of American Building was filmed live at The Warehouse, his historic home in Princeton, New Jersey:
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