Kristian Spannhake

Biography: Kristian brings extensive experience in the real estate industry, with expertise spanning engineering, construction, and development. As the Director of Development for Harkins Builders, he leads business development and cultivates client relationships across the Mid-Atlantic region, driving the successful delivery of impactful projects. His passion for placemaking and space activation, combined with his ability to guide diverse teams, has been instrumental in completing complex real estate initiatives. Kristian holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech, a Master’s in Business from Loyola University, and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Maryland as well as a LEED Accredited Professional. An active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) since 2011, he served as Chair for Mission Advancement from 2019 to 2022, is the current District Council Chair for ULI Baltimore, and participates on the National Small Scale Developers Product Council. His commitment to the built environment led him to co-found VS Development, a vertically integrated real estate company focused on adaptive reuse and community revitalization in his hometown of Baltimore City.