Egbert Perry

Egbert Perry, an innovator of urban mixed-use and mixed-income developments such as Centennial Place in Atlanta, is the 2010 recipient of the Hall of Distinction Award, the highest honor given by the Atlanta chapter of The Real Estate Investment Advisory Council (REIAC).

Induction ceremonies for Perry, chairman and CEO of The Integral Group, a full-service real estate firm based in Atlanta, will be Thursday, Dec. 2 at the Westin Buckhead Atlanta.

As part of the Hall of Distinction Award program presented by REIAC in conjunction with Georgia State University, NREI Editor Matt Valley will interview Perry about his life and his calling for creating mixed-income communities. (For more details about the event, click here.)

The award was conceived in 2005 to recognize the people and commercial real estate projects that have had the most dramatic impact on metro Atlanta. Prior honorees have included Leo Wells III (2009), Hal Barry (2008), Steve Selig (2007), Jim Borders (2006) and Jim Jacoby (2005).

Perry has introduced progressive ideas to urban living all over the city, according to REIAC. One example is the replacement of the dilapidated and crime-ridden Techwood Homes project with Centennial Place, which today stands as a model in-town, mixed-income, mixed-use community. Centennial Place has inspired over 100 similar developments across the country, some of which have been implemented by Perry's firm.

Born on the island of Antigua, Perry came to New York to complete his last two years of high school. He attended the University of Pennsylvania's Engineering School, where he received both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering. He also attended the university’s Wharton Business School, where he received an MBA in finance and accounting.