Ones To Watch: Innovators in CRE - David Greaney, Founder & CEO at Synergy

What innovation or accomplishment are you most proud of? I came to Boston from Ireland 30 years ago and am still proud to call this city home. I’m most proud of what we’re building at Synergy across the city, taking underused office buildings and reimagining them for how Boston actually needs to grow. Leading the state’s largest office-to-residential conversion, turning the former Fallon Health headquarters into Altitude Worcester apartments, is the clearest example, and we’re doing it again at an even larger scale at 294 Washington St.

Where do you see the biggest opportunities for innovation in CRE or your area of expertise? The biggest opportunity I see is in how commercial real estate can best support Boston’s innovation economy directly, not just house it. Through our Build617 partnership, Synergy provides workspace to local startups and AI-native companies, keeping entrepreneurs and creators rooted here. Combined with our involvement in the Massachusetts AI Coalition, Pitch Lift, and Boston AI Week, I think real estate has a chance to become an active partner in growing Boston’s startup ecosystem.

How is innovation changing the way you approach your work? At Synergy, we’ve always taken a holistic approach, integrating investment, development, management, leasing, construction, and hospitality under one roof, and that mindset accelerates our ability to innovate. We move quickly on adaptive reuse projects like our office-to-residential conversions, think differently about supporting the local startup community, and bring a hospitality-driven, amenity-forward approach to leasing and property management that keeps our properties ahead of market occupancy trends. Innovation is built into how we run our business.

What excites you most about the future of commercial real estate? I’m excited about the continued transformation of underused office space into housing. 294 Washington Street will be our largest conversion yet, and a model more cities will need as they work through the housing shortage. I’m equally excited about Boston’s startup and AI momentum, and the role our industry can play in supporting it through partnerships like Build617. Downtown’s revitalization is far from finished, and I’m proud to be a part of what comes next.

YEARS IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE: 25

CURRENT ROLE: Founder & CEO

INNOVATION FOCUS: Hospitality, Office Reimagination, Downtown Revitalization, Innovation Economy, Innovation Community Investment

BEST CAREER ADVICE: Leadership isn’t a title, it’s a network of trust built one conversation at a time, so invest in your relationships and keep those connections current.