Douglas Durst
Chairman
The Durst Organization
The Durst Organization
Douglas Durst is the Chairman of The Durst Organization and a member of the third generation of the family to lead the firm. Born in New York City in 1944, Douglas graduated from the Fieldston School and the University of California, Berkeley. He is married to Susanne Durst, with whom he has three children—Anita, Alexander, and Helena. He joined The Durst Organization in 1968, learning the business from his father, Seymour, and his uncles Roy and David.
Under the leadership of Douglas and his cousin Jody, The Durst Organization built the nation’s first sustainable skyscraper, One Five One (151 West 42nd Street), and the first LEED Platinum high-rise office tower, The Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park. Today, the company owns, manages and operates a 13 million-square-foot office portfolio and 2,500 residential rental units, and oversees the development, management, and leasing of One World Trade Center.
Douglas is the Chairman of the Real Estate Board of New York, a trustee of The New School, and a director emeritus of The Trust for Public Land. He has been involved with the theatrical arts for many years and is a member of the Board of Directors of The Roundabout Theater and Primary Stages. He is a former board member of the Hudson River Park Trust and the former Chairman of Friends of Hudson River Park.
Along with other family members, he is a trustee of The Old York Foundation. Established by his father, this archive is committed to helping people through education to understand the history and issues facing New York City. In addition, Douglas has been an environmental activist for many years and created one of the largest organic farms in New York State.
Under the leadership of Douglas and his cousin Jody, The Durst Organization built the nation’s first sustainable skyscraper, One Five One (151 West 42nd Street), and the first LEED Platinum high-rise office tower, The Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park. Today, the company owns, manages and operates a 13 million-square-foot office portfolio and 2,500 residential rental units, and oversees the development, management, and leasing of One World Trade Center.
Douglas is the Chairman of the Real Estate Board of New York, a trustee of The New School, and a director emeritus of The Trust for Public Land. He has been involved with the theatrical arts for many years and is a member of the Board of Directors of The Roundabout Theater and Primary Stages. He is a former board member of the Hudson River Park Trust and the former Chairman of Friends of Hudson River Park.
Along with other family members, he is a trustee of The Old York Foundation. Established by his father, this archive is committed to helping people through education to understand the history and issues facing New York City. In addition, Douglas has been an environmental activist for many years and created one of the largest organic farms in New York State.