A lifetime of achievement: How John A. Sobrato helped shape Silicon Valley and give back to it
John A. Sobrato received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Real Estate from San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal.
John A. Sobrato has spent nearly seven decades shaping the commercial landscape that grew alongside Silicon Valley's tech industry. The Sobrato Organization has developed more than 17.5 million square feet of office and R&D space and about 5,000 apartment units. Today the firm owns 6.3 million square feet of space and roughly 7,500 apartments, all held by the Sobrato family.
The Sobratos have contributed more than $1.5 billion through grants, program investments and support for nonprofit organizations, according to Sobrato Philanthropies. The work spans education access, affordable housing initiatives and support for regional health systems.
“John’s principles have always been our North Star — build with integrity, take the long view and never lose sight of your responsibility to the community,” said Chase Lyman, co-chief real estate officer of the Sobrato Organization. “Those values guide every decision we make as an organization.”