Tom Buning
Senior Partner, M&A Crown Group
Dallas, TX 75234
Phone (972) 400-3787
Mobile (214) 395-3396
Property Types
Industrial, Land, Retail
Markets
Dallas/Ft Worth
Bio
Serves as M&A Crown Group’s practice leader, bringing international buyers to the US commercial property market creating opportunities for acquisition in the performing asset classes of office complex, shopping center, multi-family and luxury hotel and real estate development services.
With over 35 years of leadership in the Engineering and Facilities Management business, Tom possesses a broad range of expertise as a master planner and facilities builder, operator and maintainer. His experience includes international work with the Federal government, foreign states and NGOs, and stateside work in the federal, state, city and private sectors. In over 16 years of work in higher education he has served as the project manager or owner’s representative for construction of over $500 million in capital projects. In addition, he was responsible for $6 billion in real property, directing a 500-person skilled union workforce public works department with a $90 million annual budget serving a 15,000 acre community, maintaining over 10 million sq. ft. of public buildings plus 1500 family living quarters, and providing all utilities from 7 plants with 335 miles of lines and maintaining over 125 miles of roads.
Most recently as SMU’s Senior Associate Athletics Director for Capital Projects, Buning has managed over $130 million in design and construction, including award winning Moody Coliseum renovation, a perfect mix of historic preservation and 21st century upgrades. SMU athletic facilities were recently recognized by the Princeton Review as the 7th best in the country.
Prior to his arrival at SMU in 2008, Buning was the Director of Athletics at the University of North Dakota where he led a top 5 NCAA Division II athletic department including national power Men’s Division 1 Hockey program. Buning went to UND after four years as Chief of Staff and Associate Athletic Director for Army Athletics at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. In addition to being the department’s senior operations officer, Buning was the Athletics’ project manager for over $200 million in construction and led the development of a comprehensive master plan for $240 million in new and upgraded athletic facilities. Buning has served on numerous committees including the City of Plano’s Tax Increment Financing Board and three different NCAA Division I Sport committees. He also belongs to the National Association of College Directors of Athletics and is a past member of its Executive Committee. An Orlando, Fla., native, Buning is a 1981 West Point graduate and earned master’s degrees in engineering management from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and an MBA from SMU’s Cox School of Business. During a 24-year Army career in the Corps of Engineers, Buning served three overseas tours and is a decorated combat veteran. Buning is a former world class athlete in the pentathlon, having twice qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials and competed in 16 World Cup competitions.
