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Over the past decade, Oben Group has grown from a purpose-built rental-focused operator into a vertically integrated real estate company with in-house construction and property management capabilities. What began as a platform centred on developing and operating rental housing under the Oben Flats brand has matured into a broader real estate organization with multiple operating verticals. Today, the company is positioning itself not simply as a developer, but as a scalable platform spanning capital, execution, and long-term operations.
UrbanToronto recently spoke with Julian Battiston, CEO of Oben Group, to learn more about these initiatives.
At the core of that evolution is Oben’s vertically integrated model. Through Oben Build and Oben PM, the company manages construction and property operations internally while also delivering third-party services. In recent years, Oben has taken on construction and advisory assignments for external groups, including projects such as Halsa and work alongside Starlight Investments. As more developers pivot from condominium projects to purpose-built rental in response to market conditions, Oben has also been engaged in a development advisory capacity, helping groups refine rental strategies. The expansion now underway builds on this foundation rather than replacing it, reinforcing rental as a core focus.
This is now being formalized through a dedicated Investment & Development platform, expanding Oben’s role from operator to capital partner. The formal launch of Oben’s Investment & Development arm marks the next step in that platform strategy. The division is responsible for sourcing and executing value-add and ground-up opportunities across multi-residential and healthcare real estate, overseeing land acquisition, entitlements, design coordination, and capital structuring. While purpose-built rental remains central to the Oben Flats portfolio, the brand now extends beyond its original scope.
“Oben Flats traditionally focused on purpose-built rental,” said Battiston. “We’re now expanding that brand to cover development and investment across a wider set of opportunities, including healthcare.”
The new division is led by Duncan Smith, who joins Oben as President and Chief Investment Officer, leading the Investment & Development platform. Smith arrives from a leading national developer, bringing institutional experience to the firm’s growing capital strategy. His appointment signals a deliberate shift toward a more formalized investment structure designed to serve family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and institutional investors seeking disciplined execution.
“His track record signals how serious we are about this platform,” Battiston noted.
The Investment & Development arm also strengthens Oben’s third-party positioning. Rather than operating solely as an owner-developer, the company now presents itself as a capital and execution partner, capable of structuring opportunities while delivering construction, property management, and advisory services under one coordinated framework.
This structure allows Oben to deploy capital selectively while also generating fee-based execution and advisory work. By combining investment capability with proven delivery through Oben Build and Oben PM, the firm places itself as both sponsor and service provider, able to support partners whether through equity participation, construction mandates, or development advisory roles.
“We’re not just building and developing for ourselves. We’re hired by other developers, landlords, and real estate investors to build, manage, and advise, even on projects where we hold no equity,” Battiston added.
Alongside the investment expansion, Oben has formally launched Oben Medical as a standalone healthcare-focused division. While the firm has delivered medical facilities in recent years, the creation of a dedicated brand reflects growing demand for modern, community-based healthcare environments and the need for turnkey delivery models.
Oben Medical focuses on the design and construction of clinics, surgical centres, and broader healthcare campuses across the GTA and Ontario. By leveraging in-house planning, construction management, and development expertise, the division is set to deliver facilities that meet evolving clinical requirements.
“Oben Medical will operate with its own website and brand, focused on the design and build of healthcare spaces across the province,” said Battiston.
The healthcare expansion complements Oben’s residential platform, creating a balanced portfolio across sectors with durable long-term demand drivers. As healthcare providers seek contemporary facilities that align with operational standards and regulatory frameworks, Oben sees an opportunity to apply its integrated model to a distinct but related asset class.
The launch of dedicated websites for both Oben Group and Oben Medical reflects this broader repositioning. With four business units now operating in concert (Investment & Development, Oben Build, Oben PM, and Oben Medical), Oben Group is defining itself as a multi-vertical real estate platform. The company continues to advance its purpose-built rental portfolio under Oben Flats while scaling healthcare delivery and third-party services for external partners.
Rather than pivoting away from rental, Oben’s expansion reinforces its original strengths while adding institutional capital capabilities and a distinct healthcare vertical. The result is a platform balanced across ownership, services, and specialized development, positioning the firm for its next phase of growth as an institutional-grade real estate company.
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