Our Roots

The Zimmer family's ancestries trace back to some of the Kansas City's earliest development booms. Current Chairman and CEO Hugh J. Zimmer's grandfather, Hugh J. Curran came to Kansas City more than 100 years ago as part of the Swift Company, which would later join forces with the Armour Company and Chicago Burlington & Quincy railroad to develop what is now North Kansas City. At one time, from roughly the 1960s-1980s, Zimmer was the second-largest property owner in the area. Mr. Curran's son-in-law, Albert W. Zimmer joined the development company in 1924 and continued this work until he formed Zimmer Companies in 1948.

Since those days in the early 1920s, Zimmer has established thousands of relationships and developed, leased, sold and managed more than 30 million square feet of commercial real estate. Now in its fourth generation, the Zimmer family continues to be an active participant in North Kansas City's evolution. Mr. Curran's great-grandchildren currently serve as President (David J. Zimmer, SIOR, FRICS) and COO (Ellen Z. Darling, CPM) of Zimmer Real Estate Services. Ms. Darling also serves as President of Zimmer Companies, Inc.

Beginning in 1948 with the vision of Albert W. Zimmer, Zimmer has built a results-driven business based on strong relationships and a commitment to improving the businesses and communities in which it serves.

On the Cutting Edge of Real Estate Technology

Sixty-five years and three generations of real estate practitioners later, the Zimmer vision has remained the same - always maintain the highest ethical principles in every business interaction while creating innovative solutions tailored to each client's needs. This deep-rooted structure allows Zimmer executives and associates the foundation they need to utilize the company's combined experience while embracing cutting edge solutions designed to better serve its clientele.

Today, Zimmer's vision is on the forefront of technology, providing clients with real estate solutions that get results. It is this unyielding drive to provide the best results for you that have allowed Zimmer to develop, manage and represent clients in more than 3,000 acres of planned industrial and business parks and more than 30 million square feet of commercial real estate - the equivalent of more than 521 football fields of brick and mortar.

Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, owned and managed by members of the Zimmer family and other senior management officials, the Zimmer team has evolved to offer its services throughout the Midwest, the United States, and around the globe. During the past five years, Zimmer's advanced global practice has utilized our Global Partners network to represent clients in real estate transactions in 48 states and nine countries. While Zimmer prides itself on providing the best service and partnerships for each client and each project, the team also takes great pride in providing the personal attention and service associated with a small firm rooted in midwestern values.

The vision of Albert Zimmer has resulted in an innovative firm regularly recognized as one of the top real estate firms in the Midwest. Negotiating more than 400 transactions per year, Zimmer currently manages more than 7 million square feet of office, medical, industrial and retail property and serves as a corporate real estate advisor for an assortment of local regional, national and international companies. While Zimmer's progressive Development Management Group has developed several of the largest and most iconic projects in the region's history, including the NNSA National Security Campus, Sprint World Headquarters Campus and the Village West tourism, entertainment and retail district - each valued at $1 billion or more.

In the end, integrity, passion, and commitment are all attributes and characteristics that set Zimmer apart, and serve as a foundation linking its past, present and future.