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The Boss: John Eakin, Eakin Partners

Every day, about 4,500 people go to work inside office buildings John Eakin has created over more than three decades as a developer. That started after Eakin evolved from an aspiring doctor to a budding investment banker to the president of a startup development business, all by age 27. In 1980, he and his business partner convinced Citibank to provide the equity to build a 180,000-square-foot office building without any tenants at the time construction began. Eakin hasn't looked back. His latest endeavor is 1201 Demonbreun, a 15-story office building in the Gulch. It'll be the newest and most-expensive office space in Nashville, with a couple of distinctive features, if you know where to look (hint: the lobby and the restrooms).

You recently turned 60. Did you do anything special to celebrate? My family and I, this spring, are going on a boat trip [sailing]. That's my birthday present to myself. We'll be going to the British Virgin Islands. We'll fly to Miami, then fly to San Juan, then you fly to the island of Tortola, and get the boat there. It's really safe because it's calm waters, line-of-sight. It's not like you're out being Christopher Columbus.

Why did you enroll pre-med at the University of North Carolina? I think a lot of it had to do with familiarity. My sister, who was 12 years older than me, married a doctor. A lot of my friends, their fathers were doctors. I was 100 percent positive I was going to be a doctor. I was making great grades, almost a 4.0. But then something hit me that I was like, "I'm not so sure that this is what I want to do." So I stopped pre-med and graduated with a business degree. I did not take one real estate course in college. At the time I stopped, I was fairly far along. I'd been pre-med two years. I was doing observations in the operating room.

So you've got the stomach for it. I had the stomach for it. Today, hospitals, I go in with my hands in my pockets and try not to breathe while I'm there. I can donate blood if I'm looking away.

Are you hooked on any TV shows? I really do not watch TV, other than some football games, and I really do enjoy the TV show "Nashville." I was out to dinner at Etch the other night and Rayna James [actress Connie Britton] was at the table next to us, and I was like, "Oh my gosh, I'm going to go shake her hand." But then I said, "John, you don't do that." It's important to let celebrities here have their space.

I understand that if you're not in the office at work, there's a pretty good chance you're out being active. I really enjoy spending time with my family, and we like to ride bikes, hike, water ski, snow ski. Colorado is really fun because there are great mountains for hiking and skiing. I am not a golfer. I always thought it took too much time.

You have created office space in Nashville for more than three decades. What stands out about your office building underway in the Gulch? We really went all-out for the nicest, coolest office space in town. We tried to make the building have quality features. Both aesthetically ­ — granite, marble, quartz, wood panels — and also a lot of the things you don't see. We put in one more elevator than we need, according to codes. We put in more toilet fixtures so when someone needs to use the restroom, you're not having to wait. We designed parking spaces that are nice and wide, easy for even a Suburban , and not take advantage of codes that say we can make so many spaces really small . The lobby is a huge expansive lobby, something of the size and quality you'd see in Chicago or New York City.

What happens after that one? You have to go find me some land!

What's your priority list for Nashville's next mayor? You have to put education at the top of the list. No. 2 always has to be public safety. No. 3, with Mayor [Karl] Dean, was economic development. In my business, that's clearly important. But I would replace that No. 3 now with working on our infrastructure. Granted, sewer systems aren't that exciting, but that stuff has to be done. The most important part of infrastructure is transportation. Twenty, 30 years ago, when a lot of downtown's buildings were built, developers were given incentives to build more square footage if they'd build less parking. The theory being that [it] would motivate people to take public transportation. Clearly, that did not work. Nashville is a city where people get in their car and drive to work. As our city is growing, and commute times get longer and longer, I think people will start to take public transportation. Psychologically, it's a huge change from where I am today, because I drive my car every single day.

Age: 60

Title: Co-founder and chairman

Company: Eakin Partners

Address: 1600 Division St., Nashville

Web: eakinpartners.com

Employees: 30

Hometown: Nashville

Education: University of North Carolina, bachelor's in business