Background
Born in Maków Mazowiecki, Poland, he fled Europe during World War II for British Mandate Palestine. Between 1943 and 1946, Azrieli briefly studied architecture at the Technion, though did not complete his studies at that time. He fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. After immigrating to Montreal in 1954, he established his building business, beginning with the construction of small duplexes and working his way up to apartment buildings and, later on, shopping malls. This business is now called Canpro Investments. At the age of 75, he received his Master's degree in architecture from Carleton University.
He married Stephanie Lefcourt in 1957 and the couple have four children: Rafael, Sharon, Naomi and Danna.
Azrieli's building projects can be seen in the office buildings, high-rise residences, office towers and shopping centres he has built in Canada, the United States and Israel. His two companies - Montreal-based Canpro Investments Ltd. and Tel-Aviv-based Canit Investment, Management and Finance Ltd. – are considered leaders in their fields.
Azrieli built a number of notable Israeli commercial centres including the Jerusalem Shopping Mall in Malcha, Jerusalem, Kanion ha-Negev in Beersheba and the eponymous Azrieli Center in Tel Aviv, the largest real estate project in Israel, including three skyscrapers in the heart of Tel Aviv, which has become an architectural landmark at the core of Israel's business activities.
Azrieli and his wife currently reside in Herzliah.
Read more about this topic: David Azrieli
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