Education Realty Trust Inc (NYSE:EDR), one of the nation's largest developers, owners and managers of collegiate housing, today announced the company will conduct business in the future as EdR and launch a new logo and branding campaign.

"Within the last two years, the company has repositioned its portfolio, enhanced operating systems and realigned goals and management team with significantly positive results," said Tom Trubiana, EdR's chief investment officer and executive vice president. "We needed a new brand and logo that would portray this new attitude and spirit to our customers and employees, and also remove any corporate identity issues."

Since its founding in 1952, the company has conducted business and marketed through several names, such as, Allen & O'Hara Education Services, Inc. and Allen & O'Hara Development LLC. In 2005, the company went public as Education Realty Trust and adopted EDR as its stock ticker symbol but still operated under several different Allen & O'Hara names.

"Being known simply as EdR and launching a new brand and logo will help alleviate any confusion in the marketplace, and unite the company's different service lines and departments--financing, development, construction and management--under one name," said Trubiana.

The new name and logo was created by John Malmo Marketing Consulting after extensive interview, research and development activities.

"Our goal was to unite all of the different entities of Education Realty Trust under one name with a visual identity that would reflect the innovative and dynamic spirit of today's company with the integrity, reliability and quality reputation we have enjoyed for more than 50 years," said Susan Jennings, vice president of corporate communications and marketing.

"Many people, both internally and externally, referred to us as EDR--the initials in our stock ticker symbol," added Jennings. "The d became lower case because it did not represent a separate word, but was part of education, and our new logo was born."

The marketing consultant then created the logo which is solid, innovative and fresh. The color green is a nod to our financial services and dependability as well as the focus on creating sustainable buildings and operations so necessary in today's on- and off-campus collegiate housing.

The various properties EdR owns or manages across the United States will retain their individual names for marketing and identity purposes. The Allen & O'Hara name will continue as Allen & O'Hara, Inc., an independent company which specializes in procurement services of furniture, fixtures, equipment and operating supplies for a diverse group of clients that own hotels, apartments, senior living facilities and student housing. Allen & O'Hara, Inc. is not an affiliate of EdR or Education Realty Trust Inc.

About EdR

EdR (NYSE:EDR) is one of America's largest owners, developers and managers of collegiate housing. EdR is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust that owns or manages 61 communities in 23 states with over 34,700 beds within more than 11,200 units. For more information please visit the company's web site at www.educationrealty.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Statements about the company's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's future results, performance, or achievements to differ significantly from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks are set forth under the captions "Item 1A. Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in our annual report on Form 10-K and under the caption "Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" (or similar captions) in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and as described in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the dates on which they are made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any guidance or other forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.

Education Realty Trust Inc
Randall H. Brown, 901-259-2500
Executive Vice President, CFO & Treasurer
rbrown@EdRtrust.com
or
Susan Jennings, 901-259-2506
Public Relations
sjennings@EdRtrust.com