This program will demonstrate how proven principles of retail development can be combined with the best practices of new urbanism, smart growth, and architectural design to create successful and competitive mixed-use urban commercial centers. Ideal for developers, planners, retailers, architects, and public officials, the program will focus on several topics, among them the required market demographics for various retailers, restaurants, and shopping center typologies including convenience centers, neighborhood centers, power centers, regional malls, and lifestyle centers. Participants will learn about market research, streetscape, store planning, signage, tenant mix, merchandising plans, leasing, anchors’ roles, and successful new urban planning techniques, design criteria, parking, building, site planning, and developer requirements. The course will also review the synergy among residential, office, civic, and governmental land uses and retailer performance.

This two-day program focuses on the application of “nuts and bolts” real estate finance fundamentals to develop varied real estate asset types and/or acquire both performing and distressed assets. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how real estate value is created and recognized. The program will present critical real estate finance and development principles and practices in a simple, understandable, and interactive manner that will demystify the real estate financing and development process, regardless of participants’ prior real estate experience. The program is intended for developers, architects, engineers, contractors, lenders, brokers, investors, and any other participants in the real estate development, investment, or entitlement process, including private, public, and NGO-sector players. The basic principles discussed in this program will be applicable to both domestic and global real estate.

Participants in this two-day program will develop a broader understanding of how the master planner’s skills and contributions fit within the overarching sustainability goal to achieve “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Presentations and discussions will consider the matrix of environmental, economic, and social issues that must be addressed. Case studies ranging from new cities in emerging and urbanizing countries to mixed-use urban infill of American cities will be presented and examined. Discussions will provide the perspective of planners, designers, economists, regulators, and developers. Particular attention will be given to improving the quality of urban life as an inducement to higher density living.

Academic housing is a critical pedagogic tool lying at the center of the creation and dissemination of knowledge. This two-day program will explore the link between living and learning environments, and will help participants expand their understanding of trends affecting the campus role of student and faculty housing and factors influencing their future planning and design. The program will draw on lecture analysis, case studies, and the symposium input of guest panelists offering a range of real-world stakeholder perspectives. The program is designed to stimulate and inspire all those interested in anticipating the future educational configurations of institutions including architects, designers, planners, college and university administrators, real estate officers, developers, programmers, and market analysts.