What do owners need to know about how tenants are using, reconfiguring and planning space? Which retrofits might be most appropriate? Industry research on tenant preferences says the old rules do not apply, so what are the new rules? A look at how corporate real estate executives are thinking about the workplace now and looking ahead.

Sandwich, Illinois was at a crossroads. The once rural town was quickly being absorbed into the extended reach of Chicago. Kish Health System saw an opportunity to expand its services beyond the walls of its already successful hospital in order to meet the growing demand of area residents and to satisfy the need to provide new physician recruits with a Class A office environment.

A former steel manufacturing site retains its heritage while getting reclaimed into a master planned business park with cultural and entertainment amenities.

For three years, Penn Jersey Paper debated how to expand their corporate headquarters and distribution center facility. The national distributor of packaging, paper, restaurant equipment and janitorial chemicals had already expanded the building once, and it was becoming clear that the facility was insufficient for their growing operation.

When their major tenant departed the 110 Tower in downtown Fort Lauderdale, owner GenCap Partners had a decision to make — go after another lead tenant or pursue a greater tenant mix based on business types and square-footage demands. The management team made a commitment to review building functions and equipment and to revitalize the finishes and features to attract a broader tenant mix.

It is no secret that there is a real science to developing science lab space and it begins by selecting joint venture partners ever so carefully. A prime example of how to do this was the recently signed deal to develop Longwood Center, a major life sciences and biotechnology building in Boston.

Over the last decade, increased attention has been given to shielding facilities from blast damage. The federal office building bombing incident in Oklahoma, in particular, revealed that current standards were inadequate.

The Panama Canal, scheduled to be completed in 2014, is expected to be a major catalyst of growth for ports located on the East Coast. What does this mean for investors and developers? A group of NAIOP members and staff learned first-hand about the impact of the Panama Canal expansion on the global supply chain/logistics during a recent trip to the region.

The Middle Ring suburbs are a category of older suburbs, caught between downtowns and the well-off exurbs and outlying suburbs. Their socio-economic decline during the past 40 years has been documented as investment went to downtown centers and exurbs. Today, the Middle Ring suburbs may have become an area of opportunity for re-investment.