Development / Ownership

City leaders should be more proactive in crafting municipal policies that capitalize on the e-commerce changes transforming commercial real estate and their tax bases.

boston scientific global fulfillment center

Boston Scientific's Global Customer Fulfillment Center

By: Paul Donhauser, CEM, CPMM, Boston Scientific, and Marc Margulies, FAIA, LEED AP, Margulies Perruzzi Architects Fall 2018 Issue

A global facilities master plan informs the company’s real estate decisions.

The Value of Downtown Data Centers

By: Marc Gittleman, Rising Realty Partners Fall 2018 Issue

Buildings with direct fiber-optic internet connections will benefit from strong demand as information continues to be stored in the cloud and big data takes off.

Agree to Disagree: Resolving Property Disputes with a Partition Action

By: John Vukmanovic, Esq. Fall 2018 Issue

A written agreement in place from the outset can avoid most potential problems.

Rockefeller Group Distribution Center, Tucson, Ariz.

Cookie Cutter Environmental Diligence Doesn't Cut It Anymore

By: Tom Mounteer, Paul Hastings LLP Fall 2018 Issue

Environmental diligence must be customized for each property.

New & Noteworthy

By: Trey Barrineau, Managing Editor, Development Fall 2018 Issue

An assortment of brief facts and figures about new and noteworthy development projects.

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Retrofitting Tysons: From Edge City to Walkable Urban Place

By: Christopher B. Leinberger, George Washington University School of Business and Arcadia Land Co. Summer 2018 Issue

The largest and best-known “edge city” in the U.S. is being transformed into a more walkable urban center.

The Evolving Automotive Industry: Detroit Meets Silicon Valley

By: Michael E. Karp, Cushman & Wakefield Summer 2018 Issue

Electrification, artificial intelligence, autonomy and mobility services are having big impacts on the Bay Area commercial real estate market.

The Distillery North: Passive House Apartments in South Boston

By: Michelle Apigian, AIA, Icon Architecture Summer 2018 Issue

The largest Passive House project in Massachusetts offers lessons for developers seeking to reduce energy use and operating costs.

A Hurricane Survival Guide

By: Hans Brindley, Liberty Property Trust Summer 2018 Issue

Almost a year later, Liberty Property Trust looks back at the impact of Hurricane Harvey.

Mixing It Up in Midtown Houston

By: Kirsten Cornell, Walter P Moore Summer 2018 Issue

Houston’s new Midtown Park offers a wide array of amenities, plus an underground parking garage, coupled with sustainability.

New & Noteworthy

By: Julie D. Stern, Managing Editor, Development Summer 2018 Issue

An assortment of brief facts and figures about new and noteworthy development projects.

Capitol View: Master Planning a Dynamic Urban District

By: Kyle Reis, Cooper Carry Spring 2018 Issue

A cohesive yet flexible master plan sets the stage for this Nashville mixed-use development, which is now underway on a brownfield site.

Crossroads Commerce Park: From Blighted Brownfield to Thriving Infill Industrial Park

By: Bill Mosher and Ann Sperling, Trammell Crow Company | Denver Spring 2018 Issue

Long-term planning and collaboration among various partners across multiple jurisdictions have been key to creating a new industrial park in Denver’s Globeville neighborhood.

What Lies Ahead for Commercial Real Estate Sectors

By: Bill Hunt, Elmhurst Group Spring 2018 Issue

A look at some of the challenges and opportunities facing CRE.

Best Practices in Developing Skilled Nursing Facilities

By: Greg Lazaroff, PHCM Construction Inc. Spring 2018 Issue

An Ohio-based developer of these specialized properties describes how it is capitalizing on growing opportunities as well as evolving market trends.

Treehouses at Microsoft

By: Bret Boulter, Microsoft Spring 2018 Issue

By putting the employee experience at the center of its workplace design, Microsoft is reaching new heights.

New & Noteworthy

By: Julie D. Stern, Managing Editor, Development Spring 2018 Issue

An assortment of brief facts and figures about new and noteworthy development projects.

Industrial Development Goes Vertical

By: Jay Todisco, AIA, LEED AP, Ware Malcomb Winter 2017/2018 Issue

A prototype design demonstrates the viability of multistory distribution centers in land-constrained North American submarkets.

The Perot Family's New Corporate Headquarters: A Powerful Collaboration Between Architecture and Landscape

By: Dave Goldberg, Annie Rummelhoff and Dakota Keene, Mithun Winter 2017/2018 Issue

The new headquarters for the Perot family businesses represents both the family legacy and an investment in the well-being of their employees.

Northgate Distribution Center

By: Taylor Cole Winter 2017/2018 Issue

The largest speculative distribution center in southern Nevada is turning North Las Vegas into an e-commerce mecca.

Meridian Cool Springs Mixed-Use Development, Franklin, Tenn.

Legal Agreements for Mixed-use Projects

By: Paul N. Dubrasich, Cox Castle Nicholson LLP Winter 2017/2018 Issue

Anyone considering developing a mixed-use project should be aware of these key legal, design and management considerations.

Mixed-use Design: Making the Mixes Work

By: Eric Brown, AIA, principal/partner, and Rob Hagan, AIA, associate, Prellwitz Chilinski Associates Winter 2017/2018 Issue

Why do some mixed-use developments get the mixture so right, while others struggle?

Artful Landscape Design for Stormwater Management

By: Brian L. Reetz, senior associate and landscape architect, and Emilie C. Carter, PLA, ASLA, landscape architect, Design Collective Winter 2017/2018 Issue

Stormwater management features became an asset for a mixed-use project in Columbia, Maryland.

A Real Estate Developer's Sustainable Headquarters

By: Mohamed Abaza, PE, CEM, LEED AP, executive vice president and director of energy and sustainability services, Capital Brand Group LLC Winter 2017/2018 Issue

The Duffie Companies’ new headquarters incorporates innovative HVAC systems, lighting controls, a green roof and more, targeting LEED Platinum certification.

New & Noteworthy

By: Julie D. Stern, Managing Editor, Development Winter 2017/2018 Issue

An assortment of brief facts and figures about new and noteworthy development projects.

Trammell Crow Company Timeless, Innovative, Entrepreneurial

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor to Development magazine Fall 2017 Issue

This year’s award winner has long been a pioneer in the development of top-quality commercial real estate assets.

CRE Development Opportunities In Public-private Infrastructure Partnerships

By: James M. Mulligan, partner, and Andrea Austin, associate, in the Denver office of Husch Blackwell LLP Fall 2017 Issue

Public-private partnerships are emerging as a mechanism that marries the funding of public facilities like courthouses, libraries, government offices and more with private commercial development.

From Obsolete Property to Modern Distribution Facility

By: Matt Goode, principal with Venture One Real Estate Fall 2017 Issue

A great location plus smart design result in fast lease-up of a last-mile distribution facility on Chicago’s South Side

The Summit at Fritz Farm

By: Lindsay Bayer Shipp, retail brand strategist and Molly Mackenzie, chief investment officer for Bayer Properties Fall 2017 Issue

Engaging regional “brand ambassadors” results in authentic placemaking for a mixed-use retail destination in Lexington, Kentucky.

Master Planning: A Powerful Tool to Add Value to CRE Developments

By: Nitin B. Desai and Philip Wilkinson Jr., AIA, architects, AE7 Planners and Architects Fall 2017 Issue

A master plan can help a developer strike the right balance between long-range investment objectives and the right mix of programmatic elements.

Smart Energy Retrofit in Chicago

By: Consolato Gattuso, Zeller Realty Group Fall 2017 Issue

Installing wireless pneumatic thermostats controlled by smart buildings software at 311 South Wacker Drive has significantly reduced HVAC energy use and increased tenant comfort.

Farm-to-table Dining Goes High Tech at Microsoft

By: Mark Freeman, senior manager, global dining, Microsoft Fall 2017 Issue

Microsoft’s high-tech urban farming project provides employees and guests with thousands of pounds of lettuce and microgreens each year.

Electric Shuttle Buses Come to Chicago

By: Amanda Tran, a freelance real estate writer and researcher Fall 2017 Issue

JLL and Proterra provide the nation’s first all-battery-powered commercial electric bus fleet.

New & Noteworthy

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development Fall 2017 Issue

An assortment of brief facts and figures about new and noteworthy development projects.

The Challenges Of Bringing a Museum to Market

By: Robbie Tarpley Raffish, a freelance writer based in Maryland Summer 2017 Issue

Museum development requires collaboration among designers, contractors and museum operators.

Black Hawk College Health Science Center

The Future of Family-owned CRE Businesses

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor to Development magazine Summer 2017 Issue

How can family-owned businesses stay competitive in the commercial real estate industry?

Funding Transit to Industrial Properties

By: Cinda Kelley, president, Kelley and Associates LLC Summer 2017 Issue

Employers in Plainfield, Indiana, are helping fund connector bus service that brings employees to local industrial parks.

Five Tips to Avoid Stormwater Headaches

By: Sam Arden, Peyton Nunez and Irene Vander Els, attorneys, Hartman Simons & Wood LLP Summer 2017 Issue

Site work that results in stormwater runoff or erosion can expose a developer to potential liability.

advisor development program participants

Colliers International's Advisor Development Program

By: Katherine Ringrose-Poole, national program director, advisor development, Colliers International Summer 2017 Issue

This professional development program has proven to be a sound investment that benefits the company’s brand, professionals and clients.

New & Noteworthy

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development Summer 2017 Issue

An assortment of brief facts and figures about new and noteworthy development projects.

Transforming an Industrial Building for Carnegie Robotics

By: Adrienne Schmitz, freelance writer and real estate researcher Spring 2017 Issue

RIDC, a nonprofit developer in Pittsburgh, has converted a long-vacant factory building in a now-hip neighborhood into an industrial robotics facility.

Redeveloping Newspaper Headquarters

By: Patricia Raicht, senior vice president and national research director at JLL and Julia Georgules, vice president and director of U.S. office research at JLL Spring 2017 Issue

Redevelopment of former newspaper headquarters and other facilities is becoming big business in more markets, as news companies offload valuable real estate with great structural bones in high-quality locations.

Bulfinch Crossing The Next Phase of Urban Revitalization in Boston

By: Thomas N. O'Brien, founding partner and managing director at The HYM Investment Group LLC. Spring 2017 Issue

A 4.8-acre mixed-use, transit-oriented development on the site of the Government Center Garage aims to meet the future needs of Bostonians.

Taller Wood Buildings Coming Soon

By: Steve White, AIA, principal, Fentress Architects, and director of the firm’s Washington, D.C., studio Spring 2017 Issue

Mass timber is becoming a mainstream material for high-rise buildings.

The Sustainability Officer and Real Estate Operations

By: Sam Black, former contributing editor at Development, attorney and past chairman of the Washington, D.C., Smart Growth Alliance Spring 2017 Issue

Corporate sustainability efforts vary widely in their approaches to real estate.

New & Noteworthy

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development Spring 2017 Issue

An assortment of brief facts and figures about new and noteworthy development projects.

Office Development in Mixed-use Settings: Raising the Bar in Suburbia

By: Jeff Berkes, executive vice president and president of West Coast operations and Don Briggs, executive vice president for development, Federal Realty Investment Trust Winter 2016/2017 Issue

Federal Realty Investment Trust shares lessons learned from developing office space in urban-style mixed-use projects.

Seniors Housing Moves Downtown

By: Adrienne Schmitz, freelance real estate writer and researcher Winter 2016/2017 Issue

Seniors’ desire to live in urban settings is creating new opportunities for developers.

The Future of Suburban Office Buildings

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor to Development magazine Winter 2016/2017 Issue

What features will suburban office buildings need to attract tomorrow’s tenants?

Atlanta Metro Studios And Union Station Business Center

By: Sheila Kelly Vertino, former editor-in-chief of Development magazine and a freelance writer Winter 2016/2017 Issue

A fully leased business center with movie production studios and a distribution center has risen on the site of a former Atlanta-area mall.

Fine-tuning the Open Plan Office

By: Bill LaPatra, AIA, partner, and Elizabeth Gordon, associate principal, at Mithun Winter 2016/2017 Issue

Traditional office users continue to adopt and adapt trends pioneered by tech companies.

From Offices to Live/Work Units

By: Adrienne Schmitz, freelance real estate writer and researcher Winter 2016/2017 Issue

A developer has begun creating value from obsolete office buildings by converting them into units that tenants can use as offices or apartments — or as live/work suites.

Microsoft's Commute Program Keeps Employees Moving

By: Brian Crockford, senior services manager and head of Microsoft’s Commute program at its corporate headquarters in Redmond, Washington Winter 2016/2017 Issue

A corporate program improves the employee commuting experience while reducing the number of cars arriving on campus — and the company’s carbon footprint.

Net Zero Districts: Finding the Quadruple Bottom Line

By: Iain Campbell, managing director, Rocky Mountain Institute Winter 2016/2017 Issue

District-scale developments are uniquely positioned to be a major driver of the next generation of high-performance buildings and an intelligent electric grid.

New & Noteworthy

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development Winter 2016/2017 Issue

An assortment of brief facts and figures about new and noteworthy development projects.

Touchstone: Small Team Big Impact

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor to Development magazine Fall 2016

This year’s award winner — which prides itself on creating shared value for owners, tenants and the community — developed more than 2 million square feet of space in 2015 with a staff of 10.

The Natural Capitalism Concept Comes to Industrial

By: Karl Heitman, AIA, LEED AP, Heitman Architects Inc. Fall 2016

Method’s new soap factory in Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood has resulted in a more profitable, localized supply chain

Discovery Business Campus: From Industrial Campus to Mixed-use Business Park

By: Alison Melnychenko, owner of Scottsdale, Arizona-based Word Games Fall 2016

A nearly vacant semiconductor campus is transformed into a vibrant mixed-use business park that is attracting new users to its Tempe, Arizona, submarket.

The Suburban Office Parking Conundrum

By: Robert T. Dunphy, transportation consultant, adjunct professor at Georgetown University and an emeritus fellow of the Transportation Research Board Fall 2016

Do today’s densifying suburban office parks need less, more or different types of parking?

Developing Near Highways and Transit

By: Jeffrey A. Zapfe, Ph.D., president, Acentech Fall 2016

What developers can do to assess and mitigate ground-borne noise and vibration impacts.

Protecting Against Environmental Loss and Challenges

By: John J. Heft, MS, CRIS, senior vice president and director of the real estate practice at New Day Underwriting Managers Fall 2016

Pollution legal liability insurance can protect property owners and developers from liability associated with pollution-related property damage, cleanup and bodily injury.

Six Lessons for Developers Considering a Brownfield Remediation Project

By: Dennis M. Toft, partner, Chiesa, Shahinian & Giantomasi PC; chair of New Jersey’s Brownfields Task Force and a NAIOP New Jersey trustee Fall 2016

What developers need to know before beginning this type of challenging undertaking.

“Smart Glass” Reduces Glare, Improves Comfort

By: Robbie Tarpley Raffish, president, a.s.a.p.r. integrated marketing Fall 2016

Dynamic glass panes can decrease energy demand, glare and heat, resulting in a more comfortable indoor environment, while still letting the sunshine in.

Development/Ownership

Property Group Partners mixed use buildings

New & Noteworthy

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development Fall 2016

An assortment of brief facts and figures about new and noteworthy development projects.

Reliable Bandwidth for Office Buildings

By: Arie Barendrecht, CEO and cofounder of WiredScore Summer 2016

Building owners who provide cutting-edge Internet infrastructure are positioning themselves for long-term success.

exterior view of industrial building and a tractor trailer

The Future of E-commerce Fulfillment Centers

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor to Development magazine Summer 2016

How will the fulfillment centers of tomorrow differ from those in use today?

Nemours duPont Pediatrics: Innovation Inspired by the Affordable Care Act

By: Katie Jacoby, senior vice president, development, at Anchor Health Properties Summer 2016

A new outpatient facility in Southern New Jersey is designed to improve the patient experience as well as the health of the entire community.

Building for Wellness

By: Ed Klimek, AIA, NCARB, partner, KSS Architects Summer 2016

Workplaces that enhance employee health and well-being also enhance productivity — and employers’ financial bottom lines.

From Cubicles to Conservation

By: Giorgios L. Vlamis, partner and chief operating officer, Normandy Real Estate Partners, and Terrence Nolan, senior vice president, conservation transactions, Open Space Institute Summer 2016

Coupling development with land conservation can be a win-win for office parks and the public.

Smaller Cities Lighten Up on Minimum Parking Requirements

By: Craig Lewis, AICP, LEED AP, CNU-A, principal, Stantec, Charlotte, North Carolina Summer 2016

Minimum parking requirements make it difficult to design and build places for people, rather than cars.

Why General Partnerships in Commercial Development Are Destined to Fail

By: Matt Burgess, CEO, Missouri Land Company Summer 2016

General partnerships are a risky way to structure a commercial real estate development company.

New & Noteworthy

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development Summer 2016

An assortment of brief facts and figures about new and noteworthy development projects.

The US Manufacturing Renaissance: Driving a Resurgence in Industrial Real Estate

By: Jason Tolliver, Andy Mace, Bethany Bailey and John Morris, respectively, head of industrial research, Americas; managing director, strategic consulting; managing director, strategy & operations; and leader, industrial services, Americas, at Cushman & Wakefield Spring 2016

Developers may be wise to seek out sites and locations that will attract manufacturing uses as well as those that will attract distribution operations.

Cardinal Health Medical Distribution Center: “Catalyst Converter” in the Motor City

By: Robbie Tarpley Raffish, CEO of a.s.a.p.r. integrated marketing Spring 2016

A massive brownfield redevelopment project begins with a new medical distribution center near downtown Detroit.

Gillem Logistics Center: From Army Base to Logistics Hub

By: Forrest Robinson and David Welch, CEO and partner, respectively, with Robinson Weeks Partners; Welch is overseeing the Gillem Logistics Center project Spring 2016

A closed Army base south of Atlanta is being transformed into a state-of-the-art logistics campus.

Schreiber Foods: Merging Corporate Goals and Urban Reinvestment

By: Peter Balistrieri, an associate vice president with HGA Architects and Engineers in Milwaukee. He was the project manager and programmer for this project. HGA’s design team also included James VanderHeiden, AIA, PE, principal-in-charge; Rick Hombsch, PE, project supervisor and Paula Verboomen, AIA, lead design architect. Spring 2016

A global dairy company consolidates its operations and R&D functions onto a single campus that is building synergy in downtown Green Bay.

Energy Consumption Disclosure Requirements

By: Stuart Brodsky, director, Center for the Sustainable Built Environment, New York University School of Professional Studies, Schack Institute of Real Estate Spring 2016

A number of states and municipalities now mandate energy performance disclosure for some commercial buildings.

The Police Station of the Future

By: Leigh Christy, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, associate principal, Perkins+Will Spring 2016

Five factors are shaping designs for new police stations and other public safety facilities.

New & Noteworthy

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development Spring 2016

An assortment of brief facts and figures about new and noteworthy development projects.

Creating Value With Art and Design: The Art Basel/Miami Effect

By: Michael Maxwell, NAIOP Distinguished Fellow; professor and former interim director of the Master of Real Estate Development program at the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business at Nova Southeastern University; and managing partner of Maxwell + Partners, developers focused on residential and retail urban infill projects. Winter 2015/2016

A contemporary art fair and visionary developers have reinvented South Florida as a place where art, commerce and habitation come together.

The Future of Shared Office Space

By: Audra Capas, president of 5StarPR LLC Winter 2015/2016

Coworking centers and executive suites continue to evolve and morph into new types of workplaces that create experience and community for users.

Mall Redevelopment Strategies: Keeping Today’s Malls Competitive

By: Sam Black, contributing editor to Development magazine and an attorney and past chairman of the Washington, D.C., Smart Growth Alliance Winter 2015/2016

Successful malls in Vancouver, Los Angeles and elsewhere are being redeveloped as mixed-use complexes with better linkages to transit and surrounding communities.

Leveraging the Workplace: A Return to Value Through Better Design

By: Glenn Roby, AIA, a vice president, principal and head of the business environments team at Kahler Slater. Tony LaPorte, a designer and branding expert, leads Kahler Slater’s environmental branding team. Winter 2015/2016

Workplaces designed for the ways people will work in the future differ significantly from those that are handcuffed to saving money today.

general session room with people and large screens

The View from CREC '15

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development. Margarita Foster and Julie Stern contributed to this article. Winter 2015/2016

Key takeaways from NAIOP’s Commercial Real Estate Conference ‘15 include insights into industrial, office and mixed-use development as well as capital markets and more.

NAIOP Honors Vulcan Real Estate With Sustainable Development Award

By: Kathryn Hamilton, vice president for marketing and communications, NAIOP Winter 2015/2016

Vulcan Real Estate received the 2015 award for its development of a mixed-use project that encompasses a full block in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood.

Taking Control of Energy Costs

By: Michael Nicoloro, PE, senior vice president, and Joan Fontaine, PE, vice president, Sanborn, Head & Associates Inc. Winter 2015/2016

Independent energy districts can enable building owners to produce their own power and heat.

Energy,
Owner

Three Resiliency Strategies for Developers and Building Owners

By: Randall Duke, PE, LEED AP BD+C, vice president, Cosentini Associates Inc. Winter 2015/2016

Multiple solutions that modify the placement of a building’s mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection equipment can help a structure avoid or bounce back from storm damage.

exterior views of niche design buildings

Alternative Niche/Developments of the Future (2030)

By: Sheila Kelly Vertino, former editor-in-chief of Development magazine and a freelance writer based in the Washington, D.C., area Winter 2015/2016

During the summer of 2015, NAIOP conducted a design competition in which it sought concepts for the Niche Development of the Future. NAIOP invited architects to submit a vision/concept plan in a niche category like “senior living” and “medical office.”

New & Noteworthy

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development Winter 2015/2016

An assortment of brief facts and figures about new and noteworthy development projects

guy standing in front of an industrial building

Majestic Realty Co.: Making the Deal and Making a Difference

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development magazine Fall 2015

This year’s award winner credits its six-plus decades of success in commercial real estate to being strategically patient, precise and persistent.

Up on the Roof, Cities Grow Green

By: Audra Capas, president, 5StarPR LLC Fall 2015

Urban farms bring new life to commercial buildings and local communities.

adidas Group Canada Distribution Center Sets New E-commerce Standard

By: Maureen Bissonnette, director of marketing, Ware Malcomb Fall 2015

A new facility in rural Ontario enables distribution of goods from four separate brands to stores and directly to customers.

Intergraph Headquarters: A Huntsville Workplace Revolution

By: Bill Halter, principal and director of corporate services at Cooper Carry, and Douglas Webster, senior associate at Cooper Carry and a member of the interior architectural team for the Intergraph Headquarters project Fall 2015

An Alabama-based company increases collaboration and optimizes its real estate assets by shifting from numerous buildings on a sprawling corporate campus to a new high-rise.

Reviving 150 Bloor Street West

By: Richard Hylands, president, Kevric Real Estate Corporation Fall 2015

A dated mixed-use building in Toronto emerges from a major redevelopment effort as a high-end retail destination topped by modern office space.

The View From I.CON: Key Takeaways From I.CON ‘15

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development magazine Fall 2015

There are still more opportunities than challenges for industrial real estate.

The View from O.CON: Key Takeaways From O.CON ‘15

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development magazine Fall 2015

Alternative asset classes and tertiary markets are attracting significant investment.

Incentives for Resilient Buildings

By: John Cetra, AIA, founding principal, CetraRuddy Fall 2015

Because “building resilient” can reduce long-term risks for property owners, states and municipalities are beginning to offer incentives for those who do so.

Infill Transit Stations

By: Sam Black, contributing editor, Development, attorney and past chairman of the Washington, D.C., Smart Growth Alliance Fall 2015

Developers and property owners — as well as local transit agencies and businesses — can support and benefit from the development of new transit stations.

Retail in Transit Stations

By: Sam Black, contributing editor, Development, attorney and past chairman of the Washington, D.C., Smart Growth Alliance Fall 2015

Many rail transit stations offer opportunities for retail development, which can generate much-needed revenue for transit systems.

green plants planted on an office building roof

The Benefits of Green Roofs

By: Audra Capas, president of 5StarPR LLC Fall 2015

Green roofs, also known as vegetative roofs, can protect buildings and result in higher rents and real estate values than conventional roofs.

Three Steps to Keep Gulls Out of Parking Lots

By: Dan Clark, director, Natural Resources Section, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Fall 2015

A few simple actions can help property owners protect their parking lots — and the local water supply — from gulls.

New & Noteworthy

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development Fall 2015

An assortment of brief facts and figures about new and noteworthy development projects

exterior view of an industrial building at night

I-215 Logistics Center: From Spec Logistics to Amazon Fulfillment Center

By: Tom Bak, senior managing director, David Nazaryk, managing director and Neal Holdridge, principal, Trammell Crow Company. David Drake and Matt Cramer, both senior vice presidents, also contributed to this article. Summer 2015

NAIOP’s inaugural e-commerce building of the year demonstrates how a flexible design enabled Trammell Crow Company to transform what began as a speculative warehouse into a fulfillment center in California’s Inland Empire.

From Filene's Department Store to Creative Headquarters

By: Victor Vizgaitis, AIA, LEED AP, principal, Sasaki Associates Summer 2015

A 20th-century department store building is transformed into 21st-century office space for Havas and Arnold Worldwide’s Boston HQ.

Southern California Logistics Airport Puts Victorville on the Map

By: Keith Metzler, assistant city manager, city of Victorville, California Summer 2015

Redevelopment of the former George Air Force Base as a world-class aerospace services hub has spurred additional industrial development there.

coworking, technology and event space with people

Coworking at the Mall

By: Audra Capas, president, 5StarPR LLC Summer 2015

The latest workspace-on-demand ecosystems are coming to a shopping mall near you.

Going Beyond Green for Google

By: Sima Hassani, managing principal, Westgroup Designs Summer 2015

A new creative office building becomes the first speculative office building in Southern California to achieve LEED for Core and Shell Platinum certification.

Innovations in Concrete

By: Nicola Davies, Ph. D., freelance writer Summer 2015

Advances in technology are resulting in more sustainable and cost-effective types of concrete.

New & Noteworthy

By: Julie D. Stern Summer 2015

An assortment of brief facts and figures about new and noteworthy development projects.

Real Estate Takes Its Place as the Fourth Asset Class

By: David L. Funk, director of the Baker Program in Real Estate at Cornell University and a NAIOP Distinguished Fellow Spring 2015

When and why commercial real estate joined stocks, bonds and cash.

exterior view of medical office building at night

Enhancing the Health Care Bottom Line With Leased Facilities

By: Dan Cowell, vice president/healthcare market manager with Irgens and Rob Sult, managing director, healthcare, with USAA Real Estate Co. Spring 2015

New health care delivery and revenue models are having significant impacts on how and where new health care facilities are planned, developed, owned and operated.

Developing a New Workplace Paradigm at Innovation Park

By: Chris Epstein, president and managing partner of BECO South and BECO Midwest, two of the firm’s three operating units. Spring 2015

A former IBM campus in Charlotte, North Carolina, is transformed into a 21st century workplace.

before and after photos of vacant building

Changing the Face of Vacant Buildings

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development Spring 2015

New techniques using paint, decals and more can make empty commercial buildings more attractive while protecting property values and discouraging vandalism and graffiti.

Do Green Offices = Productive Workers?

By: Bob Best, executive vice president, energy and sustainability services, JLL Spring 2015

Green offices providing workers with access to clean air, daylight and more can improve employee productivity.

New & Noteworthy

By: Julie D. Stern Spring 2015

An assortment of brief facts and figures about new and noteworthy development projects.

Repositioning Yesterday’s Buildings for Today’s Changing Workforce

By: Maria Sicola, head of Americas research, Cushman & Wakefield Winter 2014

Major retrofits and the repurposing of older buildings have become leading trends as urbanism and millennials drive transformative change. As 2014 winds down, we find the real estate industry in the throes of transformative change thanks to economic recovery and a fast-evolving workforce that continues to redefine corporate space requirements.

rendering of the exterior view of a cold storage facility

Edge Markets Go Mainstream

By: Julia Georgules and Phil Ryan, respectively, vice president/director of research and a research analyst, JLL Winter 2014

The residential population of San Francisco’s Mid-Market district has spiked by 38.8 percent since 2000. The typical Dumbo household earns $123,675 per year, which is among the highest incomes in Brooklyn. These noncore submarkets have witnessed phenomenal demographic change over the past few years.

PacMutual Campus: From Aging LA Landmark to Lifestyle Offices

By: Tyson Strutzenberg, senior vice president of asset management and development, and Marc Gittleman, senior vice president of third-party management solutions, Rising Realty Partners Winter 2014

When Rising Realty Partners purchased the historic PacMutual Campus, a 425,000-square-foot beaux arts campus of three interconnected office buildings in downtown Los Angeles it was a tired structure suffering from years of neglect. Once a jewel of downtown LA, the aging complex had faded into obscurity.

"The Dog Clause"

By: Tyson Strutzenberg, senior vice president of asset management and development, and Marc Gittleman, senior vice president of third-party management solutions, Rising Realty Partners Winter 2014

PacMutual’s leases include a “Dog Policy” section, which specifies under what conditions tenants may bring their dogs into the building, as well as the tenants’ and landlord’s responsibilities.

Gavilon World Headquarters: Office Space and Trading Floor in Downtown Omaha

By: Dave Menke, president, Opus Development Company LLC Winter 2014

Grain and commodity trading firm Gavilon faced a challenge in 2012. Having outgrown its existing space at ConAgra’s corporate campus, Gavilon could not find a suitable alternative. With a limited supply of new office space and increased demand in the market over the past four years, flexible office space large enough for Gavilon’s growing workforce was not available.

Liberty Sky Harbor Center: Transformation in Phoenix

By: Robbie Tarpley Raffish, president, a.s.a.p.r., and a consultant to Liberty Property Trust for 20 years Winter 2014

Run-down. Obsolete. Outmoded. Those were the kinder words real estate brokers had for the 35-year-old warehouse at 2626 South Seventh Street in Phoenix. The hulking 240,000-square-foot building in the Sky Harbor Airport submarket was long considered a decaying lost cause.

The View From Development '14: Disruptors Abound

By: Kim Long, founder of “The American Forecaster Almanac,” an annual report on U.S. consumer and business trends. Ron Derven, Margarita Foster and Julie Stern contributed to this article. Winter 2014

The high altitude and thin air of Denver provided an appropriate atmosphere for exploring current trends and coming scenarios at NAIOP’s Development '14: The Meeting for Commercial Real Estate. More than 1,100 people gathered there on October 27-29, a record number for a NAIOP conference.

exterior view of the National Cancer Institute Campus

NAIOP Sustainable Development Award Honors The JBG Companies for National Cancer Institute Campus

By: Kathryn Hamilton, vice president for marketing and communications, NAIOP Winter 2014

The JBG Companies of Chevy Chase, Maryland, was named the recipient of NAIOP’s annual Sustainable Development Award, which was presented during a special ceremony at Development ‘14: The Meeting for Commercial Real Estate.

The Interior Design/Build-out of the Future, 2020 Design Competition

By: Sheila Vertino, former editor-in-chief of Development magazine and a freelance writer based in the Washington, D.C., area. Winter 2014

During the spring and summer of 2014, NAIOP conducted a design competition in which it sought concepts for the Interior Design/Build-out of the Future. NAIOP invited architects to conceptualize and design “the optimal interior build-out for Class A office space within a multitenant building in a growing market” in the year 2020.

New and Noteworthy

By: Julie D. Stern Winter 2014

An assortment of brief facts and figures about new and noteworthy development projects, transactions and trends.

rendering of three new buildings and one current building

Brandywine Realty Trust: “Make No Little Plans”

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development magazine Fall 2014

Brandywine Realty Trust closed 2013 with the best results in its 20-year history. Using a multiyear portfolio repositioning strategy, it pivoted almost seamlessly from its suburban office roots of the 1990s to focus on urban centers. Today, its urban and town center properties (those located in mixed-use areas and/or with access to transit) represent 48 percent of its portfolio and over 67 percent of its net operating income.

DaVita World Headquarters: New Corporate Office Tower Promotes Healthy Living

By: William E. Mosher, senior managing director, Trammell Crow Company’s Denver office Fall 2014

Situated at the base of Denver’s Millennium Bridge, across from Denver Union Station, sits DaVita’s new corporate headquarters. The iconic building, standing 14 stories in the Central Platte Valley District, has reshaped the downtown skyline and set a new precedent for world-class office accommodations.

Maple Leaf Foods Distribution Centre: Overcoming Challenges with Integrated Project Delivery

By: Robert Skinner, president, McKay-Cocker Construction Ltd. Margaret Knowles, David Ward and Rina Zigler Gerson are, respectively, senior vice president, development; director, acquisitions; and analyst and project coordinator, development, with Morguard Investments Ltd. Ward also is a past president of NAIOP Greater Toronto (2012). Fall 2014

Switching sites, revising drawings and redesigning systems three months into the project schedule for a complicated, 282,000-square-foot state-of-the art distribution center should have stressed the project’s schedule and budget. Yet the refrigerated, LEED Gold facility in Puslinch, Ontario, was completed on schedule and on budget.

law library with tables, chairs and bookcases

No Objections: Kilpatrick Townsend Reimagines the Law Office

By: Brian Parker, AIA, senior associate, Cooper Carry Fall 2014

The way people work is changing, and law firms like Kilpatrick Townsend are leading the charge in creating workspaces that accommodate advances in technology and meet employees’ new expectations of office space. Law firms must abandon traditional workspace in order to work more efficiently and to attract and retain clients and top talent.

The View From I.CON: Everyone Loves Industrial

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development magazine Fall 2014

The good news coming out of I.CON: The Industrial Conference, held in Jersey City, New Jersey, on June 5-6, is that everyone loves industrial. The not-so-good-news is that there is fierce competition for properties and continuing cap rate compression is driving the numbers into the 4s.

A Coworking Center for Scientists

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, NAIOP Fall 2014

LabCentral, a shared incubator space for biotech startups that first opened for business in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in November 2013, could serve as a model for a new type of building tenant. Founded by doctor-turned-entrepreneur Johannes Fruehauf and life science investor Peter Parker, with help from the Cambridge Innovation Center, the facility offers researchers shared laboratory facilities as well as offices, conference rooms, seminars and professional services.

Going Solar With PACE

By: Sam H. Black, attorney and past chairman of the Washington, D.C., Smart Growth Alliance Fall 2014

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is a new approach to financing clean energy generation and energy-efficiency improvements. With PACE, a local property tax jurisdiction can help finance these types of projects.

Walkable Urbanism and the End of Sprawl

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, NAIOP Fall 2014

Office space in walkable urban areas commands a 74 percent price-per-square-foot premium over rents for office space in suburban business parks accessible only by cars, according to “Foot Traffic Ahead: Ranking Walkable Urbanism in America’s Largest Metros.” And that rent premium is growing. “Rent premiums of this magnitude reflect pent up demand for walkable urban office space,” the report notes.

Development/Ownership

a word cloud with words about pennsylvania in it

Pennsylvania's Pittsburgh Region: Keystone of Industrial Renaissance

By: Dewitt Peart, president of the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance (PRA) Summer 2014

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett has made economic development a top priority with his Jobs First Pennsylvania initiative, which was designed to encourage private sector investment. These incentives are just a few of the benefits helping businesses grow in Pennsylvania.

bridge leading into Greenspoint Business Center

Industrial Is Hot in Houston: Greenspoint Business Center

By: Ben Newell, senior leasing representative with IDI, established the company’s Houston office in 2009 Summer 2014

Texas ranks second only to New York as the state with the most commercial real estate development activity. While Dallas gets much of the attention for industrial projects, Houston also has an active and growing industrial market. While the industrial real estate picture is strong today, it was bleak just six short years ago.

exterior view of Lincoln Center office building

Environmental Stewardship and the Modern Landlord: Lincoln Center, Tigard, Oregon

By: Eric Castle, vice president, Shorenstein Realty Services; Jaxon Love, sustainability manager, Shorenstein Properties LLC Summer 2014

When Shorenstein Properties LLC acquired Lincoln Center, a seven-building office campus in the suburban Portland market of Tigard in 2007, the company already was in the process of implementing a plan to transform its nationwide portfolio of Class A office properties into an environmentally sustainable one. Sustainability has been a major goal of Shorenstein Properties for many years.

Alternative Desks

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development Summer 2014

The foundation of the office — the desk — is changing to meet the needs and wants of a changing workforce. Numerous studies have shown that sitting for prolonged periods can be as hazardous to your health as smoking. Yet prolonged standing at work is not the answer; it, too, has been linked to chronic heart and circulatory disorders. The solution, for many office workers, may be an adjustable-height desk or workstation, one that can be adjusted to sitting or standing heights.

Building a NYC Neighborhood Atop a Rail Yard

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development Summer 2014

Construction began this spring on a platform that will provide the foundation for the eastern half of Hudson Yards, a new, 28-acre neighborhood in midtown Manhattan that will be the largest private development in U.S. history. The $20 billion project’s developers, Related Cos. and Oxford Property Group, faced a unique development challenge: how to construct almost 6 million square feet of new buildings above a working rail yard, where 30 railroad tracks converge into four near Penn Station?

Conference Space Meets the Sharing Economy

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Summer 2014

As companies shift to having more mobile workforces and more open office environments, one critical element that may be missing is private meeting space for both small and large groups. The building that can offer such an amenity on an as-needed basis could well have a leg up on the competition.

Walgreens Opens First Net Zero Retail Store in U.S.

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development Summer 2014

While many retailers have embraced green initiatives and made their stores more energy efficient, Walgreens has taken the process one step further. The nation’s largest drugstore chain opened its first net zero energy retail store — defined as one that produces energy equal to or greater than the amount it consumes from the power grid — in Evanston, Illinois, last November.

What Color Should Your Roof Be?

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development Summer 2014

Commercial rooftops come in many colors. Traditional “black” roofs absorb heat from the sun and contribute to urban heat islands, which in turn contribute to poor air quality, increased heat-related illnesses, increased energy use and more. White or “cool” roofs use reflective materials, which typically are light colored, to reflect the sun’s energy, resulting in rooftops that can be 50 to 60 degrees F cooler than a dark roof on a hot summer day.

rendering of the exterior of the ExxonMobil building

The Next Generation of Corporate Offices

By: Sheila Kelly Vertino, former editor-in-chief of Development magazine and a freelance writer based in the Washington, D.C., area Spring 2014

When asked what keeps them up at night, the CEOs and COOs that Oxford Properties interviewed for its “Destination Collaboration: The Future of Work” report said, “the ability of the enterprise to attract and retain top talent.” Following the eventual “silver tsunami” of baby boomer retirements comes the millennial generation workforce, a demographic group even bigger than the boomers and with an entirely different attitude about where and how they want to work.

exterior view of Harley Marine Services' corporate headquarters

Better Stormwater Management For a Better Bottom Line

By: Sam H. Black, an attorney and past chairman of the Washington, D.C., Smart Growth Alliance; he has spoken throughout the U.S. on the formation of partnerships of real estate, business and environmental groups to support sustainable growth Spring 2014

Developers and commercial property owners throughout the U.S. are undertaking stormwater management initiatives that are making their properties more sustainable, reducing their fees and taxes and, in many cases, reducing development costs and increasing profits.

exterior view of the Chelsea Piers Connecticut building

New Life for Obsolete Structures The Campus, Stamford, Conn.

By: Douglas A. Bora Jr., managing director of Spinnaker Real Estate Partners LLC and Steven Wise, principal of Steven Wise Associates LLC. Spring 2014

Aging industrial and office structures throughout the U.S. offer unique opportunities for owners and developers to think creatively about adapting and reusing obsolete buildings and properties. Rather than demolishing these structures, many developers are transforming them into places that meet the needs of today’s commercial real estate markets. The Campus on Interstate 95 in Stamford, Conn., a former Clairol headquarters and manufacturing facility, is a case in point.

stairway in the TenThreeTwenty office building

TenThreeTwenty First Potomac Modernizes Office Building

By: Evan Weisman, director of development at First Potomac Realty Trust Spring 2014

How much to invest in the repositioning of an office asset is a perennial question facing real estate owners and investors. It is especially critical in a market characterized by moderate demand. How does an owner strike the right balance? First Potomac Realty Trust tells its story about one such project.

Coworking Centers Revolutionize the Workplace

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, NAIOP Spring 2014

Coworking, a new concept emerging from a foundation of innovative workspaces that stretches back more than five decades, is revolutionizing the concept of workplace. All indicators point to the continued growth and diversification of coworking centers, which also are beginning to influence the functions and facilities of mainstream corporate workplaces.

DOE's New Energy Systems Integration Facility

By: Kurt Stout, executive vice president, government solutions, Colliers International. This column is adapted from a piece that originally appeared in his “Capitol Markets” blog Spring 2014

Photovoltaic panels on high-performance buildings can significantly cut energy costs and carbon emissions. But distributed, intermittent renewable energy sources are a challenge to integrate with the aging U.S. electrical grid. The vital goal of a smarter, more resilient national energy system moved closer to realization on September 11, 2013, with the dedication of the Energy Systems Integration Facility in Golden, Colo.

Boston Consulting's office of the future

Eight Steps Toward More Functional Office Space

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Spring 2014

Many companies have heard the siren call for open office space that allows for greater collaboration, attracts younger workers and reduces real estate costs. But before tenants take the plunge into a new office environment, building owners and architects can help them conduct a careful analysis of the way they work now and how they will work in the future. Joe Flynn, senior associate and workplace strategist at Margulies Perruzzi Architects offers the eight suggestions.

From Gray to Green With an Oversized Rooftop Solar System

By: Claude Boiron, broker, Royal LePage Terrequity Realty, author, university instructor, speaker and land developer Spring 2014

For as long as I can remember, thoughts of our 180,000-square-foot multi-tenant industrial building in Toronto always evoked the color gray. Perhaps this was due to its cinder block walls; its older, squat appearance or the dust that its unsealed floors generated. Nevertheless, this “gray” building did well for us. More than three years ago, I read an article about the Ontario Power Authority offering to buy power from building owners who installed solar panels on their roofs, under a program called “Feed-in Tariff.” As landlords our curiosity was piqued.

How Safe Is Your Parking Lot?

By: Rob Reiter and Mark Wright, cofounders of the Storefront Safety Council (StorefrontSafety.org) Spring 2014

While “going green” is all the rage, an under-the-radar safety problem in the space where parking lots meet buildings suggests that “going safe” is just as vital. The issue: vehicle-into-building crashes.

Protected Bike Lanes Mean Business

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Spring 2014

Cities are beginning to recognize that America’s love affair with cars, particularly urban America’s, is declining. One recent indication of this is the 60 applications that PeopleForBikes, a group sponsored by the bicycling industry, received in late 2013 from cities across the U.S. for the second phase of its Green Lane Project, a program that provides assistance in building protected bike lanes, also known as “green lanes.”

Real Time Energy Management Pays Off

By: Andrea Hidalgo, senior project manager, AtSite Spring 2014

The Natural Resources Defense Council recently published the results of a 12-month case study on an energy management and performance improvement initiative implemented by The Tower Companies in three of its large multitenant office buildings in Washington, D.C. Tower has a portfolio that includes 4.5 million square feet of office buildings, 1,500 apartments, regional malls and hotels in “eco-progressive” live/work/play communities.

the piazza at the U Square mixed-use project

U Square @ The Loop: Public-Private Collaboration Revitalizes Cincinnati

By: James T. Neyer, executive vice president and principal, real estate development, Al. Neyer Winter 2013

Situated just across the street from the University of Cincinnati campus, U Square @ the Loop buzzes with activity. The two city blocks of LEED-certified, mid-rise, mixed-use development house students and young professionals; provide a welcome array of restaurants, shops and gathering spaces; and are home to several university offices.

the Publix Store in the Water Tower Shoppes

Water Tower Shoppes Retail Rebirth

By: Blaine Strickland, senior vice president, Crossman & Company Winter 2013

Water Tower Shoppes in Celebration, Fla., was not always the destination retail center that it is today. Just three years ago, Walt Disney Company (developer of Celebration) executives and most locals detested the “black eye” they drove past every day.

conference attendees networking in the exhibit hall

The View from Development ‘13: Continued Recovery Sparks Tempered Optimism

By: Ellen Rand and Ron Derven, contributing editors, Development Winter 2013

If Sigmund Freud were alive today, his signature question might not be “what does a woman want?” Rather, it might be “what do the millennials want?” Underlying the optimism expressed at NAIOP’s Development ‘13: The Annual Meeting for Commercial Real Estate about recovering markets and revived demand was a clear sense of uncertainty about what changes might be afoot in both office and industrial space demand and design owing to the growing presence of millennials in the workforce.

The Distribution/Fulfillment Center of the Future, 2020 Design Competition

By: Sheila Vertino, former editor-in-chief of Development magazine and a freelance writer based in the Washington, D.C. area Winter 2013

During the spring and summer of 2013, NAIOP conducted a design competition in which it sought concepts for the Distribution/Fulfillment Center of the Future. NAIOP invited architects to conceptualize and design the physical “goods exchange” structure that will accommodate distribution, fulfillment and retail functions in the year 2020.

exterior view of Intemap Network Services Corp's facility

Green Globes Updated

By: Sharene Rekow, vice president of business development, the Green Building Initiative Winter 2013

The most dramatic changes in the history of green building certification programs are unfolding in 2013, as both Green Globes and LEED undergo major updates. Changes to the Green Globes program are intended to improve technical rigor and enhance ease of use, as well as to reflect how current building science influences materials selection and other choices in building design and construction.

Healthy Transit Systems Can Drive Local Economies

By: Mark Aesch, CEO and founder, TransPro Consulting, as well as a former CEO of the RGRTA and author of “Driving Excellence” Winter 2013

Public transportation has long been regarded as a vital component to a healthy local economy. Today, local economic engines can be further fueled by creative land use concepts involving transit elements. Rochester, N.Y., for example, was able to attract hundreds of millions of investment dollars for a variety of innovative, transit-related development projects.

How Cities Can Get More Development For Their Transit Dollars

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development Winter 2013

Transit-oriented development has been promoted as a way to combat congestion, pollution and other problems associated with sprawling, auto-dominated suburban growth patterns. City leaders typically believe that developers will only invest in projects located along rail-based transit lines, including light-rail transit and streetcars. Yet a recent report demonstrates that the type of transit matters less than how much government support it gets.

exterior view of the 200 I Street office building

NAIOP Sustainable Development Award Honors StonebridgeCarras for 200 I Street

By: Kathryn Hamilton, vice president for marketing and communications, NAIOP Winter 2013

Bethesda, Md.-based StonebridgeCarras was named the recipient of NAIOP’s annual Sustainable Development Award, which was presented during a special ceremony at Development ‘13: The Annual Meeting for Commercial Real Estate.

Developer of the Year 2013: Vulcan Real Estate's Bold Vision

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development. Fall 2013

Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen’s real estate development company, Seattle-based Vulcan Real Estate, is leading one of the largest urban redevelopment efforts in the U.S. Vulcan’s ability to articulate a vision; collaborate with multiple public and private entities; obtain expensive infrastructure improvements; and finance, design, deliver, and fill office, scientific, medical, residential, and retail structures turned around an underused, aging industrial neighborhood just south of Seattle’s central business district.

South Jordan Health Center: Developing a Sustainable Medical Facility

By: Scott Kaufmann, vice president, commercial development, Kennecott. Fall 2013

When the University of Utah and Kennecott Land decided to build a new health center in the rapidly growing planned community of Daybreak in South Jordan, Utah, they had ambitious goals: to provide the community with a facility that would offer the best in health care services and state-of-the-art medical technology while also limiting the building’s impact on the environment. Most full-scale medical facilities use an enormous amount of energy, which makes obtaining LEED certification a challenge. But by implementing sustainability features into the building from the earliest design stages the development team was able to exceed its expectations.

The Mosaic District: Urban Village Grows from Suburban Wasteland

By: David R. Millard, principal, sales and leasing, Avison Young. Fall 2013

When retail developer Edens first began looking into the possibility of redeveloping 27 acres of land in an area known as Merrifield, VA, the property was not a pretty sight. Occupied by an aging multiplex cinema surrounded by a sea of deteriorating asphalt, as well as an equipment rental business and communications towers, the property did not seem to be a likely setting for a new urban neighborhood. Yet a county comprehensive revitalization plan for the area already was in place, and Edens recognized that all the fundamentals needed to make that plan a success were there.

396 Alhambra: Rebirth of a Midcentury Modern Office Landmark

By: Tere Blanca, president and CEO, Blanca Commercial Real Estate, Inc., the leasing agent for 396 Alhambra. Fall 2013

The developers of 396 Alhambra — a 282,000-square-foot mixed-use office and retail development in Miami’s Coral Gables business district — have transformed and expanded a mid-20th century landmark into modern, LEED-certified office space.

air conditioning unit of a building roof

Advanced RTU Campaign Promotes Efficiency in Rooftop Air Conditioning

By: Kathryn Hamilton, vice president of marketing and communications, NAIOP. Fall 2013

Older, inefficient commercial rooftop unit air-conditioning systems are common and can significantly increase a building’s energy costs. Fortunately, these systems can be replaced or retrofitted with new units that can save money and energy, make buildings more comfortable, and help the environment.

Best Practices Pave the Way to Sustainability Goals: Five Key Lessons Learned

By: Kim Roy, LEED AP BD+C, senior vice president, preconstruction and strategy, Hitt Contracting Inc. Fall 2013

Hitt Contracting has delivered more than 100 LEED projects totaling more than $2 billion in sustainable project billings — and learned some valuable lessons about best practices in sustainable construction along the way.

Due Diligence Checklist for Vacant Commercial Properties

By: Michael G. Ramsey, senior counsel, Gresham Savage Nolan & Tilden PC. Fall 2013

Throughout the United States, developers are acquiring vacant commercial buildings in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Vacant buildings often are pre-entitled for the developer’s intended use and can deliver impressive returns after refurbishment. Much depends on timing and price, of course, but in some instances proper due diligence can make the difference between a cash cow and an albatross.

head shots of Kim Synder and John Trinkle

Industrial Opportunities for Smaller Entrepreneurial Developers

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development. Fall 2013

Have big institutions, global commercial real estate players, tight lending restrictions, and a crushing recession pushed small, entrepreneurial developers out of the business? I.con panelists conceded, during a session titled “Dissecting the Current Industrial Development Cycle,” that it is becoming more difficult for smaller developers to make deals in many markets.

Moveable Urban Green Spaces

By: Julie D. Stern, managing editor, Development. Fall 2013

While drivers in many urban areas know Parkmobile as the system that lets them use their smart phones to pay for street parking, people in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Community Benefit District (YBCBD) are enjoying another type of Parkmobile: a truly moveable micropark.

Design

Nuts and Bolts of Office Fitness Center Design

By: Ellen Rand and Ron Derven, contributing editors, Development. Fall 2013

Fitness centers do not generate direct revenue and they are not the first thing office tenants look for when leasing space, but a fitness center can set your building apart from others, especially if it is well designed. If you are thinking about setting up a fitness center in your building — and, according to Kari Frontera, an associate in Gensler’s Washington, D.C., office, this is a “must have” in a new Class A office building — don’t tuck it way in the basement, as developers generally do.

To Build or Not to Build to 36- or 40-Foot Clear?

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development. Fall 2013

This year’s I.con included much discussion — but no definitive answers — on the topic of building new warehouse/distribution facilities to 36- or even 40-foot clear heights.

nested and deployed culture shed in New York City

Adaptable Architecture

By: Margarita Foster, vice president of knowledge and research, NAIOP Summer 2013

If cities are in a constant state of flux, shouldn’t the built environment flex along with them? It turns out that adaptable architecture might be more prevalent than we think. Concepts from New York and London illustrate that semipermanent structures present viable options for housing, as well as temporary and ad hoc activities, from art exhibits to sporting events.

CityCenterDC - A New Focal Point for Downtown Washington, D.C.

By: Howard Riker, managing director, Hines Summer 2013

Against the backdrop of the Great Recession, Hines creates a $1 billion pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use complex on 10 acres in downtown Washington’s commercial, cultural, arts, and entertainment epicenter.

High-Density Development Strategies for More Sustainable Growth

By: Doug Sharp, RLA., senior land planner, Gresham, Smith and Partners Summer 2013

As cities around the world deal with population booms, governments, civic groups, developers, and research organizations have turned their attention to the idea of counteracting suburban expansion with targeted, concentrated urban development, marked by mid- to high-rise multi-tenant buildings with structured or centrally-located parking.

man monitoring electrical systems in a building

How to Manage “Green Fatigue”

By: Davor Kapelina, president and CEO, AtSite Inc Summer 2013

Businesses and consumers are inundated with “green,” whether watching TV or going to the car wash. It’s enough to force many to simply tune-out, ignoring calls for lower carbon footprints, recycling, and driving less. So what does this mean for commercial building owners?

First Chino logistics centerand two employees of First Industrial

Investing for Recovery in Logistics-Driven Industrial Demand

By: Johannson (Jojo) Yap, chief investment officer, First Industrial Realty Trust Summer 2013

The industrial market continues its recovery nationwide, driven by tenant demand for more space to accommodate growth and the need for more efficient locations and buildings to reduce costs. According to the most recent NAIOP Industrial Space Demand Forecast, “the U.S. industrial market is poised for significant growth, with annual net absorption forecast to reach 150 million and 175 million square feet in 2013 and 2014 respectively.”

businessman riding a bike through the city

Luxury Apartments Cater to Cyclists

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Summer 2013

In an era of hypertechnology, Opus Development Corporation is doing its best to enable future residents of a luxury residential building, now going up in downtown Minneapolis, to use foot power to access the city’s office towers, shopping, and parks — and to reconnect with the environment and each other.

exterior view of BioTech Place in Winston Salem

New Uses for Vintage Warehouses

By: Ellen Rand, contributing editor, Development Summer 2013

Old warehouses are excellent candidates for adaptive reuse, especially those that are well located and eligible for historic tax credits.

Perseverance Transforms an Open-air Mall to Retail as Resort

By: Greg Fitchitt, former vice president of development, Westfield LLC Summer 2013

Despite roadblocks over ten years, including community opposition, environmental concerns, and the economy, Westfield delivers a unique retail complex offering a resort-like experience.

Want to Adapt an Older Building into a Data Center? Nine Considerations

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Summer 2013

Tim Huffman, executive vice president, national director, Technology Solutions Group at Colliers International, gets about a call a day from a developer-owner that has an older building with a good power supply and floors capable of supporting significant weight. The developer-owner has heard that the data center business is thriving and wants to convert his building.

A Case Study in Sustainable Distribution Center Design

By: Edmund Klimek, AIA, partner and Scot Murdoch, AIA, principal, KSS Architects; and Marc Heisterkamp, director, strategic accounts, U.S. Green Building Council. Spring 2013

Over the last decade, sustainable design has gone from catchphrase to prerequisite for property and building owners across the country. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system has effectively promoted sustainability across the office, educational and municipal landscapes. But for warehouse and distribution centers, implementation has been more challenging.

Amazon Stays True to the Urban Grid

By: Sharon Coleman, director of real estate development, Vulcan, Inc. Spring 2013

Amazon.com teamed with Vulcan Real Estate to build an urban office campus, enhancing the resurgence of a downtown neighborhood. Amazon.com (Amazon), one of Seattle’s most recognized companies, had been expanding in multiple office buildings, throughout various Seattle neighborhoods. It soon became apparent that the disparate locations of employees and work groups was inefficient. Amazon looked for a solution that would allow it to consolidate and expand in a single location. Rather than follow the path taken by many other tech companies, Amazon elected to stay in the city instead of relocating to the suburbs.

Legacy Place: Delivering an Urban/Suburban Retail Experience

By: David Fleming, corporate marketing director, WS Development. Spring 2013

Building a new retail project in the midst of a persistent recession could easily have been a recipe for disaster. Fortunately, this was not the case with Legacy Place, a $200 million project by WS Development. The 675,000-square-foot mixed-use project proves that experience and perseverance — combined with solid demographics, location, an exceptional tenant lineup and a long-term hold strategy — can conquer even the most adverse economic conditions.

A Look Ahead: New Uses for Cargo Containers

By: Elizabeth Sherrod, managing editor, Development and research director, NAIOP. Spring 2013

Too expensive to return to their place of origin, used shipping containers pile up by the thousands at ports in the United States. The abundance and relative cheapness of these containers comes from the deficit in manufactured goods departing from North America. So what can be done with used containers that have reached their final destination?

Strategically Green: Implementing High-Performance Building Technologies and Practices in Historic Structures

By: Neil Maldeis, energy solutions engineering leader, Trane. Spring 2013

Owners and operators of historic buildings are finding ways to improve building performance while still preserving the unique physical characteristics of their landmark structures. Adopting high-performance building technologies can improve energy efficiency, reduce operating costs and provide a healthier and more comfortable place for people to live and work.

Strategically Green - LEDs: Hitting the Mainstream?

By: Aaron Binkley, director, sustainability programs, ProLogis. Spring 2013

The term LED is an abbreviation for light-emitting diode, a semiconductor that emits light. Light fixtures that contain LEDs are available for most common commercial building lighting applications today, although LED product lines are less extensive than traditional lighting products.

450 Sutter: The Art of Preservation

By: Jessica Moskovitz, a freelance writer based in Portland, Ore. Winter 2012

An office tower built before the Great Depression gets a sustainability makeover while preserving its unique architecture.

Strategically Green - A Historic Office Building Comes of Age

By: David Siegel, president of development, Stiles Corporation Winter 2012

As land development opportunities become increasingly scarce, owners and developers are focusing on redevelopment to enhance value for existing properties. Many developers are finding tremendous demand for well-located but obsolete office buildings that have been transformed into contemporary environments. One example of a redevelopment effort that modernized an existing building is the Plaza at Las Olas in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

the commuter rail terminal at Denver Union Station

Denver Union Station: A Transportation Model for Urban Revitalization

By: William E. Mosher, senior managing director, Trammell Crow Company Winter 2012

Public and private entities redevelop a former railyard into a transit-oriented project that becomes a multi-modal transportation hub and a catalyst for sustainable development.

a reception at the Development 12 conference

Forecast '13: Slow Growth Expected

By: Ellen Rand and Ron Derven, contributing editors, Development Winter 2012

Development '12 conference session highlights on the impact of economic headwinds on commercial real estate; the state of the capital markets; value-add opportunities beyond the major markets; and corporate tenant space preferences.

Strategically Green - NAIOP Sustainable Development Award Honors Boston Properties for Atlantic Wharf Project

By: Denise Sena, communications senior manager, NAIOP Winter 2012

Massachusetts-based Boston Properties was named the recipient of NAIOP’s annual Sustainable Development Award, presented during a special ceremony at Development ‘12: The Annual Meeting for Commercial Real Estate. Boston Properties was honored for their mixed-use project, Atlantic Wharf, in Boston, Mass.

Navigating Project Expansion During a Recession

By: Bryan Jones, principal, The Beck Group Winter 2012

A developer moves forward with phase II of a mixed-use project, overcoming economic, construction and design challenges along the way.

office building of the future brochure cover with four office concepts

Office Building of the Future, 2020 Design Competition

By: Sheila Vertino, former editor-in-chief of Development magazine and a freelance writer based in the Washington, D.C. area Winter 2012

How will an office building developed in 2020 look and function? How will evolving user trends affect building design and operations? To gain valuable perspective, NAIOP invited its architect members to participate in a design competition, seeking the most innovative concepts and designs for the office building of the year 2020.

Under Development - Want to Attract E-Commerce DC Tenants? Have Plenty of Land

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Winter 2012

One reason users of e-commerce distribution centers need cheap land is they use so much more of it than the traditional DC. At a session on e-commerce development at the NAIOP Development ‘12 conference, Robert Fenza, Liberty Property Trust, described a recent one-million-square-foot, e-commerce DC project that required 1,500 parking spaces to accommodate the year-round and surge labor forces.

Strategically Green - A Smart Energy Retrofit for Office Parks

By: Robert L. Segal, consultant, Frank Lynn & Associates Fall 2012

Last year the management of Menlo Business Park faced several challenges. In a struggling economy Tarlton Properties, manager of the business park, needed to reduce operating expenses, upgrade the property to retain and attract tenants, prepare the property for energy price volatility, gain greater management control and develop a deeper insight into the operating conditions of each building.

300 New Jersey Avenue, N.W. in Washington, D.C.

Developer of the Year: The JBG Companies - Building a Sustainable Advantage

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Fall 2012

The ability of The JBG Companies to analyze and understand dynamic market trends and conditions, as well as its state-of-the-art design and planning processes, have helped it achieve tremendous investment success. Focusing on the Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Northern Virginia metropolitan area, JBG has developed and invested in urban-infill, transit-oriented projects, strengthening the communities in which it works.

Navigating Healthcare Development: Seventh & Madison - A Puzzle Worth the Effort

By: Patrick Callahan, founder and CEO, Urban Renaissance Group Fall 2012

Developing for the healthcare and life sciences market contains challenges unlike those in the office, retail or mixed-use sectors. The 7th & Madison property in Seattle is one such example of a project with its share of complexities that started out as anything but the typical deal.

First Look - Offices That Hover

By: Elizabeth Sherrod, managing editor and research director, NAIOP Fall 2012

Commercial office space typically rises upward in central business districts. A unique option, however, has emerged in Russia — between buildings. That’s the idea behind the “parasite office,” a creation of principals Arseniy Borisenko and Peter Zaytsev of Za Bor Architects in Russia.

Reinventing a Former Racetrack

By: Dominique A. Buttitta, director of law and development, Wirtz Realty Corporation Fall 2012

In April of 2011, the former home of the Sportsman’s Park racetrack was a vacant piece of land littered with remnants of a concrete track and a demolished grandstand. Standing on Laramie Avenue, Anthony Iatarola of Wirtz Realty Corporation, envisioned a 605,000-square-foot office, warehouse and distribution facility and other land uses, forming the future home for Wirtz Beverage Illinois LLC.

The State of Development

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Fall 2012

Three previous NAIOP Developer of the Year winners share their future development plans and lessons learned from the recession. This article also discusses the future of state and municipal incentive programs.

Vernon Manor - Transforming a Historic Hotel For Medical Use

By: Gail L. Paul, a business writer based in Cincinnati Fall 2012

What was once a hotel for the wealthy and occasional dignitary guest has transformed into unique office space, housing administration and operations for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, moving 670 employees into the converted space in 2011. The office space is bright, modern and located close to other Cincinnati Children’s facilities that surround its pediatric hospital and research center.

Workplace Essentials

By: Ellen Rand, contributing editor, Development Summer 2012

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.

Approaches to Healthcare Development in Small-Town America

By: Dave Arnold, executive vice president, Irgens Summer 2012

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.

Majestic Bethlehem Center: Revitalizing a Former Steel Town

By: Ed Konjoyan, vice president, Majestic Realty Company Summer 2012

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

Development Through Relationship Leveraging

By: Stephen G. Bailey, RLA, CCIM, partner, eastern region, Dermody Properties. Summer 2012

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.

Achieving Efficiencies Through Urban Tower Repositioning

By: Richard Westlund, a free lance writer based in Wisconsin. Summer 2012

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.

Building an All-Research Facility? Pick Your JV Partners Well

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Summer 2012

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.

First Look - Protecting Buildings From Structural Impacts

By: Richard Donnally, principal, DVA Architects Summer 2012

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 Connection

By: Elizabeth Sherrod, managing editor and director of research, NAIOP Summer 2012

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 Ring of Opportunity

By: Elizabeth Sherrod, managing editor and research director, NAIOP Summer 2012

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.

Owners and Brokers: Can We Talk?

By: Ellen Rand, contributing editor, Development Spring 2012

Are property owners from Venus and commercial real estate brokers from Mars? Do they understand enough about each other’s business to move transactions along in a challenging environment? Development magazine set out to learn what owners wished brokers knew about their business and negotiations and vice versa.

Small Town America Is Building. And Building Green!

By: Jack Schultz, CEO, Agracel, Inc. Spring 2012

At a time when few construction cranes were in operation, the small town of Effingham, Ill., had not one but two working, and on adjacent private projects. These two projects, an 80,000-square-foot mid-rise office and a 100,000-square-foot technology center, were designed with LEED certification in mind and were completed near the end of 2011.

New Voices - Can You Envision the Office of the Future?

By: Leslie Silvey, senior communications manager, NAIOP. Spring 2012

As technology continues to evolve and the face of the workforce becomes younger and more mobile, the office can no longer be seen as just a place to “park your briefcase.” To accommodate a changing workforce, the office of the future must be conducive to enhancing productivity and encouraging connectivity as well as act as a key recruiting tool for an organization.

Data Centers' Place in the Cloud

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development. Spring 2012

With cloud computing ubiquitous, data centers will pass from use like eight-track tapes...or will they? According to a recent survey by CoreNet Global and Newmark Knight Frank, 50 percent of companies are investing in and/or are planning to build or expand data centers.

First Look - Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Surge Ahead

By: Elizabeth Sherrod, managing and director of research, NAIOP. Spring 2012

Development magazine first reported on the charging station needs of electric vehicles in the Spring 2010 issue. Back then, the topic wasn’t top of mind for commercial property owners. Now, momentum is increasing as plug-in cars become more visible on the nation’s highways.

CITYCENTRE: From Mall to Mixed-Use

By: Jonathan Brinsden, COO, Midway Companies Spring 2012

Neglected properties are being updated at a rapid pace. Such is the case with CITYCENTRE, a mixed-use development built on the site of a once popular, but neglected, indoor shopping mall, with an eye to the future of Houston’s evolving transportation and consumption needs.

Strategically Green: Making Sense of Solar

By: Aaron Binkley, director, sustainability programs, Prologis. Spring 2012

Which solar panel products are best-suited to install on commercial buildings? What are the pros and cons of these solar panel products from the vantage point of a commercial property owner? The Solar Technology Reference Guide identifies the characteristics, benefits and limitations of a range of solar panels on the market.

Strategically Green - Maximizing Value on a Blighted Property through Solar Development

By: Peter Baty, project director, environmental compliance & due diligence services; and Max Lamson, project director, renewable energy services, Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc. Spring 2012

Commercial real estate developers are constantly challenged to maximize the value of their property assets with a highest-and-best use. However, this objective can be particularly challenging with blighted sites; including those that may be contaminated or have other types of commercial development constraints.

an exterior photo of 100 Hundred Oaks at night

Reimagined Potential Leads to Redevelopment Success

By: Steven P. Johnson, Gresham, Smith and Partners Spring 2012

One Hundred Oaks is a 40-year old, 880,000-square-foot retail mall that was renovated into a mixed-use development with Vanderbilt University Medical Center as the major tenant. Located on 56 acres in a strategically located area of Nashville, the development was led by ATR & Associates, Inc. and Corinth Properties.

Under Development - Tips for a Successful Demolition Project

By: Michael R. Taylor, CAE, executive director, National Demolition Association Spring 2012

Veteran developers, owners and investors in commercial real estate are all too familiar with Murphy’s Law — “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” By anticipating unforeseen situations, managing expectations and avoiding misunderstandings, the certainty that Murphy is always right can be minimized.

Development/Ownership

Lakeview South XII - Pleasant Prairie, Wisc.

Under Development - Using Glycol Systems for Warehouse Refrigeration

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development. Spring 2012

When Toronto-based Longo’s Supermarkets set out to build a LEED-Gold certified head office and distribution center, it wanted environmentally friendly, cost-effective warehouse refrigeration.

How to Succeed in Lifestyle Retail

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development. Winter 2011

Planning to develop a new live, work, play, retail center? Want to keep it 99 percent leased even in less-than-stellar economic times, maintain a full parking lot, blow the original pro forma out of the water and offer a sense of freshness and allure even after 11 years? Then you need to visit Kierland Commons in Phoenix before putting pencil to paper.

Insider Info from Development ’11 - Forecast ’12: Recovering

By: Ellen Rand and Ron Derven, contributing editors, Development Winter 2011

Just when the recovery seemed to be taking hold, the summer of discontent and uncertainty began. But as many speakers at NAIOP’s Development ‘11 conference assured attendees, fundamentals are improving, manufacturing has been growing in certain areas, and the likelihood of a double-dip recession seems remote.

Strategically Green - NAIOP Sustainable Development Award Honors Bissell for Boyle and Harris Office Buildings

By: Kathryn Hamilton, vice president of marketing and communications, NAIOP Winter 2011

North Carolina-based Bissell was named the recipient of NAIOP’s annual Sustainable Development Award. Bissell was honored for the Boyle and Harris office project, twin ten-story commercial structures located in Charlotte, N.C.

Not Your Grandfather’s Cycle – Past Lessons and Survival Tips for the Future

By: Ellen Rand, contributing editor, Development Winter 2011

Since the economy’s near-meltdown three years ago, the industry has been struggling with the recession, unemployment, debt overhang, a disappearing-then-reappearing-then-contracting CMBS market, a toxic political environment and European bank woes. Development caught up with eight former NAIOP Chairs, all of whom had experienced previous downturns, and asked their thoughts and observations on the last three years.

view of office space in Twelve West from the outside.

Revitalizing an Urban Neighborhood through Integrated Design

By: Peter van der Meulen, associate partner, ZGF Architects LLP Winter 2011

Portland is widely recognized as one of the country’s most environmentally friendly cities, noted for its focus on comprehensive urban planning, commitment to light rail investment and leadership in sustainable architecture. Decades of double-digit population growth has led a regional planning authority to push for high-density, transit-oriented developments and laid the groundwork for a nascent revitalization of the city’s West End.

Bridge Point Woodbridge interior of the warehouse with tractor trailers.

Staying the Course through Development’s Wild Ride

By: Anthony Pricco, principal, Bridge Development Winter 2011

Fall 2008 was a painful time to have one new commercial development started, but imagine two projects – a two-building industrial complex and a green office building, both barely out of the ground in suburban Chicago. Bridge Development Partners, LLC, confronted this predicament and fought against some of the worst mar¬ket conditions to complete these projects.

Strategically Green - Sustainable Cities, One Block at a Time

By: Llewellyn Wells, president, Living City Block Winter 2011

By 2050, 84 percent of the world’s population will likely live in cities, according to the United Nations Foundation. An innovative non-profit organization, Living City Block, is pursuing a vision of “regenerative and resilient cities that are culturally thriving, energy and resource hyper-efficient and economically sustainable.”

2011 Developer of the Year – CenterPoint Properties: At the Center of Hub-Based Intermodal Development

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Fall 2011

The downside of a real estate cycle is no picnic, but it is often the time when the best-managed, best-focused companies gain market share and emerge stronger as the economy heals. Such a company is Oak Brook, Illinois-based CenterPoint Properties.

700 Sixth Street: A Strategic and Adaptive Blend

By: Mary Margaret Plumridge, with updates by Lisa Steen, vice president of marketing, Akridge Fall 2011

In July 2009, 700 Sixth Street opened with a ribbon-cutting celebrating not only the completion of a project but a vision brought to life. Washington, D.C.’s Mayor, officials from the city’s economic development and environmental agencies, the project’s Tokyo investor, and its lead tenant were all in attendance.

Strategically Green - Commonwealth Centre: A Platinum Opportunity

By: Brian J. Fitzgerald, senior vice president, BPG Properties Fall 2011

Commonwealth Centre sits on a 101-acre mixed-use development site located in Westfields Corporate Center in Chantilly, Virginia. The undeveloped site was acquired by BPG in the fourth quarter of 2005 for $41.75 million.

Innovations in Industrial Parks: Serving Integrated Supply Chains

By: Bob Monds, director of marketing and communications, The Pizzuti Companies Fall 2011

A decade ago, The Pizzuti Companies developed a 304,000-square-foot, build-to-suit distribution center for Accel Inc. In the fall of 2010, they again turned to Pizzuti to deliver a larger, more efficient headquarters and operations center to be located in the New Albany Business Park.

First Look - Location-Based Attraction Delivers a New Business Model

By: David Busker, president & CEO, Koch Development Fall 2011

While many funds were being created to invest in distressed assets, Koch Development was having difficulty locating stabilized assets that offered acceptable returns. Then in early 2010, an alternative investment idea was brought to Koch by a joint venture partner.

Under Development - Maintaining Quality on a Fast Track Schedule

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development. Fall 2011

Quality does not have to be forfeited to meet a demanding schedule. Erland Construction was awarded a renovation for Avid Technology, who was moving its corporate headquarters and leasing space in three buildings. Erland committed multiple construction crews to simultaneously manage the various components because Avid needed its new headquarters in six months.

Expanding Markets - Mexico’s Industrial Real Estate Market in Recovery

By: Claudia Avila Connelly, executive director, Mexican Association of Industrial Parks, AMPIP Fall 2011

Although experts predicted that the Mexican industrial real estate market would not recover until 2011, the market began to show signs of recovery during the second half of 2010. Since then, it has remained stable, despite the downturn in the U.S. economy.

Santa Monica Place: Updating the Urban Experience

By: Richard W. Poulos, AIA, partner and executive vice president, The Jerde Partnership Fall 2011

Retail owners and developers are realizing the valuable opportunity redevelopment could bring to their existing, and many times underperforming, properties. Many developers are reformulating outdated shopping centers and malls with new, out-of-the-box concepts that provide a more attractive and compelling urban experience and sense of place.

First Look – The Art of Shopping

By: Elizabeth Sherrod, managing editor and research director, NAIOP Fall 2011

Department stores in South East Asia are no longer solely a commercial space with the usual brick-and-mortar attributes. They now offer shoppers an expanded cultural and social experience through animation and artful design.

Reviving the Dead: Old Malls Find Life with New Uses

By: Ellen Rand, contributing editor, Development Summer 2011

Turning a dead or dying mall into a vibrant new development that brings new life as well as a new form of gathering space to a community seems like the ultimate recycling achievement. By all accounts, however, transformation to new uses is an enormous challenge, for a variety of reasons.

Beyond the Glass Tower – Can Buildings Move People?

By: John McColl, executive vice president/ development, office leasing & asset management, Cousins Properties Summer 2011

In the 1800s, the Western and Atlantic Railroad lines ended at a bare patch of Georgia clay nicknamed “Terminus.” As the sticks-and-dirt settlement grew into Atlanta, the name “Terminus” came to mean more than just the end of a line. Today, it marks the entrance to one of the city’s most notable districts.

The Development Obstacle Race

By: Angelo Carusi, Cooper Carry Summer 2011

It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. In a development world that included stiff competition for retailers, rising construction costs, a time-consuming entitlement process and reliance on a third-party infrastructure development, developing The Shops at Wiregrass turned obstacles into creative solutions.

The Life and Times of a Seattle High-rise

By: Shawn Parry, vice president, Touchstone Corporation Summer 2011

In 2006, 2009 seemed like the ideal time to bring a new Class A office tower into the Seattle market. But by the time the West 8th Tower received a certificate of occupancy on September 9, 2009, the economy was in the tank, real estate values were down 20 to 40 percent, lease rates were down 30 percent and tenant improvement dollars were up by 100 percent.

New Voices - Designing Spaces for Gen Y

By: Leslie Silvey, senior communications manager, NAIOP Summer 2011

It’s no secret that designing functional retail and office projects for the mobile Gen Y demographic requires a thorough understanding of how this segment uses space for work and recreation.

Strategically Green - Helping Small Developers Go Green

By: Elizabeth Sherrod, managing editor and research director, NAIOP Summer 2011

Small property owners rejoice! There’s a new sustainable building certification program in the works geared to the small commercial property market. Earth Advantage Institute has introduced a third-party certification program for buildings between 10,000 and 70,000 square feet.

Strategically Green - Lighting Retrofits Can Offer Big Energy Savings, Good Payback

By: Bob Best, executive vice president, Energy and Sustainability Services, Jones Lang LaSalle Summer 2011

A lighting retrofit is not the lowest-cost energy strategy a commercial property owner or manager can pursue, nor will it yield the greatest energy reduction of any strategy. But when it comes to making a big dent in energy consumption at a cost that is affordable for most owners, lighting should top the list of projects to consider.

Under Development – Making an Economic Engine from a Closed Military Base

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Summer 2011

If DOD closes or realigns military bases as it did in the 1990s and 2005, the communities affected and the DOD can look to the former Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio as a model. The base is now the Port of San Antonio and serves as an example of how cooperation at all levels of government and partnerships with the private sector can turn a potential catastrophe into a vigorous economic engine.

First Look – Secondary Office Markets – Where Do We Go From Here?

By: Alan Pontius, senior vice president and managing director, Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services; national director, National Office and Industrial Properties Group Summer 2011

Investors targeted top-tier, low-risk office assets in primary markets last year, while opportunity funds sought a once-in-a-generation prospect to acquire quality properties at deep discounts. Distressed sales disappointed the wall of waiting capital as lenders extended and modified loans on quality assets, parting only with true high-risk, low-end properties.

175–185 Wyman Street – Renovation at Its Best

By: Donald G. Oldmixon, first vice president for real estate, construction and leasing, Hobbs Brook Management. Spring 2011

Development isn’t on hiatus everywhere. Some areas have weathered the Great Recession better than others. In the suburbs of Waltham, Massachusetts, a two-building, Class A office complex at 175-185 Wyman Street was a recent addition to the office and technology-based area.

Contribution of Office, Industrial and Retail Development and Construction report cover

First Look - A Glass Half Full

By: Elizabeth Sherrod, managing and director of research, NAIOP Spring 2011

The national economy is now in the early stages of recovery from its longest and deepest recession since World War II. Now known as the Great Recession, the 2008-2009 recession started in December 2007 and ended in June 2009. During that period, from peak to trough, the economy declined by a total of 4.1 percent.

New Voices – Brownfields: Not Your Grandfather’s Commercial Real Estate Deal

By: Jeff Kroll, NAIOP DL member and vice president, real estate, Frontier Renewal LLC Spring 2011

Despite some residual turbulence, there are signs of a shift in thinking about commercial development, especially urban infill projects, and it’s one that Developing Leaders can help shape and advance.

Strategically Green - Building for Tomorrow’s Tenant

By: Marc H. Silverman, CEO, M. David Proper¬ties, and Warren Snowdon, senior vice president, Cushman & Wakefield/Thalhimer Spring 2011

Sometimes you just have to forge ahead to stay competitive, difficult economy or not. M. David Properties, a family owned commercial real estate firm, develops, owns and exclusively manages their own industrial properties with the intention of retaining them.

Changing Drivers of Healthcare Real Estate

By: Ellen Rand, contributing editor, Development Spring 2011

Medical services are striving to become more customer-friendly, efficient and cost effective, not only in recognition of the coming wave of aging Baby Boomers, but also in response to major healthcare cost and operational challenges. Healthcare providers are also driven by the imperative to maintain and build branding and market share in a highly competitive environment.

Delayed Decisions Can Still LEED to Gold

By: Bruce Bingham, principal, Hamilton Partners Spring 2011

When Hamilton Partners set out to build 222 Main they had no intention of making the 459,000-square-foot high-rise office tower a LEED-certified design. They wanted the building to qualify for LEED by installing the needed green compo¬nents, but the cost of certification was prohibitive, until a financial partner convinced them otherwise.

Under Development - Evaluating Restaurant Sites

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Spring 2011

Opening a restaurant is a challenging business. Some estimates put the first-year failure rate at 50 percent or more. If you think you have a promising site at your existing retail center or are considering restaurants at a yet-to-be-built complex, heed the words of Jo-El Quinlan, vice president of real estate for Darden Real Estate.

Strategically Green - Integrating Smart Metering Into Your Retrofit Strategy

By: Abigail C. Johnson, LEED AP, managing partner, Abacus Property Solutions, LLC Spring 2011

Smart metering has become a genuine buzzword over the last few years with deployment making significant headway in key states such as Calif., Texas and Fla. Strategies for cost savings are available regardless of building size and budget.

Strategically Green - Rooftop Thermal Solutions: A TIAA-CREF Experience

By: Todd Coulard, commercial real estate vertical market leader and Steve Wey, district general manager, New York/New Jersey region, Trane Spring 2011

The 578,000-square-foot TIAA-CREF head¬quarters building, located at 730 Third Av¬enue in midtown Manhattan, uses a combi¬nation of high-efficiency electric chilled water systems and a rooftop thermal storage system to save energy and operating costs.

The New Pulse of Healthcare Development

By: Stephen M. Doyle, vice president, healthcare, McShane Development Company Spring 2011

As the healthcare reform bill advances toward implementation, many hospitals and doctor groups remain reluctant to execute long-term real estate decisions. The delivery process of healthcare services is shifting. Real estate development efforts within the healthcare market will need to better align with current trends.

America Center - An Environmentally Advanced Office Campus

By: By Steve Dunn and Derrick How, Legacy Partners Commercial Winter 2010

There is continued focus on the impact businesses have on the environment and the communities that surround them. For Legacy Partners, this has inspired a commitment to finding ways to align investment goals with an approach to development that adopts sustainability and eco-conscious design as a guiding influence.

Development '10 Conference Wrap-up: Industry in 2011 - Glimmers of Light, but Still in Transition

By: Ellen Rand and Ron Derven, contributing editors, Development Winter 2010

Real estate fundamentals may still be shaky. We may be bumping along the bottom for some time, but panelists and attendees at NAIOP’s Development ’10 conference were buoyed by renewed leasing and sales activity in some markets. Attendees also noted a clear improvement in the availability of capital – even if that capital is veering mainly to what the pros call “trophy or trauma.”

Flex-Office Project Sets New Course After Short Sale and Planned Repositioning

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Winter 2010

This isn’t the best of times to bring a speculative project out of the ground in most markets, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other compelling opportunities out there. Case in point: a joint venture (JV) between Kearny Real Estate Company and TriGate Capital. The JV acquired a vacant 74,000-square-foot flex/research and development building in San Diego in a short sale and is moving forward with its repositioning.

La Palmera: A Model for 21st Century Mall Transformation

By: Terry Montesi, chairman and CEO, Trademark Property Company Winter 2010

Anything worthwhile is worth waiting for and the newly renovated La Palmera Mall is a shining example. After two years of redesign and construction, the one-million-square-foot project has emerged as a model for mall revitalization.

Strategically Green - NAIOP Sustainable Development Award Honors Vulcan Real Estate and Pacific Plaza Development LLC

By: Kathryn Hamilton, vice president of marketing and communications, NAIOP Winter 2010

Vulcan Real Estate and Pacific Plaza Development LLC were named as recipients of NAIOP’s annual Sustainable Development Award, presented during a special ceremony at Development ’10: The Annual Meeting for Commercial Real Estate.

3314 Peachtree - Distinction Amid the High-Rises

By: Sasha Vinitsky, principal, Wakefield Beasley Fall 2010

Atlanta’s Buckhead district is a mix of high-end retail, offices and hotels, as well as a strong nightlife component. While the Buckhead skyline has filled over the last decade with high-rise projects of all types, the new branch office for Charles Schwab is notable for its unassuming size and its distinctive architectural style.

Harrison Metro Center under construction

Bad Site + Good Location = Win Win

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Fall 2010

In a sputtering, job-lagging recovery, redevelopment of a brownfield site into a 24/7 environment can have an impact far beyond the the municipality’s location. This is what Advance Realty and the New Jersey town of Harrison are finding as that town’s Riverbend District is transformed into a dynamic environment for living, working and recreation.

Cashman Equipment – A Case for Consolidation

By: Curt Carlson, AIA, LEED AP, vice president, director of design, SHarchitecture Fall 2010

Cashman Equipment was founded in 1931 and is one of the highest-rated Caterpillar construction equipment dealers in North America. Starting as an equipment supplier for the construction of Hoover Dam, it has grown into one of the largest privately owned employers in Nevada, with over 700 employees.

Developer of the Year: The Alter Group's Art of the Game

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Fall 2010

Teamwork, loyalty, a dose of humility and the discipline to stick with the basics and get very good at them are all qualities that athletes’ coaches hammer home time and again to turn their teams into champions. Some top companies in the commercial real estate business may have taken a page from this playbook as well.

Strategically Green - Developing a Retrofit Strategy: Making Sense of It All

By: Abigail C. Johnson, Abacus Property Solutions Fall 2010

When developing a retrofit strategy, owners typically evaluate building condition and design, market conditions, and investment goals for the asset. When considering a sustainable renovation, it is important that the decision-makers define their retrofit goals in order to prioritize the type of green upgrades to pursue.

Distribution Center I – Sustainability Without Limits

By: Brian Parno, vice president, Stirling Capital Investments Fall 2010

Some developers look at a project and ask “How can I get the highest value out of this land?” They consider building green, but then recognize the costs involved and push the idea aside. While it may be hard to commit to spending more, when you consider an industrial building has a lifespan of several decades, decisions made now will follow you for a long time.

Going for the Platinum — BASF’s New Headquarters

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Fall 2010

BASF Corporation and Rockefeller Group Development Corporation(RGDC) have signed a long-term lease for BASF to occupy a new 325,000-square-foot office building RGDC will develop at The Green at Florham Park, New Jersey.

First Look - Solar Parking Lots

By: Elizabeth Sherrod, managing editor and research director, NAIOP Fall 2010

Building owners have another option for reducing their utility bills while also providing shade for their tenants’ cars - solar parking arrays.

First Look - The Floating Office

By: Elizabeth Sherrod, managing editor and research director, NAIOP Fall 2010

Who says that your office has to be on land? In today’s age of mobility, work is portable and you can forego a conventional office and work on the water, literally!

Trends in Tenant Construction

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Fall 2010

This article discusses new trends in tenant construction.

the roof at night of the 1200 Nineteenth building

1200 19th Street – Creating Modern Curb Appeal

By: Andrew Rollman, AIA, LEED AP, vice president and senior designer, SmithGroup. Summer 2010

Opportunities exist for developers to leverage prime downtown locations and create value through the redevelopment of older assets. Many of these opportunities present complex challenges that require incorporating modern design, technology and environmental strategies into structures that were built more than 30 years ago.

McGraw building at 1221 Avenue of the Americas

Strategically Green - 1221 Avenue of the Americas

By: Elizabeth Sherrod, managing editor and research director, NAIOP Summer 2010

LEED certification for existing buildings continues in large and small cities across the country and skyscrapers in New York City are among them. The 2.5 million square foot McGraw-Hill Building at 1221 Avenue of the Americas achieved LEED EB certification in July 2009.

building with a wind cube on top and the surrounding skyline

Strategically Green - Blowin’ in the Wind

By: Elizabeth Sherrod, managing editor and research director, NAIOP Summer 2010

Innovations in wind energy continue to evolve with one of the newest being the WindCube®, a rooftop wind turbine designed specifically for commercial and industrial power users located in urban and suburban settings.

conveyor belts in Empire Merchants warehouse

Empire Merchants North – Green Design for the End User

By: Edmund Klimek, AIA, partner, and Wanda Lau, LEED AP, communications director, KSS Architects LLP Summer 2010

In the midst of last year’s construction downturn, a construction site in the small town of Coxsackie, New York, seemed oblivious. Activity was buzzing on the 21-acre parcel, the future home of a new corporate headquarters and distribution center for Empire Merchants North, an alcohol distributor.

From White Elephant to Job-Attracting Industrial Park

By: Ron Derven, contributing editor, Development Summer 2010

The last thing Hazelwood needed was for its Ford plant to shut down with the loss of 2,500 jobs. A close second was getting stuck with an antiquated factory that was great for making 20th century cars but ill equipped for today’s economy. However, the steps that the city and Panattoni Development Inc. took were transformative, serving as an example for handling shuttered auto plants and abandoned factories.

Guhn Road Distribution building exterior

Guhn Road Distribution Center – Weathering the Storm

By: Joseph G. Llamas, senior development manager, McShane Development Company Summer 2010

The State of Texas has fared far better than many of its neighbors in the current economy. Few areas of the country remained immune to the near-collapse of the financial markets and the resulting impact on commercial real estate. The occasional industrial build-to-suit surfaced sporadically in 2009, but represented more of the exception than the norm.

First Look - Shopping in Church

By: Elizabeth Sherrod, managing editor and research director, NAIOP Summer 2010