Bus departs 9:00 a.m.

Ticketed event; $125 USD / $175 CAN

Many commercial building owners have an underutilized source of revenue: their rooftops. With the federal solar tax credit expiring July 4, 2026, the window to secure strong lease rates on solar projects is closing quickly. Join an exclusive tour of Prologis’ 960kW rooftop solar installation atop a warehouse in East Rutherford, New Jersey. See how industrial rooftops can generate revenue and clean energy at no cost to the owner. Learn how developers evaluate site suitability, ensure safe installation, and deliver systems that feed energy into the grid while protecting the roof and minimizing tenant disruption. Gain insights from Prologis on its solar strategy and 1-gigawatt global portfolio. Hosted by Prologis and Solar Landscape, the largest commercial rooftop solar developer in the U.S.

Due to the proprietary nature of the information shared during this event, the tour host has requested that competing solar developers refrain from registering. All attendees will be reviewed and confirmed by NAIOP. If you are not confirmed, you will be asked to select an alternative tour or may request a refund.

Onsite briefing at 10 a.m.; group departs for boat at 10:20 a.m.

Ticketed event; $135 USD / $189 CAN (Tour registrations will open soon!)

Begin with a briefing at the hotel on key port trends and recent developments shaping this major international gateway. Then walk to the pier for a guided vessel tour through the Port of New York and New Jersey, including views of the Bayonne Bridge and main container terminals. Along the way, hear insights from senior executives from both the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Shipping Association of New York and New Jersey, which represents all terminal operators in the port. With public- and private-sector experts onboard, you’ll gain real-time perspective as they answer questions and highlight points of interest. Enjoy sweeping views of the New York City skyline and the Statue of Liberty on this unique waterside experience.

Bus departs 10:30 a.m.

Ticketed event; $125 USD / $175 CAN

Tour CloudKitchens Union City and see how urban infill and adaptive reuse are powering a fast-growing industrial asset class. Located in “The Havana on the Hudson,” this facility demonstrates how flexible layouts, advanced building systems and integrated technology support last-mile food production in one of the U.S.’ most supply-constrained markets. Operated by CloudKitchens, a division of Atoms real estate, this facility represents one component within the company's industrial real estate platform supporting the food supply chain end to end. The tour offers a window into how building systems, infrastructure intensity and layout strategies deployed at this urban infill scale inform their larger processing and production facilities as operational scale and complexity increase.

Rebecca Rockey
Head of Quantitative Insights and Principal Economist
Cushman & Wakefield

Rebecca Rockey is the head of quantitative insights and principal economist at Cushman & Wakefield. In her decade at the firm, her responsibilities have evolved significantly. Her focus spans economics, demographics, financial markets and commercial real estate – both at the macro and micro levels. She manages the production of national/metro-level commercial real estate forecasts for various property types across the Americas, develops predictive econometric and statistical models to enhance the firms’ analytical capabilities and contributes to numerous white papers, webinars, media requests and industry/client presentations. In her global role, she extends this expertise to other regions. More recently, she has become a strategic internal and external advisor across service lines and regions, connecting research themes to actionable and tactical views on the market.

Capital costs, investor expectations and deal structures continue to shift across the industrial landscape. This session provides a clear-eyed view of where equity and debt are flowing, how macroeconomic forces and policy pressures are influencing returns, and what underwriting assumptions are changing. Panelists will offer practical insight into navigating today’s capital environment and positioning portfolios for the next investment cycle.

Ticketed event; $10 USD

Run/walk departs promptly at 7 a.m.

Kick-start day two of I.CON East with a casual 2-mile out-and-back fun run/walk along the Hudson River waterfront!

All paces are welcome – whether you jog, stroll or simply take in the skyline, this is a great opportunity to connect with fellow commercial real estate professionals in a relaxed, social setting.

This is a non-competitive event; there will be no official timing or race bibs.

Participants will depart as a group and return between approximately 7:30–7:50 a.m., followed by optional networking time. Please arrive by 6:45 a.m. for check-in. Please note that participants will be required to complete a waiver prior to participating.

Presented by Outdoor Digs.

Download waiver

Industrial users are increasingly finding that existing facilities no longer support how their businesses operate. Workflow, infrastructure and system integration demands are outpacing what conventional industrial space can deliver, particularly in food production, cold storage and processing environments. In response, some operators are developing their own facilities out of necessity, rethinking design, engineering and delivery from the inside out. Explore where traditional space falls short, how purpose-built solutions are structured and when build-to-suit is the better path.

From the Northeast to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, industrial markets across the Eastern U.S. are evolving at different speeds. This panel of market leaders will analyze migration patterns, supply pipelines, absorption trends and shifting capital flows to identify where fundamentals remain strongest and where caution is warranted. Leave with a sharper understanding of regional demand drivers, development risks and the strategies investors are deploying to stay ahead of the next phase of the cycle.

Environmental challenges are no longer isolated compliance issues; they are portfolio-level business risks. From ESG reporting and remediation to resilience and energy performance, speakers will outline an integrated, enterprise-wide approach to managing environmental risk across industrial assets. Through real-world case studies, panelists will demonstrate how aligning environmental health and safety, due diligence sustainability and engineering under one framework can reduce liability, streamline vendor oversight and unlock long-term value. Leave with practical steps to connect environmental strategy with capital planning, investor expectations and asset performance.

Industrial development is facing increasing scrutiny at the local level, with community concerns around traffic, environmental impact, power demand and land use shaping project outcomes. Developers are navigating a more complex landscape where entitlement is no longer just a process, but a strategy. Learn how to anticipate concerns, engage stakeholders early and structure projects to reduce friction. Gain practical insights into balancing growth with community expectations while keeping deals on track and projects moving forward.

Small-bay industrial, also known as shallow-bay, or multitenant buildings typically under 100,000 square feet, has emerged as one of the most resilient and supply-constrained segments of the market. Serving a diverse base of contractors, light manufacturers, service providers and last-mile users, these infill assets benefit from limited new construction, steady demand and strong rent growth. Examine why investors are increasingly viewing small-bay industrial as both a growth strategy and a defensive hedge. Panelists will discuss supply barriers, lease rollover advantages and portfolio positioning for this key market segment.

What does it take to deliver one of the largest cross-laminated timber (CLT) warehouses under construction in the U.S.? A powerhouse panel will break down the strategy behind a 2.4 million-square-foot, robotics-ready distribution facility. From entitlement and community engagement to managing more than 500 workers on-site daily, panelists will explore how sustainability goals, construction logistics, automation and schedule pressures intersect at scale. Discover how collaboration across the capital stack is redefining what’s possible in large-format industrial development.

Take a deep dive into the industrial market in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. This discussion will examine the Lehigh Valley market’s current development activity, key challenges and where speakers are seeing the next wave of opportunity and support from NAIOP.

Discover NAIOP’s flagship professional development experience. The National Forums program connects select commercial real estate leaders from across North America for candid, confidential discussions on industry trends, project challenges and business strategy. Members build trusted, long-lasting networks in a small-group setting. NAIOP’s Vice President for National Forums, Diana Schapiro, will share how the program is structured, the value it delivers and how you can apply to join this exclusive peer group.

Can industrial architecture be creative, contextual and cost-effective? Using the adaptive reuse of the Crye Precision headquarters at the Brooklyn Navy Yard as a case study, explore how constraints – including landmark status, operating costs, security and MEP demands – can spark innovation. The project team will share how thoughtful planning, landscape integration and logistical precision transformed a 100,000-square-foot former shipbuilding facility into a dynamic, modern industrial workplace. Learn how disciplined programming and smart systems design can elevate tenant experience and brand identity without blowing the budget.

Supply chains are evolving faster than ever, reshaping how and where companies occupy industrial space. This session examines the structural shifts in domestic and global distribution, from inventory strategies to nearshoring and automation, and what they mean for building design, site selection and portfolio strategy. Hear how occupier priorities are changing and what developers and investors must understand to future-proof assets in an increasingly dynamic logistics environment.

Industry experts will examine how today’s evolving market conditions are reshaping investment strategies in the warehouse and industrial sector. The panel will discuss current fundamentals such as rent growth, vacancy and new supply, and how acquisition criteria have shifted in recent years in response to higher interest rates, changing cap rates and investor risk tolerance.

Industrial Outdoor Storage (IOS) has quickly evolved from a fragmented niche into a nationally recognized investment category. Driven by e-commerce, infrastructure demand and limited supply, IOS is attracting significant institutional capital. This session explores what differentiates IOS from traditional industrial; how underwriting and valuation metrics are maturing; and where opportunity remains as the sector scales. Hear why this once-overlooked asset class is now firmly on the radar of major investors and what comes next.

In land-constrained East Coast markets, creativity is becoming a competitive advantage. This session examines how developers are repositioning underutilized properties, such as former event venues, aging offices and other functionally obsolete assets into Class A industrial facilities. Panelists will discuss entitlement hurdles, structural challenges, capital considerations and design strategies that make conversions viable. Learn where adaptive reuse makes sense, how to underwrite the risk, and why repositioning legacy assets may be one of the most compelling industrial plays in dense urban markets.

Headlines tout a manufacturing renaissance, but what's actually materializing on the ground? Backed by research and data, this session delivers a fact-based look at reshoring, tariffs, incentives and the upcoming USMCA review across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Which sectors are expanding? Which projects are stalling? And how much announced investment has translated into real square footage and jobs? Gain clarity on regional winners and laggards and what labor, power, logistics and policy realities mean for future industrial development. The session closes with an inside look at the JetZero project in Greensboro, North Carolina, one of the largest new manufacturing plants underway in the U.S. today, and what it reveals about the location fundamentals that drive decisions.

Artificial intelligence and Proptech are rapidly transforming the due diligence process by cutting timelines, increasing accuracy and reducing transaction risk. Speakers will explore how technology is automating environmental reviews, lease abstraction, zoning analysis and document management across the Northeast industrial market. Learn where efficiencies are already being realized, where regulatory nuances still require human judgment and how emerging tools are reshaping underwriting and deal execution.

Get an update on NAIOP New Jersey’s regulatory and legislative priorities, along with a timely look at the state’s evolving political landscape. The discussion will cover the new governor’s focus on permitting efficiency and why that agenda is gaining traction in Trenton, creating cautious optimism across the industry. NAIOP New Jersey is also advancing efforts to right-size energy and land-use policies, support transformational infrastructure projects and navigate growing opposition to data center development. Learn how the chapter is leveraging new tools, partnerships and advocacy strategies to support industrial growth, and why public sentiment may be starting to shift in a more constructive direction.

Location: Rooftop at Exchange Place (1 Exchange Pl, Jersey City)

Ticketed event; $149 USD | $209 CAD

Connect with other conference attendees as you take in a breathtaking panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline at Rooftop at Exchange Place, located on the rooftop of Hyatt House Jersey City. Not included in conference registration; separate ticket required.