The Roundtable Series convenes industry professionals to debate selected topics in a free-spirited discussion of trends and opportunities. This gathering of senior executives has principal funding from Ernst & Young's Real Estate Advisory Services group, with others participating as co-sponsors of specific sessions, including Steelcase, NAREIT and the ULI NY District Council.

 

February 13, 2007
Capital Markets - Trends and Opportunities
With the sale of Equity Office Properties to Blackstone Group for $55.50 a share, and Mortimor Zuckerman’s sale of $75 million in shares of Boston Properties both occurring in the past few weeks, a roundtable discussion on capital markets was not only relevant, it was imperative. While the availability of money at record-low prices is a boon for real estate developers, the alarming optimism and unimpeded growth of the market makes some uneasy. Issues such as market cap rate stabilization, sustained price disconnection, the US economy, and trade deficits, were all matters that panelists referred to that could either jeopardize or continue to bolster thecurrent state of capital markets.

 

February 6, 2007
Globalization of Real Estate– Risks and Opportunities of International Investing and Direct Development
Roundtable participants weighed in on their motivations for taking their money global. Deos the risk of treading into unknown terriorty in search of higher returns really pay off? Topics ranged from capitalizing on foreign emerging markets to satisfying their company's need to diversify their investments.

 

January 30, 2007
The Brokers, Lawyers, and Developers Forum – Managing the Relationship
Panelists discussed the underlying reasons why the relationship between lawyers, brokers, and developers is often tenuous, and how understanding latent tensions has made each of them better at what they do. Broker strategies included only representing sellers, Lawyer strategies included allocating risk, and developer strategies included the initial understanding of tenants’ space needs.

 

January 23, 2007
High Density Residential Development: Sustaining Market Position and Value
Although high density development was once no more than an ideological aspiration, the panelists at this roundtable discussed that its increasing popularity has propelled this type of development to the forefront of mixed-use activity. Negative thoughts towards land consumption, positive thoughts towards cheap communication, and a greater awareness of the sustainability issue has led both developers and consumers alike to change their tastes in favor of high density. Panelists discussed the impacts that high density has on the approval process, edge market development, architectural and green design, and residents’ relationship to their homes.

 

Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Corporate Real Estate: The Future Workplace
No better venue existed than Steelcase’s Work Life Center in Columbus Circle to discuss the importance of sustainable design and progressive workspace. As panelists and MSRED students alike enjoyed the clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows of the building’s conference area, the discussion concerning engaging and sustainable work environments could not have been more relevant. Panelists agreed that changing notions of space as entitlement to space as productivity, enveloped in a greater sense of responsibility to incorporate sustainability into the social, economic, and environmental aspects of buildings would have an enormous impact on the future of office development.

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