Join us for an immersive look at the evolving landscape of downtown Berkeley and its surrounding neighborhoods, where innovative student housing and mixed-use projects are reshaping the city’s core and serving students attending one of the foremost universities in the world. This behind-the-scenes tour will feature key projects at varying stages of development, from early entitlements and conceptual design to active construction and recently completed buildings.

Led by the developers, architects, and city officials driving these projects forward, the tour offers a rare chance to see how public/private partnerships, forward-thinking land use policy, and creative design are converging to meet the needs of Berkeley’s dynamic student and residential population while maintaining the character that makes Berkeley one of the most unique places in the country.

Join us for a limited ULI tour showcasing three innovative approaches to affordable housing in San Francisco. All three developments represent models for equitable development that deliver tangible solutions to the city’s housing crisis.

We’ll kick things off at Kapuso at the Upper Yard, a standout project turning a former parking lot into 131 affordable homes and a buzzing community hub next to a major transit stop. Then it’s off to Sunnydale HOPE SF, a sweeping 50-acre transformation bringing more than 1,700 new homes, new parks, shops, and a dynamic community center to one of the city’s largest public housing sites. Finally, we’ll visit The Kelsey Civic Center, an accessible and inclusive development in the heart of the city that offers 112 affordable units for people with and without disabilities, alongside welcoming public spaces that bring everyone together. These projects aren’t just changing the skyline—they’re redefining what’s possible in affordable housing.

Explore the dynamic evolution of Oakland’s historic industrial waterfront neighborhoods—including Jack London District, Brooklyn Basin, and West Oakland. From decades-in-the-making megaprojects to clever conversions, this tour offers a firsthand look at the arc of what’s here and on the horizon. Hear directly from City leaders, business improvement districts, and developers about the bold plans and partnerships shaping the future of these iconic areas. Experience Oakland’s nationally recognized food scene and see the spaces incubating the next wave of culinary talent and creative enterprise. Oakland continues to be a cultural and economic center that supports a compelling long-term investment thesis. Join us to see the places, and the teams behind them, that are making Oakland a blueprint for equitable and ambitious urban transformation.

Located in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area with unparalleled views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Presidio is a National Historic Landmark and one of America’s most visited national park sites. It has evolved over generations from the traditional territory of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples, to a military outpost, and now a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, a beloved national park that is a core part of San Francisco’s iconic geography. Managed by the Presidio Trust as a federal government corporation, the Trust has funded significant improvements to the public landscape over the last decade. This tour will visit two recent projects: Battery Bluff, and Presidio Tunnel Tops; both created on the tops of highway tunnels for the Presidio Parkway (highway 101, formerly Doyle Drive), connecting the heart of the Presidio to Crissy Field and Marsh, itself an iconic park project completed in 2001.

Explore one of San Francisco’s fastest-growing neighborhoods—Mission Bay, a vibrant mixed-use district anchored by Thrive City, the Chase Arena, and University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). This area has transformed dramatically over the past decade, evolving into a major hub for sports, health care, research, and entertainment.

The first phase of UCSF’s state-of-the-art hospital complex opened in 2015, setting the stage for continued expansion. Shortly afterward, construction began on Thrive City—the entertainment district surrounding Chase Center, now home to the Golden State Warriors and the newly launched Women’s National Basketball Association team, the Golden State Valkyries. This joint venture development also includes class A office buildings and a curated mix of food and beverage offerings at the ground level.

This tour will begin with an elevated overview of Mission Bay from an exclusive vantage point to discuss the strategic redevelopment efforts that enabled its rapid growth. From there, the tour will continue with a guided walk around Thrive City led by representatives from the Warriors before proceeding to UCSF’s medical campus, pausing to highlight key features where speakers will share insights into the development, design, leasing, and operations of these anchor institutions. The tour will conclude with an exploration of the wide range of Thrive City dining options that help make it not just an entertainment hub, but a vibrant community destination for residents, workers, and visitors alike.

Join us as we tour a handful of recently delivered campus projects in the San Francisco Peninsula, considered a global capital of biotechnology and life sciences research.

Developed by Phase 3 Real Estate Partners in partnership with Bain Capital, GENESIS Marina is a 560,000-square-foot, purpose-built, class A life sciences campus located along the waterfront of Sierra Point Park. With robust infrastructure, flexible lab configurations, and a mix of move-in-ready and customizable suites, GENESIS Marina supports life sciences companies at every stage of growth. The campus was designed with both performance and placemaking in mind—featuring sweeping Bay views, high-end shared amenities, and a commitment to sustainability, including TRUE Gold for Zero Waste Construction and LEED Gold certification. GENESIS Marina is home to a vibrant community of biotech leaders pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery.

Vantage is a newly completed, 640,000-square-foot class A lab campus developed by Healthpeak Properties in the heart of South San Francisco. Purposefully designed to foster connection and community, Vantage offers a range of premier amenities, including a diverse dining hall, an expansive all-hands conference room, an executive boardroom, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a full-service restaurant with a rooftop bar—all designed to enhance the experience for tenants and visitors alike.

Listen to the sponsors and stakeholders involved in these projects as they share their vision, discuss trends in today’s market, and highlight the groundbreaking amenity centers that make each project unique.

https://www.genesis-marina.com/; https://vantagessf.com/

Join NEXT for a walking tour of three class A office properties in Downtown San Francisco that have or are undergoing major reimaginations to attract and maintain tenants, including the Transamerica Pyramid (SHVO), 88 Spear Street (Presidio Bay Ventures), and 201 Spear Street (Strada Investment Group). Attendees will have access to an inside look at these three properties’ amenity updates, building improvements, and strategies to attract tenants in response to an over saturated market with an over 35 percent vacancy rate in first quarter 2025, compared to a pre-pandemic record low 4.7 percent vacancy rate in second quarter 2019. The tour wraps up with a networking lunch.

Please note: This is a walking tour that meets off-site at 201 Spear Street, a portion requires hard hats, and all attendees must execute a release of liability to participate in the tour in advance (no exceptions). The tour is approximately 1.3 miles from start to lunch; 2.2 miles from start to all stops and back to the Moscone Center from lunch.

Join experts from the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific for a dynamic, forward-looking conversation that will explore the global forces and trends shaping commercial real estate.  From geopolitical shifts and macroeconomic trends to trade dynamics and the growing impact of climate change, attendees will gain fresh insights into how these factors are playing out across regions and understand key trends that will define opportunity in the year ahead. Don't miss this high-energy, globally focused discussion touching on the emerging trends that will reveal what's next for real estate worldwide.

Venture capital investment in proptech and contech is booming—but how much of that innovation is making it from pitch decks to job sites? This session brings together leading investors, tech founders, and real estate adopters to explore what's driving commercial real estate's newest wave of innovation—and what's standing in the way. We'll explore how new technologies are being funded, piloted, and scaled. Panelists will share perspectives on how deals get made, which tools are delivering real-world ROI, and what challenges persist in bringing innovation to the built environment.

Downtowns capture the economic pulse, cultural heartbeat, and civic spirit of their host cities, towns, and communities. Yet, depending on their context, they may be loved or reviled, in financial ruin or a vibrant destination, a source of neighborhood pride or a national embarrassment, 24x7 socioeconomic engines or gray ghost towns. Shaping the downtown experience is simultaneously an art and a science that requires orchestrating skills and systems, vision and execution, strategy and structure, placemaking and place stewarding. Learn from the visionaries and specialists leading downtown transformations across the world's greatest cities. From San Francisco to Singapore, Chicago to Copenhagen, Dallas to London, and beyond, this session convenes key voices to put a spotlight on what's working and what's not. At a time of unprecedented global change and uncertainty, what's next for downtowns, the cities they serve, and our collective urban future?

Offsite construction has entered a new era—one that delivers the cost savings, reliability, and scalability developers have been waiting for. This session brings together leaders in prefab, modular, and 3D printing to share real-world data, lessons learned from early industry challenges, and proven strategies for delivering projects faster, more affordably, and at scale. Attendees will gain an inside look at how today's offsite innovators have refined their processes to solve problems that traditional construction and first-generation offsite approaches couldn't overcome. From selecting the right project types, delivery models, and design approaches to avoiding costly execution pitfalls, our experts will break down what works, what doesn't, and how to make offsite a profitable reality. Whether you're exploring modular multifamily, panelized workforce housing, or vertically integrated 3D-printed solutions, you'll leave with actionable insights, cost benchmarks, and a clear understanding of how to evaluate and integrate offsite methods into your own developments.

As climate risks intensify, the real estate sector must proactively address regional vulnerabilities to safeguard communities, investments, and infrastructure. This session will explore strategies for assessing climate risks at the regional level and discuss opportunities and challenges to implementing resilience measures that strengthen both urban centers and smaller communities. Experts will discuss innovative approaches and partnerships in physical planning, policy frameworks, and risk management, offering insights into how stakeholders—from developers to regional policymakers—can integrate adaptive solutions to mitigate threats from natural disasters. Join us to discover actionable strategies that enhance resilience and ensure long-term sustainability in real estate.

Even the most ambitious, award-winning developments can fall short—becoming stranded assets that underdeliver on long-term value. Why? Because their creators weren't thinking big enough. In today's market, successful real estate projects must do more than meet financial benchmarks—they must integrate into the surrounding urban fabric, unlock new value streams, and catalyze community vitality. Too often, developers focus on the building or public space project, but overlook the broader context: the connections, the culture, and the potential for layered returns—economic, social, and experiential. At the same time, are we thinking small enough? While engagement is often treated as a checkbox, what communities crave is agency—the ability to shape their environment. Imagine the ROI of 5,000 residents each spending just one hour a week making their neighborhood more vibrant, welcoming, and alive. That's 260,000 hours of grassroots activation—an untapped resource that can amplify the value of your investment. This session will explore how developers, investors, and land use professionals can scale their thinking to extend impact, while also empowering communities to co-create their communities. We'll share leadership lessons and real-world examples of projects that got it right—and what it means for your bottom line when placemaking becomes a shared endeavor.

Philanthropy is increasingly becoming an enabler to unlock development opportunities, including parks, affordable housing, and market rate development. Join us for this interdisciplinary conversation and an introduction to the P4 (public/private/philanthropic partnerships) capital stack and what it takes to catalyze investment and impact in climate, equity, and community. This session will include the voices of philanthropy, budgeting, and operations, along with ULI's new chief impact officer. The conversation will define philanthropy, types of foundations, and how they operate, including enabling ULI strategic priorities. Different types of investment strategies and supporting infrastructure will be discussed, as well as the outsized impact and outcomes.

The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) is driving increases in demands for the generation and transmission of power not seen in the United States since the end of World War II. The demands for more effective and competitive AI are already impacting the availability of power, and major consumers (so-called "hyperscalers") are finding that current electric markets are unable to meet their needs. The panel will explore the challenges associated with increasing electrical generation in light of climate change concerns, and the related, if not equally important, challenge of building sufficient transmission infrastructure to deliver power where it is needed. Panelists will evaluate how construction of new electrical generation capacity and transmission infrastructure are already, and will continue to, impact land use development patterns. Discussion will include potential future impacts to land use development patterns not just for data centers, but for industrial and even residential development, depending on whether and how the public and private sectors can meet the challenge of supplying power to meet ever-growing demand in light of the risks associated with climate change.

Artificial intelligence has unleashed a global race to build the physical backbone of the digital age—massive data-center campuses demanding gigawatts of power and trillions of dollars in projected investment. Yet the speed and scale of this expansion are testing the limits of energy, land, and public tolerance. Do today's soaring valuations reflect durable fundamentals or merely speculative exuberance? And can digital infrastructure and decarbonization truly advance together, or are hyperscalers quietly recalibrating their carbon-free ambitions as they race to secure capacity? This session brings together global leaders in development, investment, and sustainability to explore how capital, carbon, and community pressures are reshaping one of the defining asset classes of the twenty-first century.

In partnership with NEXT and the Technology and Real Estate Council, join us for an exciting pitch event where the audience will be the judge of the best pitch. The real estate industry is ripe for innovation and these ambitious proptech entrepreneurs are leading the charge. Come meet the founders pursuing capital and customers to scale their exciting new companies. Moderated by Heather Widman from Building Ventures, each founder will pitch for five minutes followed by a 10-minute Q&A session with the audience. At the end of all the pitches, we will use live voting from the audience to pick the winner. This is a great way to meet fellow audience members as you have a chance to discuss who you think has the best pitch as well as get to meet the founders with exciting new startups!

As the fiscal strength of universities and research institutions comes under increasing pressure, developers and academic institutions are redefining their symbiotic relationship to safeguard their economic and research goals. Academic institutions' demand for real estate, whether it's lab space, student housing, or office space, was previously thought to persist despite economic and political changes. Now that universities' abilities to conduct research and enroll students are challenged, what new public/private partnership models, funding mechanisms, or urban strategies can respond to this volatility? The discussion will include speakers from around California and the country.

In every central business district across the United States, leaders are pushing for new ideas to reimagine vacant office buildings. Those buildings are crucial to the long-term health of all major cities—especially when they can pay their property taxes and not burden the city's residents with that hefty expense. Financing quickly becomes the deciding factor of whether the renovation is possible. That's where C-PACE financing can be the answer. The panel will discuss three ways that C-PACE can support the reimagining of office buildings for success. Capitalization: A C-PACE loan enabled a new property owner to leverage previous investments, amortize over 30 years, and bring down the total debt. In another loan, the C-PACE financing reduced the senior and mezzanine debt and minimized the amount of equity needed to close the capital stack. Acquisition: For two different office buildings, the C-PACE loan was a crucial component in the change of ownership and became an important part of the plan to reposition those assets. C-PACE brought down the cost of capital from other sources while also financing improvements to bring the property back to life. Conversion: A 197,692-square-foot office building is being converted to 178 apartments using a $15.8 million C-PACE loan, which will save $1,193,271 annually.

Think forming an LLC is always the best foundation for your real estate venture? Think again. Just like a building, your business needs the right structure to rise. Join our panel of legal, financial, and entrepreneurial experts as they unpack the pros and cons of LLCs, S Corps, C Corps, partnerships, and more—all with a focus on early-stage commercial real estate ventures. Whether you're assembling your first deal or laying the groundwork for future growth, you'll walk away with the clarity to choose the right entity. This is a must-attend session for any small or medium-sized business owner or operator looking to build on solid ground. Presented by the WLI Americas Entrepreneurs Program.

In recent years, the North American residential real estate market has transformed due to shifting demographic trends. This session explores population movements, generational preferences, and cultural diversity reshaping housing across metropolitan centers and rural communities. Attendees will learn how aging baby boomers, the rise of millennials and gen z as homeowners, gen x as the sandwich generation, and the influence of multicultural populations are redefining demand, location, and the concept of home. It examines younger generations' shift toward urban living and reverse migration to suburbs and smaller cities fueled by remote work. Participants will also consider how a growing senior population with unique needs—such as accessible design and proximity to health care—impacts development patterns and market offerings. The session addresses fluctuating immigration rates and internal migration within North America, invigorating some regions while challenging others. Developers and policymakers are rethinking affordability, infrastructure, and inclusive community development. Changing household structures—such as multigenerational living and single-person households—drive innovation in housing design and amenities. Whether you are a developer, agent, investor, or urban planner, you will leave with a deeper understanding of how demographic change is both a challenge and a catalyst for innovation in the residential property market.

San Francisco's Market Street is one of the most iconic civic corridors in the country—and one of the most complex. Earlier this year, ULI San Francisco launched the international Market Street Reimagined ideas competition, drawing more than 170 submissions from around the world. The six winning concepts offered bold, creative visions for Market Street's future, ranging from radical hospitality to transformative greening. In this session, hear directly from the winning teams in rapid-fire presentations, then join a distinguished panel of jurors and a city leader to unpack why these ideas rose to the top, what they reveal about Market Street's challenges and opportunities, and how San Francisco is preparing to move from imagination to action.

The traditional public transit model must be reimagined for an effective, equitable, and sustainable existence. This panel will share the growing integration of autonomous vehicles (AVs) into the Bay Area's transportation landscape, not as a replacement, but as a complement to public transit. It will explore how AVs are addressing the "first and last five-mile" challenge, forging vital connections between underserved areas and transit hubs. Attendees will learn how AV deployments are enhancing the regional transportation network, creating a more interconnected and efficient system that represents the future of mobility. Special focus will be placed on how AVs could expand access for individuals who are unable to drive—such as seniors, people with disabilities, `and those in isolated communities—thereby improving their access to employment, education, and other essential opportunities.

As houses of worship across North America close at an accelerating pace, a unique opportunity has emerged to reimagine how these properties can serve their communities. This binational panel of experts will explore how congregations can embrace placemaking strategies to repurpose their land in ways that reflect evolving community needs—ranging from affordable housing to inclusive public spaces and other civic functions. Panelists will share case studies from Nashville, Canada, and San Francisco that highlight best practices, financial feasibility, and the strategic partnerships across sectors, communities, and governments necessary to navigate the complexities of these transformative projects.

Explore the future of mobility through a global lens as leaders from Asia, Europe, and the Americas spotlight cutting-edge transportation technologies—from flying cars to self-parking and driverless vehicles. Learn how these innovations are shaping resilient, high-functioning urban environments across the world.

Dive into the exciting world of proptech and climate tech in this engaging panel discussion with three experienced venture investors. Proptech encompasses cutting-edge technologies revolutionizing the real estate industry, while climate tech focuses on innovative solutions addressing climate change. Curious how these fields overlap and can impact your work? Our panelists will share what they look for in a startup, lessons learned from a large sample of investments, and candid insights on past challenges.

Geopolitical shifts, supply chain disruptions, and the race for talent are rewriting the global playbook for production and service delivery. This dynamic discussion will explore how companies across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific are reshoring operations, rethinking outsourcing, and leveraging global talent hubs to stay competitive.

This session brings together industry leaders to explore breakthrough construction methods that improve traditional practices and deliver sustainable results. Top-down construction streamlines the building process by creating a production-like atmosphere on-site, enabling rapid floorplate manufacturing, shortening construction timelines, and lowering costs and carbon. Complementing this approach, nano-modified concrete offers increased strength, faster curing times, and reduction of water and cement usage—cutting material costs while significantly lowering embodied carbon. Taken together, by reducing construction costs by roughly 30 percent, top-down and nano-modified concrete enable many projects to pencil out as financially viable projects that otherwise would not have done so—benefitting all real estate product types and holding particular potential to increase the supply of housing. Attendees may wish to review their projects that did not pencil before and see if these two techniques make them pencil now.

Leaders in the development and construction industry discuss the impact of unprecedented market and economics conditions on the cost and complexity of developing new housing and strategies they are using to manage this complex environment. Questions addressed include the following: • What is happening in the labor markets, and what are builders doing to ensure access to skilled workers and to control costs? • Are tariffs increasing the cost of construction right now? Are they changing sourcing practices? • Has the slowdown in housing construction changed the developer/construction company dynamics? What about the general contractor/subcontractor dynamics? • Are the complexities of this environment pushing developers to grapple with new technology, or is that one more unknown to manage? • What can developers and builders do to push the feasibility needle in 2026?

From the literal gold rush of 1849, San Francisco has been a boom and bust town. What is unique about San Francisco that makes for such dramatic cycles, what can we learn about when the next cycle will begin, and what is being done to accelerate its rebound? The latest and most severe cycle may be the bust experienced from the COVID pandemic. San Francisco has been the poster child for problems that were occurring in urban downtowns. Office and retail occupancy decreased, which resulted in the downtown being labeled as a Doom Loop. Will history repeat itself? Are the elements that helped San Francisco rebound in the past again pointing to another once in a cycle opportunity again to participate in the next downtown Boom? Hear about why a tower significantly taller than the current tallest tower West of the Mississippi is moving forward and why downtown will have an electronic music enterprise housed in a building as iconic as Capital Records in Hollywood. To help accelerate the recovery, ULI and the City of San Francisco partnered to convene an Advisory Services panel of experts from around the country on how to revitalize downtown San Francisco. The panel provided strategic recommendations for leveraging the city's existing physical assets, identifying opportunities for financial incentives, and implementing reforms that promote the economic and social health of the downtown. Learn where downtown San Francisco stands today and what is likely to happen tomorrow.

Sustainability's profile is changing, but the value-add still exists. Follow the journey of companies who have realized financial benefit through strategic planning for—and implementation of—sustainability, efficiency, and resilience measures at the portfolio level. Learn the basics of carbon accounting and how to leverage currently available tools and strategies into increased value while moving toward a net zero operations equation.

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law an act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of H. Con. Res. 14., which is commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In this session, leaders will explore how the bill came to pass, examine key provisions, and discuss what may lay ahead on the tax policy front. Listen to the hot topics coming from Washington, D.C., impacting tax law and the real estate community, with a lively discussion of what's on the table for future provisions and what's impacting real estate right now.

This timely and highly relevant session will explore the future of downtowns and central business districts (CBDs) through a global lens—drawing on insights from North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. As many cities reimagine the role and purpose of their downtowns, this conversation will spotlight international strategies and best practices for revitalization and long-term competitiveness.

Rising insurance costs are impacting property operating margins, valuations, and investment decisions. Lindsay Brugger, VP of Urban Resilience for ULI, will moderate this panel of CRE insurance experts as they analyze why insurance prices have recently been rising so sharply, examine the impacts of rising costs on CRE including changing lending standards, and explore strategies for securing property insurance coverage for varied development project typologies. The panel will dive deep into how migration patterns, demographic changes, climate events, and both federal and state regulations have made permanent impacts to the CRE insurance industry and identify CRE market response trends and best practices.

The ULI Real Estate Economic Forecast is a semiannual survey of leading industry experts. How do the experts see 33 key economic and real estate indicators moving by the end of 2025, 2026, and 2027? How have forecasts changed from six months earlier? And why? How are tariff realities and uncertainties expected to impact CRE? What signals are the experts watching for in real estate as they look ahead? Where do the experts agree and disagree? Hear a lively debate among leading economists and analysts who participated in the Real Estate Economic Forecast survey as they explain or defend their opinions. Ask questions or challenge their views about what's ahead for the real estate industry through the end of 2025 and all the way through 2027.

For decades, real estate has been organized around separation—seniors in retirement communities, students on campuses, workers in office districts, and families in subdivisions. While this made projects easier to finance and manage, it also left us with inefficiencies, inequities, and single-use assets that are struggling to adapt. Today, demographic shifts, rising care demands, hybrid work, and the push for resilient, community-serving places are driving a new model: age-integrated real estate. These developments intentionally bring together multiple generations, services, and amenities into cohesive ecosystems. From senior-anchored, mixed-use hubs to fully intergenerational districts, they represent a new value proposition—projects that deliver care, connection, and community across life stages while also creating financial resilience and long-term market relevance. This panel will explore what it takes to make age-integration work—from design and operations to finance, policy, and risk management. Speakers will share lessons from global precedents and local innovations, along with the opportunities and challenges of scaling these models. A central focus will be the role of public/private partnerships in making projects viable. Attendees will leave with concrete strategies to reposition assets, unlock new tenant mixes, and meet emerging demand for communities that serve everyone—at every age.

Mission Rock will be a 28-acre mixed-use urban neighborhood located on the San Francisco Bay waterfront, across from Oracle Park. The defining first phase, completed in 2024, consists of 8 acres of open space, over 1,000 new homes with 40 percent reserved for moderate-income households, 1.4 million square feet of office space, and 200,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, which emerged from a meaningful collaboration between Tishman Speyer's public/private partnership and their design team. In a collaborative process designed and led by Studio Gang, with Henning Larsen, MVRDV, WORKac, and SCAPE, their contributions to the neighborhood work simultaneously and in communication with each other. The result is a neighborhood in which the buildings work together not only in terms of their character, but also functionally, with innovative approaches such as shared technical equipment. As San Francisco and other cities navigate recovery from the pandemic and confront the transformation of postindustrial waterfronts or surface parking into dynamic places for people, Mission Rock shows how a co-creative process can lead to successful placemaking. In this panel, representatives from Tishman Speyer and all five design studios will discuss how the uniquely collaborative process helped the team evolve the master plan into a cohesive approach, balancing the priorities of the public/private partnership and enabling features such as shared infrastructure and resiliency.

Five years on from the pandemic, the commercial real estate (CRE) market has been impressively resilient. Developers and lenders jointly navigated the structural shift in demand patterns driven by the pandemic amid the lift-off in rates from the zero lower bound from the Great Financial Crisis. Today, market activity continues apace but faces a new set of questions: uncertainty around the durability of the AI boom, the resilience of the US consumer, and the sustainability of debt. In this context, competition for high-quality opportunities has intensified. CRE players have responded by re-organizing internally, leveraging different kinds of data, drawing on new sources of capital, and exploring new partnerships. The panel, led by experts from Wells Fargo and McKinsey & Company, will discuss these dynamics and their implications for CRE lenders as well as players up and down the value chain (e.g., owners, investors, developers, and asset managers).

The Olympic and Paralympic Games and FIFA World Cup are big events with even bigger impacts. While the official program only lasts a few weeks, careful planning takes years—and the events' effects last even longer. A host city's earliest decisions on how to approach partnerships, investment, and infrastructure will have significant, lasting impacts on the surrounding built environment far beyond the final broadcast. This session will examine how the planning and execution of major sporting events shape their host cities—and how those cities can shape the character of those events in turn. Looking back, what is the legacy of the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris today, nearly 18 months after the Closing Ceremony? Looking ahead, what choices are the 2026 World Cup host committees making, nearly six months out? This panel will celebrate successes, review lessons learned, and hear from organizers and experts with direct experience about how host cities prepare to welcome the world while balancing the needs of local residents. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how large-scale, limited-duration events impact cities and what they mean for real estate outcomes more broadly, including critical topics such as urban regeneration, long-term investment, and legacy benefits.

In the search to address the global affordable housing crisis, innovative financing models and public/private partnerships (P3s) can help overcome the challenges of limited capital and scarce public funds. This session will explore how blending traditional funding mechanisms with novel approaches can unlock new opportunities for affordable housing development. By leveraging the strengths of both public and private sectors, we can create sustainable, scalable, and inclusive housing solutions that meet the needs of diverse communities and increase housing production. Join us to discover how these collaborative efforts are transforming the affordable housing landscape and paving the way for a more equitable future, including highlights of projects and communities utilizing creative approaches.

The skies above our cities are becoming the next frontier in urban mobility. From drone deliveries to air taxis, Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is transitioning rapidly from concept to reality, reshaping how we plan and design communities. Join us as a panel of industry experts, innovators, and public-sector leaders discuss how AAM is beginning to affect infrastructure, land use, and local economies across the United States and beyond. This session will offer planners, policymakers, and developers practical insights and guidance to help them get ready for the growing role of air-based transportation in everyday life.

Can we be better and do better together? This session will explore the tension between regionalism and localism in addressing the growing urban challenges among the 101 cities in the Bay Area. Experts and practitioners will discuss how cities within the region can collaborate on shared issues, such as land use planning, housing, urban infrastructure, and climate resilience, while balancing and respecting the unique needs and interests of individual communities. Panelists will share case studies that highlight successful regional approaches, as well as the barriers that often hinder collaboration between cities.

From NIMYism to YIMBYism, a region's ability to produce housing has been defined by the role of community advocacy. This session will explore the impact of advocacy and activism on housing development, from environmental review processes to community benefits agreements, using California as a case study, and how that influence is changing in the face of new pro-housing legislation. It will also provide insight into how to address and bridge community feedback in order to create more successful projects.

What happens when yesterday's malls become tomorrow's neighborhoods? Across the country, underperforming retail centers are being reimagined as thriving, mixed-use districts that bring walkability, public life, and urban energy to new markets. These large-scale redevelopments offer a unique opportunity to deliver people-first urban experiences in places long shaped by car-centric infrastructure and single-use zoning. This panel features the developers and visionaries behind some of the most ambitious retail transformations underway—including CityPlace in West Palm Beach, Hillsdale in San Mateo, Charleston Place in Mountain View, and Bristol in Santa Ana. Through these real-world case studies, we'll explore strategies for delivering a high-impact public realm, phasing and brand-building, bringing retailers on board, and activating spaces that keep people coming back. It's not just about real estate—it's about creating places people love.

As remote work continues to reshape urban landscapes, many downtown business districts face an oversupply of vacant office space, impacting local economies. A natural solution is to convert underutilized office buildings into housing and mixed-use developments. According to JLL, office conversions reached record highs in 2022, 2023, and 2024, with no signs of slowing. However, these projects come with significant challenges, including structural limitations, regulatory hurdles, and financial feasibility concerns. To address these barriers, cities are introducing zoning reforms and financial incentives to encourage adaptive reuse. Successful conversions not only increase housing supply but also create dynamic, resilient commercial districts by integrating residential, retail, and office spaces. Conversion projects can be successful, including a focus on sustainability. This panel will explore key factors for executing effective office-to-residential and mixed-use conversions, including market conditions, structural adaptability, regulatory considerations, and financing strategies.

Get an inside look at how scale, proximity, and long-term conviction drive value creation in modern industrial markets. This session will explore how the acquisition of a 950,000-square-foot portfolio on the San Francisco Peninsula fits into a broader strategy: deepening presence in high-barrier submarkets through adjacency and operational leverage. Learn how Prologis identified the opportunity to expand its existing footprint, creating a cluster of high-performing assets that reinforce one another operationally, financially, and strategically. Hear directly from the investment and marketing teams about how critical mass in a submarket amplifies pricing power, tenant optionality, and land control. The discussion will unpack what made this portfolio compelling, and how proximity to an existing multibuilding campus enhanced the business case and long-term positioning for market penetration.

Venture capitalists (VCs) are shaping the commercial real estate (CRE) landscape through strategic investments in property technology (proptech) enabled by artificial intelligence (AI). Get firsthand insights on where VC visionaries are placing their AI proptech bets and why. Join proptech investor, advisor, and serial entrepreneur Chris Moreno as he asks some of the sharpest minds in venture capital what their analysis is telling them about the transformative potential of AI in CRE and where specifically they think the biggest opportunities and challenges lie. They'll dive into what's over-hyped, what they think may actually be under-hyped, and what is a realistic timeframe for seeing the return on investment in AI.