Lee & Associates – Houston’s Drew Lewis moderated UH’s 2017 Real Estate Symposium Breakfast.

Our very own Drew Lewis moderated UH’s 2017 Real Estate Symposium Breakfast, which was a huge success with a high turnout of the industry’s finest real estate professionals. The breakfast began promptly at 7:30 am and Drew Lewis took the stage to introduce himself to all the seated guests. Keith Richards, executive director of C.T. Bauer College of Business, Latha Ramchand, dean of C.T. Bauer College of Business and Ric Campo, chairman of the board and CEO of Camden Property Trust followed suit by presenting opening remarks about the Innovation Program and real estate market trends. Breakfast was then served and guests were given the opportunity to network with peers prior to the start of the Multifamily – Living Elevated student presentation.

Three MBA candidates presented their innovative multifamily market research findings, highlighting market trends and the shift in direction multifamily developers are facing. The presenters targeted millennials and empty nesters as their primary consumers and focused on how the growing concept of a “live, work, play” approach is a main determinant of where people will choose to live. All presenters predicted and highlighted new multifamily amenities that future residents may look for when searching for a living space and how new technology is impacting the future of design and implementation. The presenters also chose three multifamily development projects located in Houston and showcased their thoughts on how these projects were paving the future for the multifamily sector of commercial real estate.

The panelists included Jim Carman, representing One Lake Edge and The Howard Hughes Corporation, Brad Dinerstein, representing Vantage Med Center and The Dinerstein Companies, and Philip Schneidau, representing Market Square Tower and Woodbranch Management. Each panelist reviewed their development projects and highlighted success, challenges, and innovations that set them apart from the rest. The main theme circled around the future of multifamily development and how they are providing creative solutions for an evolving market. Following a brief synopsis of each project, panelists provided the MBA candidates with feedback regarding their presentation and answered questions from the audience.

The symposium ended with a brief award presentation where the panelists were awarded an Innovation Award for their multifamily development projects.

For additional symposium coverage, click here to read an in-depth recap on emerging real estate trends in the multifamily sector, written by Houston Chronicle reporter, Dylan Baddour.