This Is It: AI infrastructure is powering office markets

AI’s massive investment surge is reshaping commercial real estate. Chemonics' Victoria Slivkoff and CBRE's Colin Yasukochi discuss AI's influence on tech talent and its role in revitalizing key office markets and driving physical infrastructure needs.* AI drives massive investment into data centers and physical infrastructure.* San Francisco's office market is experiencing an AI-driven turnaround.* The AI revolution is creating specialized talent hubs and increasing demand for sustainable energy.* AI will boost productivity and necessitate workforce adaptation.

Raleigh has long been one of the best-performing secondary markets. Its arena district is poised to be the next engine in its growth. Carolina Hurricanes CEO Brian Fork and Greater Raleigh Chamber CEO Adrienne Cole discuss how the Lenovo Center anchors a mixed-use redevelopment on state-owned land—structured through a complex public-private partnership.Public-Private Partnerships: The Lenovo Center anchors an 80-acre, 15-year, $1 billion arena-district redevelopment via a public-private/ground-lease structure.Talent, Talent, Talent: Raleigh’s three tier-one research universities and multi-node job base keep attracting talent, companies and capital.By the Numbers: Strong population growth (2.2 million to 2.6 million by 2027) plus low cost-of-living (around 3% below national average) signal opportunity for investors.Local Color: Lenovo Center preserves a tailgating culture while adding retail, restaurants, structured parking and year-round activation.

Food halls are no longer just a trend—they are a high-impact amenity for improving a property’s dwell time, leasing velocity and NOI. Recorded at Central Perk in Times Square, a quartet of experts from Colicchio Consulting and CBRE explain how the best food halls prioritize operations and programming, new beverage and evening strategies, the lowdown on operator selection and deal structures that offer better risk-sharing and returns.- Food halls aren’t food courts: Independent concepts + community + beverage drive performance.- Hybrid work has changed the operating model: Fewer office days demand longer-hour, programming-led models.- Conversions can happen everywhere: Converting buildings to their highest and best use can work for both offices and food halls, especially in suburban markets.- Alignment between operators and landlords: Vendor stall flexibility and percentage-rent leases can benefit operators and investors.- Market snapshot: Colicchio Consulting believes the sweet spot of sizing is around 10,000–15,000 sq. ft. with average buildout costs around $400/sq. ft., depending on the market.

AI is reshaping the business landscape, including commercial real estate. Data scientist and author Sandy Pentland and CBRE’s Sandeep Davé discuss how the intersection of emerging technologies and human insight is driving better decision-making for investors, occupiers and building operators.Commercial Real Estate & AI: For occupiers, AI can create significant operating efficiencies and enhance the workplace experience; for investors, increased efficiency can boost asset values.People and Technology: AI is enhancing—not replacing—human decision‑making across organizations.Data Quality: Good data management is the foundation for applying AI most impactfully.Productivity: Every organization is balancing innovation and productivity gains with responsible deployment that considers privacy, governance and human‑in‑the‑loop practicesLong-term Outlook: AI is broadening visibility across markets, helping to foresee unanticipated or exogenous events and surfacing new ideas.

Recorded at the CBRE Women’s Network Power of WE conference, this episode offers a rapid-fire, insights-rich tour of major U.S. commercial real estate markets. Our subject-matter experts provide inside views of how different regions are navigating supply, demand and economic forces—from industrial and logistics to multifamily, office and retail—and insights on where investors and occupiers may find value in 2026.National CRE outlook, including signs of asset repricing stabilization, improving liquidity and transactions momentum. Industrial dynamics in Southern California, from manufacturing fundamentals and port-driven demand to pockets of strength and ongoing vacancy challenges. Sector trends, including data centers, alternative assets, big‑box scarcity, rent trends, and how corporate occupiers are re‑entering the market. Multifamily performance across gateways, the Sun Belt and the Midwest, driven by slowing construction cycles, demographic patterns and evolving investor interest. Emerging and opportunity markets, from South Carolina’s growth to resurgent metros like San Francisco, Seattle, Phoenix and smaller high-growth cities such as Boise. 

PwC’s Karl Russo and CBRE’s Henry Chin share their outlook for the U.S. economy and commercial real estate in 2026, exploring opportunities and risks to growth.Key Takeaways:The U.S. economy should remain resilient in 2026.While the labor market finds a new equilibrium, many companies are racing to upskill and retain talent as they adopt AI processes.Reshoring and infrastructure improvements are expected to drive industrial growth in secondary markets.Data centers are positioned as a leading sector amid structural undersupply.

Alex Mehran Jr., CEO of a third-generation family developer, walks us through the transformation of Bishop Ranch—a master-planned community in San Ramon, CA. Mehran shares valuable lessons on reinventing a suburban office park into a vibrant, mixed-use destination. Mixed-use suburban developments are gaining strong appeal.·      Amenity-rich office space drives tenant demand and retention.·      Short-term, flexible leases can dovetail well with corporate occupier’s needs.·      Residential conversions of obsolete suburban office parks can enhance long-term asset value.·      Planned communities thrive with diverse housing and retail integration.

 Alison Fragale, author of the provactively titled “Likeable Bad Ass," breaks down the science of status—offering practical advice on how leaders can use warmth and competence to drive respect and gain greater influence.Key Takeaways:1.        Status—being respected and regarded—leads to influence, access to resources, and career advancement.2.        People judge quickly, and have high regard for those who are well-intentioned and competent.3.        Hard work needs to be seen to ensure effort is valued.4.        You can leverage “swing thoughts” to improve your career. [SI1]  [SI1]Do not really understand this. Remind me what “swing thoughts” are

Wharton organizational psychologist and New York Times-bestselling author Adam Grant shares insights on making better business decisions, fostering innovation and how your personal "challenge network” can lead to superior products and delight your customers.1.    Encourage[SI1]  Humor and Humility: They help maintain a flexible and open-minded approach, making it easier to rethink and adapt.2.    Have Pre-Mortems: Discuss as many potential failures as possible before launching. That way you can prevent or know how to handle problems when they occur.3.    Eschew Best Practices for Better Practices: “Best Practices” implies there’s only one right way, while seeking “Better Practices” encourages people to innovate and try new things.4.    Build a Challenge Network: Maintain a group of trusted critics who provide truly honest feedback to improve your decision-making.5.    Reward Speaking Truth to Power: Encourage employees to ask questions, suggest improvements and challenge outdated ideas. [SI1]Please run these by Adam

Jamie Hodari, CBRE's CEO of Building Operations & Experience, spotlights where he sees the biggest opportunity across commercial real estate: workplace experience. He discusses how a company’s space can attract tenants and enhance the employee experience, enriching people’s lives and increasing business effectiveness. Everything is operational real estate: Real estate companies are evolving from asset focused businesses to operating platforms, requiring high-quality management relentlessly focused on workplace experience.AI and data utilization are no longer nice-to-haves: Using AI to manage and interpret data is crucial for optimizing building operations.Markets are adapting to accommodate hybrid work models with flexible office usage: Urban markets especially put significant emphasis on making downtown areas vibrant.Finance institutions are catching up: The finance industry must recognize and adapt to the operational nature of modern real estate.Flight-to-quality is expanding: The focus for landlords and occupiers will increasingly be on creating spaces that people find enriching and valuable, not just functional.