In the heart of Central Ohio, the Rickenbacker submarket has cemented the region as a top-tier destination for industrial investment, logistics innovation and global connectivity. At NAIOP’s I.CON Central conference this week in Columbus, Ohio, attendees explored major projects in the area, which is Ohio’s largest submarket and home to 25% of Columbus’ industrial stock.
Artificial intelligence is transforming the industrial real estate landscape in profound and sometimes paradoxical ways. As AI technologies become more embedded in logistics, fulfillment and manufacturing, they influence both the demand for warehouse space and the nature of the workforce inside these facilities.
Manufacturing facility construction is undergoing rapid evolution. As commercial real estate executives seek to align with manufacturers' unique facility needs, understanding key construction trends and best practices is essential for project success. Predictability in cost, scope and schedule remains paramount for manufacturers, and achieving it requires a strategic approach built on early project definition, collaborative team integration and selecting the right project delivery method.
At NAIOP’s I.CON East conference last week in New Jersey, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo delivered a candid assessment of the U.S. economy: strong at its core but held back by what she called “self-inflicted wounds.” Despite global leadership in innovation and artificial intelligence, and a resilient tech sector, she warned that uncertainty, policy inconsistency, and trade disruptions are clouding near-term growth.
With trade policy once again taking center stage in the U.S., industrial real estate leaders are watching closely to understand how sweeping tariff changes could reshape supply chains, manufacturing and market demand. Newmark’s Lisa DeNight, managing director for national industrial research, and Charlie Smith, managing director for geopolitical strategy, discussed the implications and shared their predictions at NAIOP’s I.CON East this week in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Across the United States, a manufacturing renaissance is underway. Kick-started by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and a post-pandemic focus on supply chain resilience, the resurgence has spurred new demand for industrial facilities. Most recently, demand has begun to shift from the electric vehicle and clean energy sectors to the aerospace and defense sectors receiving stepped-up U.S. Dept. of Defense funding.
“In 35 years as an economist, I’ve only seen uncertainty like this twice before: during the global financial crisis and in the middle of the pandemic,” said Moody’s Chief Economist Mark Zandi, addressing a full room at this week’s NAIOP National Forums Symposium in New Orleans. “These are highly uncertain times.”
