Steve Weikal, industry chair, real estate transformation lab, MIT Center for Real Estate, and managing partner, MET Fund II, led I.CON Central attendees through an AI-driven world of robotics, automation and advanced technologies. Weikel is co-author of the recently published NAIOP Research Foundation report “From Static to Strategic: AI’s Role in Next-Generation Industrial Real Estate.”
At I.CON Central this week in Columbus, Ohio, a panel of local leaders emphasized that the phrase is more than a slogan – it’s a practice. “It’s a phrase attributed to the practice of community stewardship carried through by leadership across sectors in the Columbus region,” said panel moderator Irene Alvarez, chief marketing and communications officer, Columbus Partnership.
At I.CON Central, attendees had the opportunity to hear directly from leading end users as they shared how tax incentives, labor availability and energy constraints are shaping their real estate strategies.
At I.CON Central in Columbus, Ohio, a panel of experts broke down what’s driving industrial investment decisions, where capital is flowing, and how debt availability is shaping the landscape.
At I.CON Central this week in Columbus, Ohio, Global Client Strategist and Senior Economic Advisor for CBRE Spencer Levy framed his keynote with a theme few would expect in a discussion about commercial real estate: the Beatles. Levy opened by telling the audience that much like the iconic band, CRE thrives on emotional resonance, innovation and the ability to adapt to changing landscapes.
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.
Recent guidance from the Department of the Treasury, coupled with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, has shortened the window to claim federal incentives on rooftop solar. Commercial Real Estate owners must now move quickly to capture the full 30% Investment Tax Credit and secure financial benefits, while delays could mean lower lease rates and diminished returns.
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.
The storage industry has expanded by a remarkable 547 million square feet since 2015, bringing the national total to more than 2 billion square feet. StorageCafe’s analysis of 130 of the nation’s largest cities shows a tight correlation between apartment and self-storage construction.
