Students from the University of Denver’s Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management are midway through their research on the future of office space in Denver. The research is part of the school’s “Educated Opinions” program, which will culminate in an event held on September 25 and feature industry and community leaders who will discuss the student’s findings and provide important insight of their own.
This year’s investigation, named “The Future of Office Space: Utility and Investment Value,” will present researched and thoughtful answers to questions such as:
- Future office space demand
- Projected office utilization and values by building class and location
- Changing importance of office amenities and space design
- Potential impact on governmental tax revenues
- Feasibility of the reuse/conversion of obsolete office space
Four selected students (Educated Opinion fellows) are chosen each year to work with members of the Educated Opinions Committee and other real estate professionals to develop the program and conduct the research. The faculty lead is Mark Levine and Rick Pederson, chief strategy officer for Bow River Capital is guiding the students’ research along with other noted experts from the real estate industry.
The September 25 event will also feature Willy Walker of Walker and Dunlop, as well as economist Teo Nicolais of Harvard and MIT, addressing the office investment issue. More information about the event and the students’ findings will be announced in the weeks ahead.
The Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management was founded in 1938 as the Building Industry and Real Estate Program. In 1947, the school was renamed the Department of Real Estate and Construction Management (RECM). On May 6, 1997, the school was officially named the Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management. Offering undergraduate and graduate degrees and graduate certificates, the Burns School is one of the largest schools within the Daniels College of Business and the only school of its kind in the nation.
