"The Future of Commercial Real Estate: Insights from Nikki Greenberg on Innovation, Gen Z, and Tech-Driven Transformation"
Chris Berg
Buying land in California to build Self-Storage sites. If you have land you would like to sell, DM me.
The Future of CRE is Here
At the recent LoopNet-sponsored event, Nikki Greenberg (www.NikkiGreenberg.com) delivered a riveting presentation on the future of commercial real estate. Her insights—backed by data, tech-driven forecasts, and a touch of humor—gave the audience a thrilling glimpse of what lies ahead. If you're in CRE and haven't started thinking about AI, drones, and Gen Z, now is the time to take note. Here's what you need to know.
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1. The Sixth Wave of Innovation
Greenberg kicked off the presentation by walking the audience through the long waves of innovation, from water-powered machines in the 18th century to today's world of digital networks and software. We are currently riding the fifth wave, but “the sixth wave is already on the horizon,” she explained, and it will be driven by AI, IoT, drones, and clean tech.
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"We are standing on the edge of a massive shift," Greenberg said, referring to how these emerging technologies will fundamentally disrupt how we build, design, and manage commercial spaces.
2. Gen Z’s Growing Influence
By 2030, Millennials and Gen Z will make up 75% of the workforce, and this generation is bringing an entirely new set of expectations to the table. Greenberg highlighted that they are “digital natives” who will expect tech-enabled, sustainable, and flexible spaces as a standard.
She emphasized the need to cater to this generation, which she referred to as “the future clients, investors, and stakeholders of the CRE industry.” From smarter offices to tech-first environments, buildings will need to adapt to remain attractive to this influential demographic.
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“We’re designing for the generation that grew up with iPads and AI,” Greenberg said. If you’re not thinking about their expectations yet, you might already be behind.
3. The Uber of Buildings: Welcome to the Skies
One of the standout moments of Greenberg's presentation was her vision for futuristic, drone-ready buildings. Imagine a world where your office building doubles as a drone port, where deliveries, transportation, and logistics all happen from rooftop vertiports. This isn’t science fiction—it’s already in development.
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“These buildings will change how we think about space,” Greenberg said, pointing to examples where rooftops are being reimagined for drone landings and autonomous vehicles.
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This idea extends beyond transportation to urban planning. As Uber Elevate and other pioneers experiment with multimodal transportation hubs, buildings will evolve to support these new forms of connectivity. Imagine entering your office from the rooftop via a drone rather than the front door. The possibilities are endless.
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4. Flexibility is Key: Smart Spaces for Hybrid Work
“If your office space doesn’t respond to the way you work, it’s not really smart,” Greenberg noted. The post-pandemic world has solidified hybrid work as the new normal, and with that, the demand for flexible spaces has skyrocketed. Gone are the days of the rigid open-plan office. Today, it’s all about smart spaces designed to adapt to fluctuating work patterns.
From scalable desk spaces to immersive technologies like Apple’s Vision Pro headset, Greenberg envisions customizable offices where form follows function, accommodating anything from a quiet Monday to a packed Wednesday without wasting resources.
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“It’s not about throwing tech into a space,” she said. “It’s about creating environments that enhance the work being done inside.”
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5. Be Future-Ready Today
In her closing thoughts, Greenberg urged the audience to start preparing for these seismic shifts now: “Being future-ready isn’t about next year—it’s about today.” She outlined five key principles for CRE professionals to stay ahead of the curve: be core, be flexible, be curious, do different, and most importantly, be visionary.
“The future belongs to the brave,” she said. “If you want to thrive in this next wave, start innovating today.”
Why This Matters?
Nikki Greenberg's vision for the future of CRE is ambitious, but it's rooted in the realities of technological advancement and shifting demographics. With AI, drones, and a tech-savvy workforce all set to redefine the industry, the CRE world must adapt or be left behind.
As Greenberg said, “Extraordinary places of the future are being built today.” Is your business ready to be part of that future?
Final Thoughts
Nikki’s presentation left us with one undeniable truth: the future of commercial real estate will be nothing like its past. Whether you’re developing properties, investing in CRE, or just getting started, now’s the time to think bigger, act bolder, and embrace the changes already happening.
The Commercial Real Estate Report with Chris Berg invites you to explore these trends further and ensure your projects are ready for the future.?
Got questions or ideas? Let’s continue the conversation—share this newsletter with your colleagues or drop me a line!
I am Actively Buying Land for Self-Storage.
Here is what the perfect self-storage site looks like for us:
75,000+ population in a 3-mile radius $75K+ median household income in 3-mile radius 25,000+ cars per day visibility 1.5-5 Acres ideal size? ? If you have sites that fit this criteria, please email them to me at [email protected] ? Our vision is to do 7 to 9 self-Storage sites per year in California. I am looking for partners like you to help make that vision a reality. ?