Question of the Month: "What are the greatest challenges for commercial real estate in the next year?"

"Many of our clients need to grow and improve their facilities out of necessity to remain competitive. They remain cautious to not overbuild nor oversize, however, there is a renewed interest in investing in smart design which is right-sized for their business needs, with some opportunity for anticipated future growth. Available opportunities seem prevalent, though budgets and willingness to move forward remain subdued. We believe success will come from those real estate, design, and development teams who understand client's needs and provide creative solutions to meet their expectations." Chris Drobat, vice president, Lavallee Brensinger Architects, Charlestown, Mass.