2025 Year in Review: Lisa Hamilton, Northstar Project & Real Estate Services

Looking back at 2025, what deal, project, or key moment best reflected the direction of the New England CRE market this year? With return-to-work initiatives continuing, I was thrilled to support Clarion Partners with repositioning its office/lab building at 245 First St. Tenants have an abundance of real estate options and landlords are increasingly required to take a forward-thinking approach to offering more than just an office. Through development of high, medium, and low intervention designs, Northstar produced budgets and schedules enabling Clarion to make an informed decision. The resulting project will deliver amenity enhancements, system upgrades, and a dramatic transformation of the entry experience.

What accomplishment or milestone stood out for you or your firm in 2025? Northstar celebrated its 15^th anniversary. I had the privilege of joining in its inaugural year. The evolution from start-up to 55 employees has been an extraordinary experience. While the firm operates on a different scale today than it did 15 years ago, our core values remain unchanged. Our top priority continues to be delivering exceptional client service, providing white-glove support, completing projects on time and under budget, and upholding the highest standards of quality, while fostering a positive and collaborative experience for every member on our project teams.

As you look ahead to 2026, which emerging trends or shifts will shape opportunities for you, your firm, or your market sector? With the Greater Boston life science market experiencing significant oversupply, I expect Northstar’s advisory services to continue its strong trajectory of growth. Tenants and landlords alike are constantly reassessing their real estate strategies to ensure alignment with their operational and business objectives. Our advisory offerings such as highest and best use analyses, market readiness assessments, pre-acquisition due diligence, land use planning, and long-term capital planning offer high-value insights that enable clients to optimize their real estate planning and decision-making.