Name: Ben Wauford, AIA
Title: Principal
Company: Cooper Carry
Location: 50 West 17th St., 12th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10011
Birthplace and year: Lebanon, Tenn., 1957
Family: Single
College: Masters of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology; bachelor of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology
First job outside of real estate: Lifeguard
First job in real estate or allied field: Architect
What do you do now and what are you planning for the future? I am the principal-in-charge of a 22-man architecture practice focusing on mixed-use projects and hope to change the world.
Hobbies: Cycling, reading, watercolors
Favorite book: Currently reading "Einstein" by Walter Isaacson
Key to success: Think smart!
If you had to choose another vocation what would it be? Chef - the architect of food
In this column, I want to discuss a basic principle of building relationships, then share a few lessons I’ve learned along the way. I call it Social Energy. The concept is simple: surround yourself with successful people, develop relationships, and participate in activities that put you in the same circles as the people you want to do business with.
Now what? As the year comes to a close, the state of retail is always in the news. The answers vary greatly depending on who in the various related industries you ask, each offering a unique lens on the challenges and opportunities ahead.
This may seem self-serving, and I’ll be the first to admit it. But unlike some of the artificial intelligence tools now reshaping our industry, I am fully aware of my own bias. So, hear me out. The rise of AI in commercial real estate is not a distant threat or a speculative headline.