Ones To Watch: Innovators in CRE - Courtney Simmons, Davis Malm

Where do you see the biggest opportunities for innovation in CRE or your area of expertise? A big opportunity for innovation in commercial real estate lies at the intersection of adaptive reuse and sustainability. Older industrial or commercial buildings facing rising vacancy rates can be repositioned as mixed-use, retail, or residential spaces that offer tremendous value. Emerging technologies—including AI-assisted due diligence, generative design, and modular construction—are accelerating these conversions, reducing timelines and costs, while breathing life into underutilized assets and enhancing community spaces designed for future needs.