The Weekly Take from CBRE

Raleigh has long been one of the best-performing secondary markets. Its arena district is poised to be the next engine in its growth. Carolina Hurricanes CEO Brian Fork and Greater Raleigh Chamber CEO Adrienne Cole discuss how the Lenovo Center anchors a mixed-use redevelopment on state-owned land—structured through a complex public-private partnership.

Public-Private Partnerships: The Lenovo Center anchors an 80-acre, 15-year, $1 billion arena-district redevelopment via a public-private/ground-lease structure.
Talent, Talent, Talent: Raleigh’s three tier-one research universities and multi-node job base keep attracting talent, companies and capital.
By the Numbers: Strong population growth (2.2 million to 2.6 million by 2027) plus low cost-of-living (around 3% below national average) signal opportunity for investors.
Local Color: Lenovo Center preserves a tailgating culture while adding retail, restaurants, structured parking and year-round activation.

Food halls are no longer just a trend—they are a high-impact amenity for improving a property’s dwell time, leasing velocity and NOI. Recorded at Central Perk in Times Square, a quartet of experts from Colicchio Consulting and CBRE explain how the best food halls prioritize operations and programming, new beverage and evening strategies, the lowdown on operator selection and deal structures that offer better risk-sharing and returns.

- Food halls aren’t food courts: Independent concepts + community + beverage drive performance.
- Hybrid work has changed the operating model: Fewer office days demand longer-hour, programming-led models.
- Conversions can happen everywhere: Converting buildings to their highest and best use can work for both offices and food halls, especially in suburban markets.
- Alignment between operators and landlords: Vendor stall flexibility and percentage-rent leases can benefit operators and investors.
- Market snapshot: Colicchio Consulting believes the sweet spot of sizing is around 10,000–15,000 sq. ft. with average buildout costs around $400/sq. ft., depending on the market.

AI is reshaping the business landscape, including commercial real estate. Data scientist and author Sandy Pentland and CBRE’s Sandeep Davé discuss how the intersection of emerging technologies and human insight is driving better decision-making for investors, occupiers and building operators.

Commercial Real Estate & AI: For occupiers, AI can create significant operating efficiencies and enhance the workplace experience; for investors, increased efficiency can boost asset values.
People and Technology: AI is enhancing—not replacing—human decision‑making across organizations.
Data Quality: Good data management is the foundation for applying AI most impactfully.
Productivity: Every organization is balancing innovation and productivity gains with responsible deployment that considers privacy, governance and human‑in‑the‑loop practices
Long-term Outlook: AI is broadening visibility across markets, helping to foresee unanticipated or exogenous events and surfacing new ideas.

Recorded at the CBRE Women’s Network Power of WE conference, this episode offers a rapid-fire, insights-rich tour of major U.S. commercial real estate markets. Our subject-matter experts provide inside views of how different regions are navigating supply, demand and economic forces—from industrial and logistics to multifamily, office and retail—and insights on where investors and occupiers may find value in 2026.

National CRE outlook, including signs of asset repricing stabilization, improving liquidity and transactions momentum.
Industrial dynamics in Southern California, from manufacturing fundamentals and port-driven demand to pockets of strength and ongoing vacancy challenges.
Sector trends, including data centers, alternative assets, big‑box scarcity, rent trends, and how corporate occupiers are re‑entering the market.
Multifamily performance across gateways, the Sun Belt and the Midwest, driven by slowing construction cycles, demographic patterns and evolving investor interest.
Emerging and opportunity markets, from South Carolina’s growth to resurgent metros like San Francisco, Seattle, Phoenix and smaller high-growth cities such as Boise.

PwC’s Karl Russo and CBRE’s Henry Chin share their outlook for the U.S. economy and commercial real estate in 2026, exploring opportunities and risks to growth.
Key Takeaways:
The U.S. economy should remain resilient in 2026.
While the labor market finds a new equilibrium, many companies are racing to upskill and retain talent as they adopt AI processes.
Reshoring and infrastructure improvements are expected to drive industrial growth in secondary markets.
Data centers are positioned as a leading sector amid structural undersupply.