Year: 2016

The Colvin Case Study Challenge is a national retrospective written case study competition that challenges teams to document a recent innovative real estate project within the its own metropolitan region. Projects are judged on the depth of understanding of markets, project valuation, finance, urban design, entitlement processes and operational issues by leading real estate professionals. The first-place team received $10,000, with the second place and third place winners receiving $5000 and $2500, respectively. Sponsored by the University of Maryland’s Colvin Institute of Real Estate Development, the national competition required student teams to complete a semester-long, case study to demonstrate their depth and breadth of markets, project valuation, finance, urban design, entitlement processes and operational issues.

Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) students David Bivens, Randy Clack and Wain Owings represented the Clemson University team at the 2016 Colvin Case Study Challenge in Baltimore, MD. The MRED team finished third out of 20 graduate real estate programs that participated in the 2016 challenge. The first stage of the competition consisted of a written case study of an existing development project. The Clemson MRED team submitted: “Redefining the Intersection of Downtown – ONE”, the story of the ONE development in downtown Greenville. The Clemson MRED team was then selected as one of four finalists invited to present in front of prominent real estate professionals from across the country in Baltimore. First place went to the MRED team from Columbia University. By finishing third, Clemson’s MRED team was awarded $2,500 and more importantly, gained national exposure. Dr. Robert Benedict served as the team’s faculty advisor with Chandler Thompson (MRED ’15) and Robert Hughes of Hughes Development Corporation serving as professional advisors.

The Case Study Challenge is named for Baltimore Developer John Colvin, who founded the Colvin Institute for Real Estate Development in 2008. The Colvin Institute for Real Estate Development supports the interdisciplinary approach of the University of Maryland’s Master of Real Estate Development curriculum that comprehensively covers finance and capital markets, law and public policy, structure and site design, construction management, property, portfolio and asset management as well as marketing and commercial leasing. 

MRED students and faculty attended the Urban Land Institute Fall Meeting this year in Dallas, TX from October 23-27, 2016. The five day trip began with ULI Mobile Workshop tours as part of the conference. Mobile tours for the MRED students included: Bold Actions: The Forth Worth Story, Uptown Density, Icons and Innovation, Sales in the City, TOD in Uptown and Beyond, Follow the Trail: Trinity Trail, and the Trammell Crow Legacy.

MRED students also got an exclusive presentations as part of this year’s ULI trip.

Harvin Hunter and Tyler Potts with the Dallas Cowboys Corporate Partnership Services provided the group a tour of The Star. The Star in Frisco, Texas is the official name for the 91-acre development that will be home to the Cowboys new world headquarters, training complex, a 12,000-seat multi-use event center, and a wide range of mixed-use elements on the property.

Alan Owings with Forest City discussed the current phase of 3700M, with representatives from Rogers O’Brien, the project’s general contractor. Alan discussed the project details and reviewed the BIM model for the new 21-story residential tower in the West Village of Dallas’s Uptown district. Students toured the construction site and visited the model units and amenity deck at the phase one project-3700M located next door.

Students attended Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2017® as they’ve done in previous years. They heard about the success of Klyde Warren Park, a 5-acre urban green environment built over the Woodall Rogers freeway and had dinner at The Rustic, a well-known Dallas restaurant with local, farm-fresh ingredients.

The Fall 2016 Coffee with an Advancement Board Director featured Russ Davis, founder and president of Davis Property Group and Urban Homes, LLC. Russ, current vice-chair of the Advancement Board, was accompanied by Lisa Lanni of McMillan, Pazdan, Smith Architects. Both guest lecturers discussed their professional careers and lessons learned with the MRED students. Davis transitioned from a large corporate entity (Trammell Crow Residential) to become a highly respected developer who has partnered with development icons such as Ron Terwilliger and Henry Faison. Lanni joined a small architectural firm (Pazdan Smith) after graduation from Clemson University to become a principal of McMillan, Pazdan, Smith that has grown into a 300-employee firm with multiple offices. Davis and Lanni also had an open discussion of their mixed-use and multi-family projects. Davis and Lanni first worked together on McBee Station, a highly successful, mixed-use development in downtown Greenville, SC. Davis assembled a unique site that included the acquisition of a subsidized housing project that required the successful relocation of residents and overcoming a difficult site with topographic challenges. Davis’ interaction with the neighborhood residents and Greenville’s city planning and community development officials was a lengthy and difficult process. His explanation of the relocation process and the benefits of having a good private-public partnership was a meaningful lesson for the students. Lanni’s discussion of the design challenges and working with a developer to achieve a cost-effective but well-conceived plan was insightful. Their collaboration has continued with other projects in Greenville and throughout the Carolinas. Davis and Lanni also discussed current development and architectural trends. At the conclusion of the session, they offered advice and suggestions to the students covering a wide range of professional and personal perspectives.

MRED CSM 8660 students had an opportunity to tour Clemson’s Littlejohn Coliseum on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 as part of Dr. Bausman’s fall Contractor’s Role in Development Class. Zach Olsen and Jeffrey Turner of Turner Construction, provided the facility tours and explanation of project scheduling and safety requirements of each project.

Clemson MRED students spent Friday, September 9, 2016 volunteering at the Salvation Army in an effort to give back to the Greenville community. Students learned the objectives of the Salvation Army Greenville Area Command Campus and toured the facilities. Volunteer projects included removal of a 25′ chain-link fence, food pantry re-organization, and packing food boxes. Lance Byars, MRED ’14 alumni helped organize student volunteers with project needs.

Article written for  publication in the Upstate Business Journal by Bhavik Thakkar, MRED 1st Year Student, and Dr. Robert Benedict, MRED Program Director and Practicum Professor

Clemson University’s 2016 graduates from the Master of Real Estate Development program recently completed their capstone project on a technology-based project for the Upper Peninsula of Charleston. The development proposals offer great takeaways for the West End of Greenville. The students proposed innovative approaches were proposed to activate the social realm and a mixture of uses to spur the redevelopment of an eight-acre, underutilized site on Morrison Drive that is currently owned by Charleston County. The nondescript buildings on the site currently house the Magistrate’s Court and Disabilities Board.

Like the West End of Greenville, the City of Charleston foresees this area becoming a dynamic area for creative uses such as food ports and food halls combined with higher-density office, local retail and affordable residential units. Four teams presented to a jury comprised of County officials, the City of Charleston and professionals from the local real estate community.

The teams were challenged to integrate a proposed bridge to the Laurel Island development, a 165-acre commercial and residential community to be developed by Charleston developer Robert Clement. One of the teams proposed a food hall underneath the bridge, acting as a crucial connection to mitigate the barrier of the proposed bridge and uniting a physically dissected site. Another team proposed a pop-up shipping container village, termed a Food Port, situated amidst landscaping on either side of the bridge, again functioning as an activating link. The Food Port creates a confluence of two elements that make Charleston unique, its high quality food and its historic port. This results in a space that can become an entertainment venue with restaurants and retail tenants housed in refurbished shipping containers and open green spaces.

The winning team was comprised of students Dalton Chester, Alexandra Ulmer, Tim Lengen and Rob Fauntleroy. The Practicum was sponsored by the Society of Office and Industrial Users (Carolinas Chapter) and Stuart Whiteside of Seamon Whiteside and Associates. Richard Gowe of LS3P provided the presentation venue.

The Clemson University Master of Real Estate Development Practicum requires second-year students to complete a comprehensive development proposal during their last semester that is inspired by case studies of successful and creative infill projects from across the country. Professors Robert Benedict and Jeff Randolph taught the course.

Like Greenville’s West End, the Upper Peninsula of Charleston is seeing considerable demand for new dining concepts, local retail and food stores combined with suitable office and retail uses. The Clemson MRED’s Practicum provided some fresh perspectives with creative development approaches and financially feasible proposals.

MRED 1st Year students participated in a drone demonstration at the Peace Center outdoor ampitheater on Thursday, April 7, 2016 as part of the spring RE Technology class. The drone workshop was conducted by Brian Scott of Upstate Aerial Photography and Charlie Timmons of Prudential C. Dan Joyner Commercial.

MRED 1st Year students had an opportunity to tour the current construction of Clemson’s Littlejohn Coliseum on Wednesday, April 7, 2016 as part of Dr. Bausman’s spring Design & Building Principles class. Zach Olsen, Project Manager with Turner Construction, provided the facility tour and explanation of the construction process.

The 2016 Atlanta Tour began with a tour of 725 Ponce and Ponce City Market with Jim Irwin, President of New City Properties, LLC. Students got a first hand look at PCM and learned of the site’s history as the former Sears & Roebuck Distribution Center, the challenges of the project, and how the site had changed to present day.

MRED students also had the opportunity to learn about the current construction of SunTrust Park, the future home of the Atlanta Braves. The discussion and site tour was led by Mason Zimmerman, Senior Vice President with Pope and Land and John Strid, Operations Manager of Brasfield and Gorrie. Photographs were not allowed to be taken at this site.

The final tour stop included a presentation and tour of the State Farm Complex. Alex Chambers with KDC Real Estate Development and Investments provided the background presentation and Holder Construction assisted with the construction site tour.

The annual MRED 1st Year student trip to Charlotte started off with a visit to the AvidXChange NC Music Factory with a discussion of the site by Emma Littlejohn of The Littlejohn Group. Emma also discussed how she and her team transformed and re-developed Brightwalk, a former brownfield, into a walkable, healthy community. Charlie Rulick, MRED ’07 and Chad Platt, MRED ’15 both with Miller-Valentine Group, along with ABRED Director Dave Chandler of Faison, spoke about the light rail extension and current happenings in Charlotte as part of a driving tour.

Students toured Highland Mill Lofts with Yates Dunaway of Tribridge Residential. The group toured District Flats with Dave Chandler of Faison and Kris Fetter, Partner with Middleburg Real Estate Partners and learned of multi-family trends in Charlotte.

Additional MRED alumni joined the group for lunch at Heist Brewery: Jeremy Bunner, ’14 with Mattamy Homes; Kate Graham Oliveria, ’12 with B2R Finance; and Michael Simmons, ’15 with Terwillger Pappas.

David Miller, Senior Construction Managers of Crescent Communities’ Multi-Family Group provided an overview and upcoming plans for Stonewall Station. Rob Turk, MRED ’15 with Levine Properties led the tour of First Ward Park, along with his colleague Shannon Harris, a Clemson University graduate in Construction Science and Management.