Sustainable Real Estate Conference

Conference Schedule – Monday, 2nd of February, 2026

09:00 – 09:30 am Room: Rosenthal Session: Registration & Networking Notes: Tisch dancers perform as guests arrive  09:30 – 09:35 am Room: Rosenthal Session: Student MC Welcome Notes: Student sets tone & housekeeping 09:35 – 09:45 am Room: Rosenthal Session: Opening Keynote – Professor Suhail Y Tayeb Notes: Intellectual framing, academic anchor 09:45 – 10:35 am Room: Rosenthal Session: Plenary Panel 1: Climate, Energy, and Real Estate Futures Notes: 4–5 panelists total: mix of Schack/Tandon faculty + 2 industry (developer/energy/data center). Student moderator 10:35 – 10:40 am Room: Rosenthal Session: Transition / Setup / Break       10:40 – 11:30 pm Room: Rosenthal Session: Plenary Panel 2: Equity, Social Responsibility, and Student Outcomes Notes: 4–5 panelists: Schack or Wagner faculty + Stern policy rep + 2 industry/social impact. Slot for Career Intelligence mention. Student moderator 11:30 – 11:35 pm Room: Rosenthal Notes: Session: Transition / Setup / Break  11:35 – 12:25 pm Room: Rosenthal Session: Plenary Panel 3: Transparency, Governance, and Ethical Leadership Notes: 4–5 panelists: Schack faculty + Stern/Tandon rep + 2 ESG/finance leaders. Slot for NOVA + AI flipped classroom. Student moderator 12:25 – 12:35 pm Room: Rosenthal Session: Remarks – Dean Angie Notes: Institutional welcome, hands off to lunch 12:35 – 01:35 pm Room: E&L Session: Lunch & Performances Notes: Jazz ensemble + Tisch dancers on stage 01:35 – 01:40 pm Room: Rosenthal Session: Reset Remarks – Dean Marc Norman Notes: Short remarks before breakouts 01:40 – 02:30 pm Room: Rosenthal Session: Breakout A1: Water, Land Use, and Resilience Notes: 4 panelists: Schack faculty, city agency rep, industry engineer, NGO voice. Student moderator 01:40 – 02:30 pm Room: E&L Session: Breakout A2: Finance, Innovation, and Social Impact Notes: 4–5 panelists: Stern/Schack faculty + 2 finance execs + 1 foundation/impact investor. Student moderator 02:30 – 02:35 pm Room: Both Notes: Session: Transition / Setup / Break       02:35 – 03:25 pm Room: Rosenthal Session: Breakout B1: Technology, Data, and PropTech Notes: 4–5 panelists: Tandon/Schack faculty + 2 PropTech founders + 1 data center/AI expert. Student moderator 02:35 – 03:25 pm Room: E&L Session: Breakout B2: Housing, Health, and Human Capital Notes: 4–5 panelists: Schack/Steinhardt/Langone faculty + housing developer + WELL/health industry rep. Student moderator 03:25 – 03:30 pm Room: Both Notes: Session: Transition / Setup / Break       03:30 – 4:20 pm Room: Rosenthal Session: Plenary Wrap-Up: The Future of Sustainable Development at NYU and Beyond Notes: 5–6 panelists: reps from Wagner, Stern, Tandon, Steinhardt, Schack + 1–2 outside universities (Cornell, Lehigh). Student moderator 04:20 – 04:50 pm Room: Rosenthal Session: Closing Keynote Notes: High-profile closer (policy/industry leader) 04:50 – 5:30 pm Room: Grand Hall Session: Networking Reception + Student Poster Gallery Notes: Apex Challenge projects, Career Intelligence demo, industry tables alongside student posters. Jazz ensemble background.

Climate Action Track

Plenary Panel 1: Climate, Energy, and Real Estate Futures The global push toward decarbonization is reshaping how cities are powered and how real estate is developed. This session explores the frontier of energy and infrastructure, from renewables and grid modernization to the emerging role of digital infrastructure like data centers. Faculty and industry leaders will discuss the technologies, regulatory shifts, and investment flows that are defining the next generation of climate-ready real estate. The conversation will highlight both technical solutions and the policy frameworks needed to scale them. Room: Rosenthal Panelists: <ul class="p-list"> <li><a href="/content/sps-nyu/faculty-directory/21137-amy-myers-jaffe.html">Professor Amy Myers Jaffe, NYU CGA</a> – TBC</li> <li>Shelley Goldberg (Chief Green Officer), GIX – TBC</li> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/donald-chahbazpour-7b5a6533/" target="_blank">Donald Chahbazpour, National Grid</a> – TBC</li> <li>Ben Myers (BXP) – TBC</li> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-rodney-7a489ab/" target="_blank">Benjamin Rodney, Hines</a> – TBC</li> <li>Aligned Data Centers – Andrew Schaap (CEO) or Colleen Dougherty (ESG lead) – TBC</li> <li>QTS Data Centers – Travis Wright (Sustainability) – TBC</li> <li>Con Edison – Tim Cawley (CEO) or a VP of Sustainability/Transmission – TBC</li> </ul> Moderatorr: NYU CSBE Researcher – Manuela Bomeny   Plenary Panel 2: Equity, Social Responsibility, and Student Outcomes Sustainability is not only about carbon—it is also about people. This panel examines how the real estate industry can align growth with equity, affordability, and community benefit. Panelists will consider strategies to embed social responsibility in finance and development decisions, from affordable housing to inclusive design and workforce development. The session also emphasizes the next generation of leaders, showcasing how students and young professionals are preparing to connect sustainability values with real career outcomes. Room: Rosenthal Panelists:  <ul class="p-list"> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/polozito/" target="_blank">Paul Lozito, NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice</a> – TBC</li> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-bloom-leone-aia-leed-37350525/" target="_blank">Jennifer Leone, NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development</a> – TBC</li> <li><a href="https://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/about/departments-centers-initiatives/centers-of-research/center-sustainable-business/about-csb/our-team/about-chisara-ehiemere" target="_blank">Chisara Ehiemere, NYU Stern</a> – TBC</li> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-o-connell-43734545/" target="_blank">Christine Retzlaff O’Connell, LISC New York</a> – TBC</li> <li>32BJ SEIU NYC– Kyle Bragg (past President) or a union leader → labor/workforce equity voice. – TBC</li> <li>NYC Department of Small Business Services – Sideya Sherman (Commissioner, formerly MOCEJ) → workforce development + equity. – TBC</li> </ul> Moderator: Student   Plenary Panel 3: Transparency, Governance, and Ethical Leadership As investors, regulators, and communities demand more accountability, real estate leaders must navigate an increasingly complex landscape of data, reporting, and governance. This discussion explores the tools and frameworks that can help ensure credibility—from Sustainability dashboards and climate-risk metrics to innovations in teaching and professional development. Panelists will weigh how transparency can serve as both a compliance requirement and a competitive advantage, and how academia can contribute to building a culture of trust in the industry. Room: Rosenthal Panelists: <ul class="p-list"> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-moss-07b43b2/" target="_blank">Lauren Moss, Vornado</a> – TBC</li> <li>Daniel Labovitz (CEO, Co-Founder), GIX – TBC</li> <li>Maria Mahl (Board), GIX – TBC</li> <li>James Andrus, GIX – TBC</li> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardaallen/" target="_blank">Edward Allen, Measurabl</a> – TBC</li> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-robinson-90551b15/" target="_blank">Christine Robinson, Deloitte</a> – TBC</li> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-long-3666692a/" target="_blank">Jessica Long, NAREIT</a> – TBC</li> <li>Nuveen Real Estate – (MD, Sustainability) – TBC</li> <li>BlackRock – (Head of Real Assets Stewardship) – TBC</li> <li>Prologis – Susan Uthayakumar (Chief Energy & Sustainability Officer). – TBC</li> </ul> Moderator: NYU CSBE Researcher – Jase Jeon   Breakout A1: Water, Land Use, and Resilience Cities everywhere are grappling with climate-driven risks—flooding, heat waves, water scarcity—and real estate sits at the center of these challenges. This panel will focus on resilience at the building and urban scale, addressing innovative approaches to water management, stormwater infrastructure, and land use planning. Faculty, policymakers, and practitioners will share lessons from both brownfield redevelopment and resilient waterfront design, highlighting how thoughtful land use can protect communities while unlocking new opportunities for sustainable growth. Room: Rosenthal Panelists: <ul class="p-list"> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nengels/" target="_blank">Nicole Engels, ClimateCheck</a> – TBC</li> <li>First Street Foundation – Matthew Eby (Founder) or Hugh Shannon (Policy) → flood/climate risk data. – TBC</li> <li>Swiss Re – insurance climate risk team, NYC office – TBC</li> <li><a href="https://engineering.nyu.edu/faculty/yuki-miura" target="_blank">Professor Yuki Miura, NYU Tandon, CUSP</a> – TBC</li> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dymeagher/" target="_blank">Dylan Meagher, NYC DEP</a> – TBC</li> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-campbell-6524634/" target="_blank">Bonnie Campbell, Two Trees</a> – TBC</li> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannah-c-drake-faia-fasla-wedg-7412404/" target="_blank">Susannah C. Drake, Sasaki</a> – TBC</li> </ul> Moderator: Student   Breakout A2: Finance, Innovation, and Social Impact Capital is moving toward sustainability, but the question is how to structure it in ways that deliver both financial returns and social value. This session looks at new financial instruments—from green bonds and impact funds to sustainability-linked loans—and the role they play in advancing equitable development. Faculty and industry voices will discuss trends in investor demand, the policy context shaping capital flows, and the opportunities and risks of financing innovation that is meant to serve both markets and communities. Room: E&L Panelists: <ul class="p-list"> <li><a href="https://www.sps.nyu.edu/faculty-directory/1700-robert-f-schoetz-jr.html">Robert Schoetz – NYU Schack</a> – TBC</li> <li>Charles Dolan (President, Co-Founder), GIX – TBC</li> <li><a href="https://www.northbridgeops.com/leadership" target="_blank">Laura Rapaport, North Bridge</a> – TBC</li> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgdavenport/" target="_blank">David Davenport, NY Green Bank</a> – TBC</li> <li>KKR Infrastructure – Adam Selipsky (Advisor; ex-AWS CEO, now advising KKR) → capital + infra credibility. – TBC</li> <li>Blackstone Real Estate – Global head of ESG (Kelly Vives or team). – TBC</li> <li>NYCEEC (NYC Energy Efficiency Corp) – Fred Lee (CEO) → strong public/private lender voice. – TBC</li> </ul> Moderator: NYU CSBE Researcher – Faris Badrawi   Breakout B1: Technology, Data, and PropTech PropTech and AI are disrupting how real estate is designed, managed, and financed. This panel explores the convergence of technology and sustainability, from smart building systems and IoT to data-driven decision-making in portfolio management. Industry entrepreneurs will share the cutting edge of innovation, while faculty will weigh in on how these tools intersect with transparency, governance, and climate impact. Together, panelists will consider whether technology can truly deliver on the promise of more efficient, more sustainable, and more equitable built environments. Room: Rosenthal Panelists: <ul class="p-list"> <li>Edward Allen (Measurabl) – TBC</li> <li>Nicholas Burgess (JB&B) – TBC</li> <li>Christopher Gulotta (NYU) – TBC</li> <li>Adaptis.ai – Sheida Shahi (CEO, PropTech AI for carbon) – TBC</li> <li>RXR Realty – EVP of Digital Strategy (Scott Rechler’s digital arm) → smart building adoption.</li> <li>JLL Spark – Raj Singh (Global Managing Partner) → PropTech investment + AI deployment.</li> </ul> Moderator: Student   Breakout B2: Housing, Health, and Human Capital The built environment is inseparable from human well-being. This panel brings together experts on housing, healthcare, and workforce development to explore how real estate can enhance quality of life. Topics will include health-focused building design, partnerships between developers and healthcare providers, and the importance of ethical labor practices in construction and operations. Panelists will share examples of how investing in human capital—from fair labor to wellness-centered communities—creates long-term value for both residents and the industry. Room: E&L Panelists: <ul class="p-list"> <li>Niyati Parekh (GPH)</li> <li>Abraham Brody (Nursing)</li> <li>Janera Soerel (IWBI)</li> <li>Heather Payson (USGBC) or Jarrod Whitaker (RXR).</li> <li>Jonathan Rose Companies – Jonathan Rose (CEO) → perfect blend of housing + wellness.</li> <li>Phipps Houses – Ken Lowenstein (policy & development).</li> <li>Northwell Health – Sustainability/real estate team → healthcare/real estate partnership.</li> </ul> Moderator: Student   Plenary Wrap-Up: The Future of Sustainable Development at NYU and Beyond The closing plenary brings together voices from across NYU’s schools and from partner universities to reflect on the future of sustainable real estate education and practice. Panelists will consider how academia can lead the way in shaping new frameworks, training the next generation of leaders, and collaborating with industry to address pressing global challenges. By bringing multiple disciplines into dialogue—law, engineering, health, policy, and real estate—the session will underscore the need for holistic approaches to sustainability. Room: Rosenthal Panelists: <ul class='p-list'> <li>Professor Brian G Schwagerl, NYU Schack</li> <li>NYU Tandon – Prof Takahiro Yabe</li> <li>Columbia SIPA – Prof. Jason Bordoff (energy policy + infra) → cross-university heft.</li> <li>LSE Grantham Research Institute – Bob Ward (Policy) or Dr. Danae Kyriakopoulou (climate finance) → international voice.</li> </ul> Moderator: Student

Sustainable Real Estate Conference 2026

Beyond the Blueprint: Climate, Community, and Sustainable Real Estate

Conference Schedule – Monday, 2nd of February, 2026

Participating Schools

Climate Action Track

Who Should Attend?

What You’ll Gain