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ULI SPRING MEETING ULI SPRING MEETING
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Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO, United States May 12-14, 2025

Special Program

Mon May 12 9:00 AM — 12:00 PM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

UrbanPlan Lightning Round

Participate in a fast-paced, interactive UrbanPlan Lightning Round with fellow industry professionals to experience one of ULI's key impact programs for introducing the complexities of real estate development and empowering participants to play an active role in shaping better communities through the built environment.
Mon May 12 10:00 AM — 10:20 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

The Economic Case for Adaptive Reuse

This session will share leading research by this year's ULI/Kohn Fellow on the commercial business case for developers and owners to pursue adaptive use for buildings, preserving their historic and cultural value in downtowns while achieving strong sustainability outcomes.
Mon May 12 10:30 AM — 10:50 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

ULI Learning Course Preview: Real Estate Development from the Legal Perspective

Have you ever wondered what real estate attorneys do on a day-to-day basis to support real estate development? Real estate attorneys serve as legal advisors and advocates for their clients, helping them navigate the complexities of real estate development and risk management, and helping projects get across the finish line. This session will highlight the key themes in ULI Learning's new course from the attorneys who lead it.
Mon May 12 10:30 AM — 10:50 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Avivo Village: Winner of the 2024 ULI Americas Awards for Excellence

Avivo Village provides transitional homeless housing in a reuse of a 48,600-square-foot distribution building. Low-barrier entry requirements and its downtown location make Avivo accessible to homeless people who may not be accepted elsewhere. To better serve the residents' needs, the team used trauma-informed design and an extensive engagement process. As a result, the interior of the building has open corridors with natural light and individual units, giving its residents a sense of community and safety. Comprehensive support services offer health care and prepare residents for the transition to permanent housing. Community leadership played a crucial role in modernizing zoning regulations and building codes to permit Avivo and protect the safety of the residents.
Mon May 12 11:30 AM — 11:50 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Rick Reinhard: 2023–2024 ULI Apgar Thought Leader Award Winner

ULI has selected Rick Reinhard, principal of Niagara Consulting Group, as the recipient of the 2023–2024 ULI Apgar Thought Leader Award, which recognizes the authors of outstanding works written for Urban Land magazine. Reinhard was recognized for his article "Affordable Housing: YIGBY ('Yes in God's Backyard') Movement Seeks to Counter NIMBY Movement," from the Winter 2024 issue of Urban Land. Reinhard acknowledges the barriers to repurposing faith properties for housing, including the emotional ties communities have to their religious institutions, physical constraints of adaptive use, and regulatory obstacles. He provides examples of the successful adoption of the YIGBY movement, along with steps to increase opportunities for religious institutions, housing advocates, and real estate developers.
Mon May 12 2:30 PM — 5:30 PM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Homeward: Housing Trade Offs Game – ULI Boston and the Terwilliger Center

Join ULI Boston/New England and the Terwilliger Center for Housing to play a new game exploring the tradeoffs of housing development. This game was developed in partnership with Stantec and Play the City, is in pilot phase and will be deployed in community settings- your experience and feedback will help shape the final product! 

 

"Homeward" is an engaging and thought-provoking board game that brings players face-to-face with the challenges of addressing America’s home shortage while building vibrant, sustainable communities. Players form competing teams, each with unique goals and perspectives. Together, they navigate the intricate web of housing production, balancing density, affordability, open space, and environmental impact to create thriving neighborhoods. 

 

Through strategic decision-making and collaboration—or conflict—players must weigh trade-offs as they create homes for their town. Will your team succeed in crafting a balanced, forward-thinking community, or will competing priorities lead to gridlock? "Homeward" invites you to explore the complex interconnectedness of housing and community building in a dynamic, immersive way.

Mission Priority
Mon May 12 2:30 PM — 4:00 PM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

ULI Homeless to Housed Symposium

Connect with real estate leaders, not-for-profit housers, and service providers to collectively define how ULI members—from developers to finance professionals—can accelerate the production and preservation of deeply affordable housing connected to meaningful supportive services. Participant input will shape ULI’s forthcoming publication, "10 Principles for Addressing Homelessness: A Guide for Commercial Real Estate and Finance," launching at ULI's 2025 Fall Meeting in San Francisco.
Mon May 12 7:00 PM — 8:30 PM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

ULI Net Zero Imperative Meet Up

ULI Net Zero Imperative (NZI) participants and panelists from past and current cohorts are invited to join an off-site happy hour meetup to network and connect with fellow decarbonization leaders during the conference. Location to be shared in a separate invitation.
Mon May 12 7:30 PM — 9:30 PM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

NEXT Americas Dine Arounds

Interested in joining other engaging members in great dinner and conversation? NEXT Americas invites mid-career members to join them for a night on the town. There will be the opportunity to choose from 5 different restaurants and discussion topics. There will be limited seats, and separate registration is required.
Tue May 13 8:00 AM — 10:00 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Art in Place Breakfast

Members of the ULI Art in Place global cohort and friends of the ULI Creative Placemaking program will gather for an informal breakfast and meet with local leaders on connecting artists, creatives, and real estate decision-makers. This is an invitation-only event.
Tue May 13 10:00 AM — 12:00 PM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Film Screening & Discussion: The Health of Our Cities

Join us for an insightful film screening and discussion of The Health of Our Cities, a documentary by ULI member Neil Smith (executive producer) and Spencer Meredith (director) that delves into the urgent challenges and exciting opportunities for creating healthier, more sustainable urban environments.
 
Following the 75-minute screening, we will engage in a 45-minute lively discussion about the role of ULI members in climate action, health, and the future of our cities. This event offers a chance to explore how thoughtful urban development can contribute to a greener, more connected world.
 
With urban areas responsible for around 70% of global carbon dioxide emissions, how we design our cities and suburbs will play a crucial role in combating climate change and improving the health of residents. The film highlights how walkable, mixed-use communities that prioritize sustainability, green spaces, and access to nature can provide solutions to these pressing issues. Such developments offer a healthier alternative to sprawling suburban growth, reducing stress and fostering stronger social connections while contributing to a city's economic and environmental resilience.
 
Through a global lens, the documentary explores innovative projects in cities like Culver City, California’s Ivy Station, Bangalore’s Brigade Gateway, Singapore’s Marina Bay, and more—showcasing diverse and tangible approaches to urban planning and design that promote both environmental sustainability and community health and well-being.
 
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, discuss, and imagine what our cities can become.
 
Tue May 13 10:00 AM — 11:00 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Pathways to Inclusion Speaker Panel

Hidden Gems: Unlocking the Keys to Success in Commercial Real Estate
 
This panel will focus on how CRE experts that identify as multicultural, have successfully navigated their careers within the commercial real estate and land use pipeline. This panel is a special event exclusively for Pathways to Inclusion cohorts and alumni members. This speaking engagement is by invitation only.
 
Tue May 13 10:00 AM — 10:20 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Advisory Services Panel Lightning Round: Get a Glimpse of ULI Advisory Services

This interactive session gives members an opportunity to participate in a real-time mini Advisory Services panel and have instant impact for a local Denver panel sponsor. The session will begin with a brief presentation by the panel sponsor. Members will then be presented with one question pertaining to the land use challenge. With facilitation by ULI Advisory Services program staff, members will briefly deliberate and offer a set of recommendations, recorded in real time, in response to the question. The session will conclude with a brief summary of the recommendations and panel sponsor feedback.
Tue May 13 10:00 AM — 10:20 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

UrbanPlan and CEUs: Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

UrbanPlan champion Jessica Durham shares strategies and opportunities for leveraging UrbanPlan workshops for Continuing Education credits with affiliate organizations such as AIA, AICP, NAR, and local legal bar associations.
Tue May 13 10:30 AM — 1:00 PM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

District Council Sustainability Leaders Gathering

ULI District and National Councils are key drivers of ULI’s impactful programming and host dozens of events focused on sustainability, resilience, health, and social equity each year. The ULI Lewis Center for Sustainability in Real Estate supports Council programming in a variety of ways – with compelling content and reports, speaker suggestions, financial support, cohort programs and more. Join the Lewis Center and other Council leaders to learn about opportunities to advance ULI’s mission and priorities with impactful programming at the local level. A simple lunch will be served. This program is open to all current and potential District and National Council leaders; advanced registration is requested. Please reach out to [email protected] to learn more.
Tue May 13 10:30 AM — 10:50 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Unlocking the Power of Financial Modeling: Excel and ARGUS Explained

This session will compare the two commonly used tools for financial modeling: Excel and ARGUS. While Excel offers flexibility, customization, and broad applicability across various financial analyses, ARGUS is specifically designed for real estate financial modeling, providing standardized workflows for valuation, lease analysis, and cash flow projections. The session will explore the strengths, limitations, and best use cases for each to determine which tool is more suitable for different financial modeling needs.
Tue May 13 10:30 AM — 10:50 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

In the Rearview and on the Horizon: Three Years of Accelerating Building Decarbonization through the ULI Net Zero Imperative

Learn more about the impacts and progress made by the more than 20 global communities who have participated in ULI Net Zero Imperative program to accelerate the decarbonization of their built environment.
Tue May 13 11:00 AM — 2:00 PM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

WLI Americas Entrepreneurs and Mentors Lunch & Learn

The WLI Americas Entrepreneurs Cohort will meet with their Mentors lunch to review their business plans as well as learn valuable leadership skills development from a leading industry expert.
Tue May 13 11:00 AM — 11:20 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Hidden in Plain Sight: Making Market Rate Housing Deeply Affordable

A growing number of real estate firms are successfully converting market-rate properties to deeply affordable housing. Learn how teams are closing the affordability gap and partnering with local providers to offer meaningful on-site supportive services to residents. Presented by ULI's Homeless to Housed Initiative.
Tue May 13 11:00 AM — 11:20 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Transparent Insulation: A Step Change in Energy Performance

More than 30 percent of the world's energy is consumed by buildings, and windows are the single largest source of energy loss in the built environment. To counter this, LuxWall has developed technologies to manufacture vacuum-insulating glass that performs like a wall. LuxWall Enthermal transparent insulation is five times more insulating than double-paned glass, reduces the energy loss of buildings by up to 45 percent, and improves occupant comfort. Enthermal is ideal for retrofitting buildings as its thin profile allows it to be easily installed in existing window frames, reducing reglazing costs by up to 50 percent for end users. In addition, the payback for most projects is three times faster than other available glass products.
Tue May 13 11:30 AM — 11:50 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Bottleworks District: Winner of the 2024 ULI Americas Awards for Excellence and ULI Global Awards for Excellence

An abandoned art-deco era Coca-Cola bottling plant in Indianapolis has been redeveloped into a thriving 12-acre mixed-use development, re-energizing the edge of the city. The project respects the site's history by restoring existing buildings to maintain their original features, while also embracing innovation by seamlessly integrating new buildings. A food market, boutique hotel, retail, and office space create opportunities for residents and have been a destination for tourists. An internal grid provides a welcoming pedestrian streetscape, connects the project elements, links to the surrounding neighborhood, and anticipates future development phases. Bottleworks District exemplifies opportunities at mid-market levels through thoughtful design and market success.?
Tue May 13 11:30 AM — 1:00 PM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

California-Nevada Technical Assistance Leadership Exchange Convening

This is an invite-only kickoff event for members of the California-Nevada Technical Assistance Leadership Exchange. Lunch provided.
Wed May 14 10:00 AM — 10:20 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

WLI Americas Presents: Old School, New Use

Lindsey Scannapieco (ULI Philadelphia Transformational Leader Award winner 2023), presents a session on leaning into the attributes of a closed historic school to create a vibrant, community-centered, mixed-use development in Philadelphia. The presentation will share the case study of the Bok Building (ULI America Special Mention 2023), which today is home to over 200 small businesses and attracts 250,000 visitors per year. The presentation will showcase an approach that embraces the existing building condition and finds resiliency in small, diverse tenant types.
Wed May 14 10:00 AM — 10:20 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Homeless to Housed Case Study: The John Parvensky Stout Street Recuperative Care Center

This first-of-its-kind facility, the John Parvensky Stout Street Recuperative Care Center and Renaissance Legacy Lofts, provides homeless individuals with supportive services, medical care, and transitional and permanent supportive housing in a holistic space for healing, growth, and community connection. Come learn about the innovative design strategies, unique services, and creative funding sources for this award-winning development.
Wed May 14 10:30 AM — 10:50 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Advancing Utility and Developer Collaboration: A Year in Review

In November 2023, ULI held its first utility and real estate developer convening with Xcel Energy based in Denver. The discussion was illuminating, finding that it is vital for real estate to source green power from utilities and collaboration is key for opportunities such as grid resilience, battery storage, and partnerships with policymakers, to name a few. Now, over a year later, ULI explores progress and opportunities in this follow-up short session , highlighting the perspectives of both Xcel and Denver-based developers.
Wed May 14 10:30 AM — 10:50 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Toolkit for Building Healthy Places

Ten years ago, ULI released the Building Healthy Places Toolkit—which provides developers, owners, property managers, designers, investors, and others involved in real estate decision-making with strategies to create healthier buildings and communities. Join this session to explore how the field has evolved over the past decade and to learn how to enhance and preserve value by meeting growing demand for health-promoting places.
Wed May 14 11:00 AM — 11:20 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Eliminating Super Pollutant Refrigerants in a Data-Driven Fashion

Refrigerants can be found in nearly every commercial and industrial building and the vast majority of residential buildings globally. Despite being the fastest-growing greenhouse gas globally, the impact of refrigerants is often underestimated or completely overlooked by building owners. Developers must begin to address refrigerants or run the significant risk of increasing or even accelerating (through the introduction of heat pumps) their impact, while decreasing other scope 1 and 2 emissions, which will likely lead to financial implications such as duplicating capital expenditure spend to achieve critical climate targets. This short session will highlight the importance of addressing refrigerants and a data-driven means of doing so.
Wed May 14 11:00 AM — 11:20 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Housing Market Outlook for Colorado

Featuring ULI Terwilliger Center's Home Attainability Index data, we will present the latest findings for Colorado's metro areas: how are the different regions' housing markets performing?; what are the latest homeownership and rental trends?; how deep is the affordability challenge?; and what other interesting findings did the team discover that will impact Colorado's housing and economic outlook?
Wed May 14 11:30 AM — 11:50 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

Water: Too Much and Too Little // Strategies for Climate-Resilient Built Environments

Climate change has established a new normal that threatens communities and challenges the future of our built environments. Climate impacts including droughts and floods significantly affect communities where population growth continues, building tension between heightened risk and real estate demand. This session will feature best practices and case studies for incorporating water-wise and flood-resilient measures into real estate projects, which help mitigate those risks and enhance asset value simultaneously.
Wed May 14 11:30 AM — 11:50 AM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time

WLI Americas Presents: How to Eat an Elephant: A Guide for Tackling Large Buildings

Lindsey Scannapieco (ULI Philadelphia Transformational Leader Award winner 2023) outlines an approach for how to tackle large (100,000 sq. ft.) projects through an iterative development approach. Concepts covered will include outside to inside, building the tenant you want, easy wins, trust building, the value of a big binder, patience, and many twists and turns along the way. Using the Bok Building as a case study, the presentation will walk through a thesis for a step-by-step approach to tackle buildings of scale. Although best applied to adaptive use projects, the steps outlined can apply to any project of scale.