by Bill Kristan, Senior Consultant, Intelligent Buildings

Stay up to date on the latest news in the commercial real estate (CRE) industry

Developers Are Finally Dealing With the Office-Oversupply Problem

U.S. office inventory is shrinking for the first time in 25 years as developers demolish obsolete buildings and convert towers in NYC and San Francisco to residential use amid 20% vacancy rates. Read more.

A Times Square Office Tower Will Be Converted Into Apartments

5 Times Square will deliver 1,250 units (313 affordable) using NYC’s new 467-m tax exemption, 90% property tax abatement, and lifted zoning limits—turning Class A office into housing. Read more.

Senate’s Budget Extends CRE Tax Breaks, Would Lift Debt Ceiling to $5T

The bill makes 100% bonus depreciation permanent for manufacturing and R&D real estate, supercharging CRE reinvestment even as SALT caps and a $5T debt ceiling raise long-term uncertainty. Read more.

Live Nation Buys Into $5B Master Plan to Revive Atlanta’s Downtown

Live Nation’s 5,300-seat venue at Centennial Yards anchors a $5B redevelopment, proving concerts and foot traffic are now core drivers of CRE value in walkable entertainment zones. Read more.

How Much Energy Does AI Use? The People Who Know Aren’t Saying

AI workloads now consume ~20% of global data center energy, yet firms like OpenAI and Google withhold usage data, undermining ESG claims amid growing calls for energy transparency. Read more.

Google Acquisition Continues Ohio Data Center Gold Rush

Google’s joins Amazon and Meta in Ohio, drawn by sales-tax breaks, cheap power, and cool climate—though utilities are warning of capacity stress by 2028. Read more.

From Fire Alarms to AI: Rethinking Safety with Smart Building Tech

AI-enabled building management systems (BMS) now detect smoke, airflow, and heat in real time—closing dampers, unlocking exits, and alerting first responders, redefining risk mitigation as autonomous and proactive. Read more.