Tom Vecchione: Innovation and Technology Pressing Real Estate Design Forward

 

Screen Shot 2016-09-06 at 10.41.26 PM

On Thursday, September 1, 2016, Cornell alum Tom Vecchione took to the stage at the Cornell Baker Program’s Distinguished Speaker Series.  He did not disappoint as the semester’s inaugural guest. Throughout Tom’s lively discussion, he impressed on the students values within real estate development moving forward. As the Director of Corporate Strategy and Principal for Gensler, Tom has the opportunity to interface with not only those pressing the envelope in real estate, but industry leaders ranging from healthcare to business consulting and technology.

Through Tom’s exposure to these differing industries, he has been able to successfully identify gaps to move real estate innovation forward. It is within these void spaces that Tom expounded to the Baker students that they should identify and align themselves with corporations moving the needle forward, become true leaders in the industry, utilize innovation to spur design, and through that creativity allow technology to drive change.

During the course of Tom’s visit with the Baker Program, he discussed the role large corporations play within realIMG_3431 estate design creation. Tushar Bundhela 17’, felt Tom Vecchione impressed on him that “big corporations look at design and architecture as a major un-locker for the asset value, and also how one new building can drive the value of the next ten buildings in a central business district.” It is within this concept that Tom has been able to create his own niche by providing real estate design strategy consulting to large firms like Novartis, GE, and Bain Consulting.

Additionally, Tom’s project at the Cornell Tech Center at Roosevelt Island with Forest City Ratner provides a vision of how his and Gensler’s approach to design and architecture can proliferate a growth in the value of real estate. Moreover, the Cornell Tech Center has been created and developed to be the new technology center of the New York City boroughs as it sits in the East River between the Manhattan financial district and the growing technology base of Brooklyn’s Williamsburg district.

Tom pressed upon Baker students to become leaders within the real estate industry. Tom’s interactions with large corporations exposed him to leaders across various industries whose corporate officer’s looked for assistance in developing headquarters based on their company culture and vision. Affirming his purpose for joining the program, Youngjean Yang 17’ understood that his “purpose was not just to become a nominal developer or investor.” Youngjean wants to find essential ways to spawn change. Tom’s statement “seeking things that do not exist shows leadership” proved to Youngjean that he has the opportunity to create significance within the real estate sector. Where things don’t exist are the void spaces where leaders surface, and press forward the creation of new industries, businesses, and opportunities. This is where Tom wanted the Baker students to understand their individual importance to drive the real estate world into many new dynamic directions.

IMG_3428Within the voids, innovation surfaces to foster change, and create competitive opportunities. While discussing creativity, Tom discussed both the leader and the corporation’s responsibilities throughout the process. However, Laura Curi de Mattos 18’ had a key realization that “in a competitive market, the opportunity is on ‘shifts’ (voids), and being one step ahead of what everyone considers innovation.” These moments of discovery within oneself, and industry sheds a clear perspective on the prospects Tom wanted the Baker students to begin brainstorming, and foster invention within their own minds.

With innovation pressing organizations and leaders forward, the utilization of technology has important implications within their respective industries and real estate. Tom discussed the innovation within his projects must expand beyond the lengthy real estate development timelines. Peter Romano 18’ took keen notice that “technology drives a change in how/where we work, and real estate must incorporate design creativity to keep its relevance in the built environment.”

After this rousing appearance by Tom Vecchione, the Baker Program looks forward to a continued exciting Distinguished Speaker Series that will be highlighted by industry professionals across numerous sectors of the real estate industry.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email