Annual Real Estate Symposium

Cummings Institute for Real Estate

Date, Time, and Location

April 10, 2025
11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
District Hall, Providence

About The Event

At Roger Williams University’s Cummings Institute for Real Estate, real estate is studied as the complex and ubiquitous world that it is. Most people think of Real Estate as buying or selling a home or a developer undertaking a major reshaping of one’s community. Real estate is all of that, of course, but it is so much more. It is everywhere that we live, work and play. It is the land and the buildings and the infrastructure that connects it all and makes it all function.

We recognize that our industry partners work in a volatile economic landscape. There is great speculation about how the market will respond to a second Trump presidency What will the real estate industry look like over the next four years? How will dramatic changes in government priorities impact current asset portfolios? At the third annual real estate symposium, our speakers and panel experts will recall past industry challenges, ponder current trends, and forecast future opportunities as they discuss two important topics:

  • The intersection between government and industry.

  • The future of real estate development revisited.

We are excited to announce that this program will feature a new student engagement element. Following the end of the second panel discussion, current 91º£½ÇÂÒÂ× students will present their semester-long research to the assembly. This is a wonderful opportunity for members of the audience to network with real estate students soon to enter the workforce.  

If you are a real estate professional working in development, architecture, construction management, and or sales, this is an invaluable opportunity for you to connect with an informed network of colleagues and discuss strategies for moving forward towards higher returns.

Highlights

  • Panel discussions with leading experts in construction, planning, real estate, and sustainability
  • Student poster presentations featuring Real Estate graduate students from Roger Williams University
  • Luncheon and cocktail reception
  • Student real estate research presentation and competition

Register for the Symposium

View the full schedule and panelists

Mayor of Providence Brett Smiley speaks at 2023 Symposium

Thank You To Our Sponsors

Luncheon Sponsor

Garden Communities

Cocktail Reception Sponsor

The Boston Globe Rhode Island

Panel Sponsor

91º£½ÇÂÒÂ× County Savings Bank

Table Sponsors

Galaxy Development LLCIntercontinental Real Estate CorporationPeregrine Group Real Estate AdvisoryPartridge Snow & Hahn LLPColumbia 100 logoGilbane logovhb logoZDS Architecture & Interiors logo

Symposium Schedule At A Glance

A student presents research at the symposium11:30 a.m. to  12:00 p.m. - Registration â€“ Café Lounge

12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. - Plated Luncheon and Welcome

Speakers: Margaret Everett, Ph.D., Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, James R. Andrade ’77 ’79, Senior Vice President, CapitaLand Development Group, Assembly Room

1:00 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. -  Keynote address: Kairos Shen, Chief of Planning, City of Boston, Assembly Room

1:20 p.m. to 1:35 p.m. - Real Estate Program Updates

Speakers:Issa Ramaji, Ph.D., PE, DBIA, Executive Director, Cummings Institute for Real Estate, Dr. James R. Andrade ’77 ’79, Senior Vice President, CapitaLand Development Group. Master of Ceremonies, Assembly Room

1:35 p.m. to 2:35 p.m. - Panel 1: The intersection between government and industry. Assembly Room

2:35 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. -  Networking break & dessert – Café Lounge

2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. -  Panel 2: The future of real estate investment revisited, Assembly Room

3:45 p.m. to 3:55 p.m. -  Networking break – Café Lounge

3:55 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. - Student research presentations and competition – Assembly Room

Speaker:Issa Ramaji, Ph.D., PE, DBIA, Executive Director, Cummings Institute for Real Estate

4:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Cocktail reception and poster presentation – Innovator’s Lounge (first floor)

View the full schedule and panelists