On February 20, 2025, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Arizona celebrated a significant milestone with its 20th Annual Trends Day at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix. This premier gathering attracted over 1,250 land use, bioscience, and realty professionals, offering a platform to explore the latest industry trends and innovations.
Most notably, Scarlett Spring, Executive Director of the Phoenix Bioscience Core (PBC), moderated a panel titled “Clean, Wet, or Dry: The What and Why of Lab Space.” Esteemed panelists included Dr. Steven Lester, a 39-year cardiologist and Chief Medical Officer of the Mayo Clinic/ASU MedTech Accelerator, John Grady, Senior Vice President and Northeast Region Executive at Wexford Science & Technology, LLC. and Adam Denmark, Vice President, Science & Technology Design Strategist, and Director of Lab Planning at SmithGroup.
The discussion delved into the distinctions between various lab types, customization requirements for research—including equipment and instrumentation—safety measures, and the burgeoning semiconductor industry’s impact on Arizona compared to the medical device sector.
Other notable highlights include:
- Economic Outlook: Julia Coronado, founder and president of MacroPolicy Perspectives, delivered an insightful economic outlook, setting the stage for the day’s discussions.
- Master-Planned Communities: Experts explored the evolution of master-planned communities, emphasizing sustainability, innovation, and economic vitality.
- Data Centers: The growing significance of data centers in Arizona’s infrastructure was a focal point, highlighting strategies for growth in this sector.
- Elite Hotels: Discussions on the new elite hotel concepts shed light on emerging trends in hospitality design and services.
In honor of the event’s 20th anniversary, past Trends Day Chairs were recognized, underscoring two decades of innovation, collaboration, and impact within Arizona’s real estate community.
For those who couldn’t attend, ULI Arizona has made the event’s presentations and panel discussions available online.The full panel moderated by Scarlett Spring can be viewed here.
For a comprehensive overview of the day’s events and access to additional presentations, visit ULI Arizona’s official website here.
ULI Arizona’s 20th Annual Trends Day not only reflected on past achievements but also set the tone for future developments in the real estate and land use sectors, emphasizing a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community engagement.