At a Crossroads: Future of Office
10:10 AM - 11:00 AM | Klarman Hall
Panel Director: Howard Au, MRE ‘25
Speakers will address the impact of hybrid work, e-Commerce, and shifting tenant expectations on design and development. From innovations like hot desks and open floor plans to the rise of tech-driven facilities and decarbonization strategies, the discussion will examine how economic pressures, policy shifts, and sustainability goals are reshaping the market. Attendees will gain insights into 2025’s top investment opportunities and strategies for adapting to rapid urban and technological change.
Panelists & Moderator:
Moderator: Patrice Derrington
Lecturer and Senior Fellow in Real Estate | GSD
Associate Professor | Columbia University M.Sc. Real Estate Development Group
Dr. Patrice Derrington is a Lecturer and Senior Fellow in Real Estate at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design, contributing to the Master in Real Estate (MRE) program. She also serves as an Associate Professor in Columbia University's M.Sc. Real Estate Development program, where she previously led as the Marc Holliday Professor and Director for nine years. Her teaching and research focus on the intersection of architectural design and development dynamics, aiming to create more equitable and sustainable urban centers. Dr. Derrington holds a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, an MBA from Harvard, and a B.Arch with First Class Honours from the University of Queensland. Her professional experience includes over 20 years in real estate finance and investment, notably managing David Rockefeller's $3.25 billion global portfolio. She also served as Vice President of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, formulating the $20 billion Economic Revitalization Strategy post-9/11. Her recent publications include Built Up: An Historical Perspective on the Contemporary Principles and Practices of Real Estate Development (2021) and 20+ Years of Urban Rebuilding: Lessons from the Revival of Lower Manhattan after 9/11 (2024).
Marianne Kwok
Principal | Kohn Pedersen Fox
Marianne is driven by a passionate belief in the power of architectural design to affect change and benefit people. At scales both large and small, from urban skylines to focused user experiences, her holistic collaborative process yields projects that meaningfully connect people to each other and their built environment through the thoughtful examination of program, specificity of place, an improved environment and refined materiality.
Complementing her award-winning professional work, Marianne has taught at Cornell and often attends reviews. She has participated in symposia and lectures globally. She is currently on Cornell AAP Advisory Council. Marianne is a graduate of Cornell University and the Harvard GSD.
Mathew Hines
Director | Hines Strategic Projects Office | Los Angeles, Ca
Matthew Hines is a director in Hines’ Strategic Projects Office, leading the strategy on sports-anchored development and Hines’ vision on the Future of Work. He joined Hines’ West Region in 2019 as development manager for West Edge, a sustainable mixed-use project in West Los Angeles, overseeing budget, schedule, design, consultants, marketing, leasing, and delivery.
Before Hines, Matthew was an engagement manager at Medallia, managing client relationships and teams of software analysts. He also worked at Rebel One, developing digital marketing campaigns for artists like Rihanna and Becky G.
Matthew holds a BA in European History and Anthropology from Vanderbilt University and an MBA in Real Estate from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. He is a member of ULI and NAIOP and serves on the board of Sunflower Network.
Anil Erdem
Managing Director | Bentall Green Oak
Anil Erdem is a Managing Director at BGO, overseeing the firm’s ~$40 billion U.S. Asset Management platform and PropTech investments. He joined BGO in 2020 from Raith Capital Partners, responsible for acquiring and managing value-add investments across all asset classes. Previously, Anil spent five years at Tishman Speyer as a Director, focusing on acquisitions, asset management, and portfolio management in New York and London as part of their Leadership Development Program. He began his career at Boston Consulting Group as a management consultant, advising clients across various industries. Anil holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from Bogazici University.
Tommy Craig
SVP | Hines
Tommy Craig is a Senior Managing Director at Hines, a global real estate investment and development firm. Joining Hines in 1982, he became the regional officer and partner for the New York Tri-State office in 1996, leading major projects like the Lipstick Building and 7 Bryant Park. Craig has overseen developments totaling approximately 16 million square feet. He holds a BA in History and Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from Columbia Business School. Beyond his professional achievements, Craig has contributed to academia as an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School and serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Phipps Houses, a nonprofit affordable housing developer in New York City. In 2023, he transitioned from co-head of Hines' New York office to a strategic advisory role, continuing to influence the firm's East Coast projects.