On Thursday, April 10, the Real Estate Tech Forum, in collaboration with WiredNYC, hosted a collaborative and enriching panel discussion entitled, “Connecting Tomorrow’s Tenants: The State of Technology in CRE.” Held at the offices of Reed Smith LLP in Manhattan, the event featured panelists Eric Gertler, Director of the Center for Economic Transformation at NYCEDC; Robert Bianco, Vice President/General Manager at tw telecom Manhattan; Charles Buscarino, Co-Founder, The Clarient Group; Jay Caseley, Director of Leasing at ABS Properties; and David Falk, President of the New York Tri-State Region at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank.
Featured here (left to right): Arie Barendrecht, Executive Director, WiredNYC; Eric Gertler, Executive VP/Managing Director, NYCEDC; Jay Caseley, Director of Leasing, ABS Properties; Robert Bianco, VP and General Manager, tw telecom Manhattan; Charlie Buscarino, President & Founder, The Clarient Group; and David A. Falk, President, New York Tri-State Region, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank.
Supporting Tenant Bandwidth Requirements
The discussion focused on the current state of connectivity in New York City’s commercial building stock and how it can be improved to accommodate a rising demand for high speed internet access among businesses and commercial tenants. Panelists described the need for greater transparency throughout the leasing process, emphasizing the importance of updating office telecom systems to include high speed fiber access and communicating internet availability through the brokerage community.
Considering Consumer Trends and Work Environments
Panelists also outlined new trends among office workers, including the use of mobile devices in corporate offices. Robert Bianco noted that, “As neighborhoods develop, there is an increasing demand for bandwidth, and this is something that’s not really available in the outer boroughs yet.”
Charles Buscarino added, “Given the nature of tech and bandwidth, you can be anywhere; outposts such as the outer boroughs are relevant and not yet on the radar, and will provide opportunity.”
With increasing tenant-driven demand for high speed data products, all panelists agreed that in addition to WiredNYC’s efforts to lend transparency to broadband access in buildings, property owners must recognize connectivity as a requirement for communication and begin investing in higher bandwidth connections to accommodate New York City’s burgeoning tech industry and keep its competitive edge among other tech-driven cities.
For more information on the Real Estate Tech Forum and other upcoming events, visit www.retechforum.org.
Learn more about tw telecom Manhattan at http://www.twtelecom.com/NYC.
