NSU Graduate Students Win Collegiate Real Estate Challenge

Students praised for proposal on real site in downtown Miami

FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – A team of seven students from the Master of Science in Real Estate Development program at Nova Southeastern University’s H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship was crowned the winners of the inaugural Collegiate Real Estate Challenge hosted by the South Florida Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP).

NSU’s winning team in the Collegiate Real Estate Challenge (from left): Michael Maxwell, interim chair of the M.S. in Real Estate Development program, Benjamin Boies, Walter Ojeda, Kelli Nelson, Robert Knuth, Monica Hands, Jared Chassen, and Jessica Joly. (Photo courtesy of Flagler Development)

The challenge, which started in January, featured the NSU students competing against a similar team of students from the University of Miami. The teams were tasked with creating a development strategy for a real eight-acre, downtown Miami site owned by the competition’s title sponsor, Flagler — one of Florida’s oldest and largest full-service commercial real estate companies. The teams were judged on their proposed project’s economic feasibility, market analysis, design viability, and written and oral presentations supporting their submission.

The NSU team’s winning proposal included the relocation of three Miami-Dade County facilities from the Hospital District to Flagler’s site located in the Government Center. According to the proposal, “At this site, innovative buildings can meet present and future facility needs while providing enhanced access to multimodal transit were proposed.”

The final proposals were presented in front of a panel of judges and more than 200 guests on April 8 in the Miniaci Performing Arts Center on NSU’s main campus. For winning, the NSU team received a trophy and a complimentary one-year membership to NAIOP.

“We were very impressed by the high caliber development proposals the students presented,” said Jose Hevia, president and CEO of Flagler and one of the judges of the competition. “Flagler received two very good ideas for the site, and I would absolutely consider using components of Nova Southeastern University’s real estate solution for future development.”

The students on the NSU team were Benjamin Boies, Jared Chassen, Monica Hands, Jessica Joly, Robert Knuth, Kelli Nelson and Walter Ojeda.

“The team presented a clear, simple to understand plan that outlined the costs and benefits to all parties – Flagler and Miami-Dade County,” said Michael Maxwell, interim director of the M.S. in Real Estate Development program at NSU’s Huizenga School of Business. “The concept is compelling, logical and offers the framework for both the county and Flagler to each benefit in multiple ways, not at the expense of the other. This is a win-win solution.”

The M.S. in Real Estate Development program at NSU’s Huizenga School of Business is a unique program in which leading professionals in the industry teach students the skills and knowledge needed for a career in real estate development, finance and management. The program’s graduates are hired at leading real estate development, asset management, marketing and investment companies throughout the region. More information is available at http://www.nova.edu/realestate.

Media Contact:
Alan Hancock, NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5385, hancocka@nova.edu