The Business Record is hosting its second Project515 virtual panel discussion of 2022 on Aug. 25 and we want your help in selecting panelists and compiling questions.

What’s Project515? It’s a series of real estate and development-focused virtual events that explore three subsections of the commercial real estate industry: retail, office and housing. Our Project 515 retail discussion, held June 2, included panelists who discussed a variety of issues, including retail trends and the future of the sector.

Project515’s discussion on housing is planned for Dec. 1. But before we get to that, we’ll be delving into the outlook in Central Iowa for the office sector, touching on development of office space and vacancies, how unused space could be repurposed and whether investors are reentering the market.

This is where you come in. We’re putting together our panel for the August office discussion and we want your suggestions on who should be part of the panel. Is there someone with deep knowledge on the topic that the commercial real estate community would benefit from? Send us their contact info. Do you know someone who has been busy redesigning office spaces because of the increase in remote workers? Share their info with us.

We also want to know what questions you have for the people on the office panel. Email questions to us as well.


Email names and contact information of people we should contact to be part of the Project515 office panel discussion as well as questions you’d like us to consider asking to kathybolten@bpcdm.com. Suggestions will also be helpful for story ideas even if someone isn’t able to be on the panel. Please email your suggestions by Wednesday, July 20. And thanks in advance for your input. We appreciate it.


                                                                                                                                                     – Kathy Bolten, senior reporter