The 2024 CoreNet Global Academic Challenge, tasked students with developing an enterprise-level strategy for a corporate real estate portfolio that takes maximum advantage of emerging AI technologies while minimizing associated risks. A team of four Purdue students rose to the challenge, earning a runner-up distinction in the finals.
Twenty-two teams submitted proposals and Purdue was among three finalists invited to present their ideas at the 2024 CoreNet Global Summit in Washington, DC in November. The team from Houston was named the overall winner with Purdue and Drexel as joint runners-up.
Team member Arjav Seshachalam says, “Our proposals, including a smart workspace concept and an AI-integrated employee portal, received great feedback. However, the true standout of our presentation was our concept of Digital Twinning—a cutting-edge technology with revolutionary applications for corporate real estate.”
Digital twins are virtual representations of physical space that enable real-time monitoring and management. The technology allows companies to optimize energy consumption, improve operational efficiency, and enable faster decision-making through real-time data insights. “This transformative experience gave us the opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and present our ideas to industry leaders in Washington, D.C.,” Arjav says.
The competition’s sponsor, CoreNet Global, is an American non-profit corporate real estate association representing executives in 50 countries who manage the real estate assets of large corporations.
