The VSNT Developments team earned first place in the NAIOP Greater Toronto’s Development Challenge. The competition brought together a total of 10 teams of developing leaders and students representing local universities in order to create development proposals for a land parcel – mimicking a real-life experience, the teams worked with the constraints inherent with this property.

Slate Asset Management and Choice REIT partnered with NAIOP to use Dixie Outlet Mall in Mississauga as the subject for this year’s competition. According to NAIOP‘s press release, the future of retail shopping centres is rapidly evolving, and owners are quickly realizing the underutilization of the land parcels they sit on. This case pushed teams to think about these changing conditions as they evaluated the highest and best use for this 46-acre piece of land.

Three finalist teams presented their comprehensive development proposals live on stage for our audience and judges on Awards Night, October 3, 2019 at the Toronto Region Board of Trade. Cash prizes were awarded to all finalist teams.

This year, the winning team was made up of Soroush Asgarinia, Smith and Anderson; Tony Ju, City of Toronto; Jinny Tran, Schulich School of Business – York University; Nedal Machou, Hariri Pontarini Architects; Nikhil Paul, Teva Pharmaceuticals; Victor Chan, BGIS.

Photo courtesy of NAIOP.