08/27/2025
11 am PT / 12 pm MT / 1 pm CT / 2 pm ET
*approximate length: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Presenter: Will Curtis, CPM®, CCIM
Description:
As vacancy challenges deepen and sustainability becomes a market differentiator, forward-thinking property managers are exploring a surprising solution: hydroponic farming inside office buildings. This session dives into how water-efficient, soil-free systems - powered by LED lighting and smart nutrient tech - can transform unused space into vibrant, productive ecosystems that captivate tenants and support ESG goals.
We will start with a clear foundation in hydroponic and vertical farming technology, explaining why these systems are well-suited for indoor environments and how they reuse resources like building heat or rainwater. You will then evaluate real-world ROI: boosting tenant satisfaction and productivity through fresh produce and greenery—sans the long commute or soil mess—while balancing costs, energy consumption, and potential revenue.
Finally, we’ll review a step-by-step roadmap for implementation. What types of vacant spaces work best? Which agritech partners - like Cityblooms or Gotham Greens - make sense for your building? How do you package it as a tenant attraction or community asset? While formal case studies in office retrofits are emerging, we will explore analogous examples like Fargo’s micro-farms, floating science barges, and vertical farms-in-vacant towers - and identify people and companies to reach out to.
By the end, you will walk away with the knowledge, and inspiration, to pitch hydroponics as both a high-value amenity and a sustainability upgrade that fills floors, enhances wellness, and sets your properties apart.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the essential principles of hydroponic and vertical farming systems
- Evaluate the business case for hydroponics in office environments
- Outline a practical implementation roadmap
Will Curtis, CCIM currently serves as the Commercial Managing Director for Phyllis Browning Company, where he oversees all aspects for commercial real estate for the “The Very Best” agents in Central Texas.
Will has completed more than $1.2 Billion in transactions and has an extensive background in property and asset management. With the primary focus of his business in Medical Office, Industrial, Economic Development, and Veteran Owned Businesses.
Will holds a Bachelor of Real Estate Finance and Development from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Master’s in Business Administration from St. Mary’s University. Will also holds the coveted CCIM Designation and Certified Property Manager (CPM) designations.
Will is a Faculty Member of CCIM as a Workshop Leader for the CI 102 Course, faculty for the Institute of Real Estate Management teaching the Finance 402 Course, the 2022 CCIM San Antonio/South Texas Chapter President, the 2024 Chairman of the San Antonio Board of REALTORS®. Will has also been name San Antonio Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, Veteran in Business Honoree, and a #CREI Social Media Influencer in LinkedIn and Instagram.