W+A Vice President Courtney Menjivar spoke about PropTech’s transformational effects on the commercial real estate sector and urban development at the Beyond Bricks conference in Charlotte on February 13, 2025. The conference focused on “Transforming CRE: Tech, Transit, and the Tenant Experience.”
The conference featured insights from a diverse range of people, including the former Mayor of Charlotte and Governor of North Carolina, commercial real estate experts, developers, and technology leaders. Speakers and panelists explored topics such as Smart Automation (and how automation strategies can boost efficiency), Sustainable Design (for use in future-ready spaces), and Connected Systems (to connect tenant experiences).
As Vice President of Mobility Management + TDM at Wells + Associates, Courtney and her team help developers and other CRE sector enterprises optimize their business models by integrating technology-based solutions, bridging the “last mile” connection, and tapping into underutilized transportation amenities.
We were pleased that Beyond Bricks was hosted in 110 East in Charlotte, which was recognized as the Most Intelligent Office Building in North America in 2024. Wells + Associates’ Mobility Management + TDM team previously collaborated with the 110 East team to submit the first TDM Plan to be approved in Charlotte.
Presentation: Rethinking How We Think About Buildings
Courtney opened her presentation by encouraging the audience to rethink their approach to the value that buildings and properties provide:
“What’s the first and last experience people have with a building every single day? It’s not the lobby, the workspace, or the amenities. It’s transportation. Whether driving and parking, taking a shuttle, using public transit, or biking to work, mobility is the gateway to the tenant experience.”
She reviewed how PropTech-driven mobility solutions reshape how buildings attract and retain tenants by improving how people move to, from, and within properties. This is done through the the Tenant Experience Stack – the foundation of a modern, successful office building. This stack includes:
- PropTech & Smart Building Systems – Things like touchless access, IoT sensors, and AI-driven automation that enhance the tenant experience.
- Tenant Engagement & Community Building – Digital platforms that connect tenants to services, amenities, and community events.
- Mobility & Transportation Solutions – This is the focus of today’s discussion. Smart transit, parking, EV charging, and micro-mobility all fall here.
- Workplace Services & Hybrid Work Models – Tools that support flexible work, such as hot desk booking, hybrid collaboration, or virtual networking.
- Data & Insights for Building Optimization – AI-driven usage data that helps property managers make smarter, real-time decisions.
Four Components of a Seamless Transportation Experience
As Courtney explained, “this Stack helps create a ‘seamless tenant transportation experience’ through four components.” Ideally, these four components work together to create a frictionless, connected experience for tenants:
- PropTech, which unlocks transportation solutions for tenants
- Real-Time Information, which enhances a commuter’s decision-making about transportation choices
- Parking Management, which optimizes both space and efficiency when it comes to expensive parking spaces, and
- Transportation Demand Management (TDM), which drives behavior change, encouraging numerous ways for commuters to travel outside of the traditional single-occupancy vehicle.
