Tall Building Institute

🩷Art is the Markets: Equity, Indexes, ETFs, bonds and Key Commodities

It was amazing to reconnect with old classmates, and build new friendships with inspiring leaders at the Wharton Global Forum in San Francisco!

Wharton faculty and global leaders reminded us:
Embracing technology, emotional intelligence, and entrepreneurial grit is no longer optional — it’s essential.

The Wharton Global Forum in San Francisco was a powerful convergence of ideas, innovation, and inspiration. From AI’s disruptive potential to entrepreneurial resilience, the key message was clear:

“Adapt fast, stay persistent, and lead with innovation — or be left behind.”

Vinod Khosla and prof. Ethan Malik discussed on how business leaders can harness generative AI to unlock human potential, drive innovation, and empower their organizations - Predicted AI will reshape 80% of jobs in the near future.

Honored to have spoken at the Harvard Real Estate Symposium 2025, where I joined two insightful panels — one on Luxury Residential & Sustainability, and the other on Mega Projects in the Middle East.
It was a privilege to engage with such a forward-thinking community of leaders, practitioners, and academics exploring the future of real estate. A special thank you to the organizers for curating such a high-caliber event, and to my fellow panelists for the thoughtful dialogue and dynamic exchange of ideas.
Here are a few key takeaways that stood out:

1) Timing the market and the old adage “Location, location, location” remain the two pillars — together accounting for 90% of real estate success.
2) The future lies in sustainable, resilience and adaptive design and build — approaches that can withstand both climate and market shifts.
Now is the time to buy office buildings, for those with the right strategy and patience.
Quoting Dr. Peter Linneman: “If you want to stay rich, invest in multifamily. If you want to get rich, invest in office.”
3) Renting is currently a more economically sound choice than homeownership for many, given interest rates and pricing.
Mr. Walker’s market insights were powerful:
Hospitality occupancy has rebounded to pre-COVID levels.
4) Retail showed strong monthly sales in March 2025.
5) Industrial/logistics demand is surging, expected to require a 40% increase in inventory.
6) Multifamily construction starts are off-peak, yet absorption is strong — a clear sign of continued renter demand.
7) Office remains polarized: a tale of “Haves” and “Have-Nots,” with national vacancy still elevated and return-to-office trends continuing to evolve.

Me&Bill - Bill Tai is a prominent venture capitalist known for backing early-stage companies, including Canva, Twitter, and Zoom Video, and he’s also a co-founder of the Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC).

Art is Cantilever - Tall building steel structure cantilever floors

Amazing time with Howard S. Marks - Investor and writer Howard Marks is the co-founder and co-chairman of Oaktree Capital Management, a global investment company with a portfolio in credit, private equity, real assets, and listed equities.

Art is Freedom -

Bridging creativity and innovation across borders - thrilled to explore new horizons with one of my most inspiring architect friend.

The CTBUH London Conference 2024. The event was packed with insights and , from cutting-edge discussions on retrofitting and reduction to new strategies for urban resilience and inclusiveness. It was inspiring to connect with from around the world, share knowledge, and explore the future of tall buildings and sustainable urban habitats.