UVA Real Estate Conference

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

Friday, Nov. 13 | 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

The 2026 UVA Real Estate Conference brings together UVA alumni, students, faculty, and staff alongside executives, investors, developers, technologists, designers, and other industry professionals for a full day of market insights, thought-provoking discussions, and high-value networking. Featuring opening and closing keynotes and concurrent sessions across three tracks—Investment and Capital, Technology and Analytics, and Development and Design—the conference offers a focused look at the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of the built environment.

Hosted by the White Ruffin Byron Center for Real Estate at the University of Virginia, the conference fosters connections between academia and industry while showcasing ideas shaping the future of real estate practice and the communities it serves.

WELCOME RECEPTION

Thursday, Nov. 12 | 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

Begin your conference experience by checking in and joining us for the Welcome Reception on Thursday, Nov. 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the conference host venue, the Virginia Guesthouse Hotel & Conference Center. Connect with fellow alumni, students, faculty, and industry professionals who share a passion for the UVA real estate community while enjoying hors d'oeuvres, beverages, and informal networking before the conference begins. Whether you're reconnecting with colleagues or making new connections, the Welcome Reception offers the perfect opportunity to engage with fellow attendees in a relaxed setting before a full day of programming.

To assist with event planning, please indicate during registration whether you expect to attend the Welcome Reception.

VENUE & ACCOMMODATIONS

From Thursday evening’s Welcome Reception through the conclusion of the conference on Friday, the 2026 UVA Real Estate Conference will be held at the newly opened Virginia Guesthouse Hotel & Conference Center in the Emmet-Ivy Corridor on Grounds.

Our conference sleeping room block has sold out but you are encouraged to check the hotel's website for the latest rates and availability. You can also visit this page to access the UVA booking links for other hotels near UVA.

TICKETS & FEES

Tickets and associated pricing for each are outlined below. We encourage early registration, as conference capacity is limited and available space is expected to fill quickly.

Ticket Type	Early Bird	Full	Week of	Notes
UVA Alumni	$350	$450	$550	Classes of 2021 and prior
UVA Recent Graduates	$250	$350	$450	Classes of 2022-2026
UVA Faculty/Staff	-	-	-	Computing ID required
UVA Students	$50	$50	$50	Computing ID required
General Admission	$400	$500	$600	All others

Early-bird deadline was extended from Sept. 30 to Oct. 16. The "full" rate began on Oct. 17 and "week of" rates begin Nov. 9. Please note that cancelations after Nov. 1 are non-refundable.

Agenda at a Glance

Session Time	Session Title
8:30 to 9:30 a.m.	Breakfast & Networking
9:30 to 11 a.m.	Welcome & Morning Keynote Conversation
11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.	Concurrent Breakout Sessions - Round 1
12:15 to 1:15 p.m.	Conference Luncheon
1:15 to 2 p.m.	Concurrent Breakout Sessions - Round 2
2:15 to 3 p.m.	Concurrent Breakout Sessions - Round 3
3:30 to 4:30 p.m.	Afternoon Keynote Conversation
4:30 to 5:30 p.m.	Celebratory Closing Reception

Explore the detailed agenda.

This year's conference features three rounds of concurrent 45-minute breakout sessions across three tracks: Investment and Capital, Technology and Analytics, and Development and Design. During registration, attendees will build their own agenda by selecting from these nine expert-led breakout sessions, allowing them to customize their experience based on their interests and professional goals.

This year's conference also features a student track, designed for UVA students preparing for and launching their careers, as well as a professional student track for MBA, Ph.D., and mid-career students, who can choose between the student and industry sessions throughout the day.

Welcome Remarks

Scott C. Beardsley is the 10th president of the University of Virginia and will deliver welcoming remarks at the 2026 UVA Real Estate Conference. Before being selected by the Board of Visitors, he served as the ninth dean of the UVA Darden School of Business, where he was reappointed to a record third term. During his tenure, he led major capital and development projects from vision to completion, including UVA Darden DC Metro, a hotel and conference center, an arboretum and botanical gardens, and a renovated alumni hall, and he secured Board approval for a new campus master plan. He also developed and chaired UVA's first AI institute.

Before joining UVA, Beardsley was a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, where he was elected to the firm's global board and advised global leaders in the public and private sectors. An electrical engineer by training, he is the author of Higher Calling (UVA Press, 2017) and researches and teaches CEO leadership and technology and AI ethics. He holds a doctorate in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from MIT, a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Tufts, and a Master of Studies in Practical Ethics (Artificial Intelligence) from Oxford.

Read full bio

Morning Keynote Conversation

Kristina Raspe, Vice President, Places, Apple Inc.

Robert G. Byron (A&S '73, Law '76), Chairman, Co-CEO, & Co-Founder, Blue Vista Capital Management

Afternoon Keynote Conversation

Owen D. Thomas (Engineering '83), Chairman & CEO, BXP

William J. Ferguson, Co-Chairman and CEO, Ferguson Partners

View the full speaker lineup.

Thank You

We gratefully recognize the following alumni for their time, expertise, and commitment to the 2026 UVA Real Estate Conference.

Conference Planning Co-Chairs:
J. Scott Adams (McIntire ’88, Darden ’92), Senior VP, Investor Relations, Harbor Group International LLC
Cherie Santos-Wuest (Architecture ’84), Managing Partner, Celadon Venture Advisors LLC

Conference Sponsorships Co-Chairs:
Chris Henry (A&S ‘08), Co-Founder and President, Stony Point Development Group
Thomas (TJ) Hofheimer (A&S ’95), Managing Director, Portfolio and Asset Management, National Real Estate Advisors

Our 2026 Corporate Sponsors

Executive Sponsor (Exclusive)

Lunch Sponsor

Breakfast Sponsors

Blue Sponsors

Orange Sponsors

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities

Corporate sponsorships of the White Ruffin Byron Center for Real Estate's annual conference enable the Center to pursue its mission through foundational programming supporting students and academic programs, investing in research and discovery efforts, and industry engagement events.

Please contact Gretchen Ingram for more information about sponsoring the event. Sponsorship levels and benefits are described below.

To participate in tabling opportunities, sponsors at the Breakfast level and above should confirm their sponsorship by October 30 to allow adequate time for table assignments and event logistics.

Provide Your Support

Executive Sponsor - CLAIMED!

$25,000

Exclusive opportunity available to only one company
Ten (10) complimentary conference registrations
Table provided to display materials, giveaways, and firm-branded banner, with the opportunity to engage with attendees and participating students throughout the Friday conference
Logo displayed prominently on conference materials, conference website, and scroll on screen during the conference
Thank-you post on the Center’s LinkedIn page
Recognition from the podium during opening remarks
Priority participation and dedicated table at the Friday afternoon student recruiting event, including early access to the student resume book
Exclusive student engagement opportunity, to be determined with the Center (e.g., featured speaker event, coffee chats)

Welcome Reception Sponsor

$20,000

Exclusive opportunity available to only one company
Eight (8) complimentary conference registrations
Table provided to display materials, giveaways, and firm-branded banner, with the opportunity to engage with attendees and participating students throughout the Thursday evening welcome reception
Logo included on conference materials, conference website, and scroll on screen during the conference
Thank-you post on the Center’s LinkedIn page
Participation and dedicated table at the Friday afternoon student recruiting event, including early access to the student resume book
Exclusive student engagement opportunity, to be determined with the Center (e.g., featured speaker event, coffee chats)

Closing Reception Sponsor

$15,000

Six (6) complimentary conference registrations
Table provided to display materials, giveaways, and firm-branded banner, with the opportunity to engage with attendees and participating students throughout the Friday afternoon closing reception
Logo included on conference materials, conference website, and scroll on screen during the conference
Thank-you post on the Center’s LinkedIn page
Participation and dedicated table at the Friday afternoon student recruiting event, including early access to the student resume book

Lunch Sponsor

$12,500

Five (5) complimentary conference registrations
Table provided to display materials, giveaways, and firm-branded banner, with the opportunity to engage with attendees and participating students throughout the Friday lunch
Logo included on conference materials, conference website, and scroll on screen during the conference
Thank-you post on the Center’s LinkedIn page
Participation and dedicated table at the Friday afternoon student recruiting event, including early access to the student resume book

Breakfast Sponsor

$10,000

Four (4) complimentary conference registrations
Table provided to display materials, giveaways, and firm-branded banner, with the opportunity to engage with attendees and participating students throughout the Friday morning breakfast
Logo included on conference materials, conference website, and scroll on screen during the conference
Thank-you post on the Center’s LinkedIn page
Participation and dedicated table at the Friday afternoon student recruiting event, including early access to the student resume book

Blue Sponsor

$7,500

Three (3) complimentary conference registrations
Logo included on conference materials, conference website, and scroll on screen during the conference
Thank-you post on the Center’s LinkedIn page
Opportunity to engage with students during the Friday afternoon student recruiting event in an open networking format (no dedicated table)

Orange Sponsor

$5,000

Two (2) complimentary conference registrations
Logo included on conference materials, conference website, and scroll on screen during the conference
Thank-you post on the Center’s LinkedIn page

This event is open to all individuals regardless of race, color, sex, or national origin, in accordance with Title VI and Title IX of the Civil Rights Act and the University of Virginia’s nondiscrimination policy. To learn more, visit UVA’s Notice of Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity.