Insights on the future of CRE from five diverse interns

Beatrice De Castro
Baker Barrios Architects - Chicago office

De Castro is currently contributing toward designing several multifamily residential projects, based in Nashville, Tenn., and Richmond, Va.

Lessons Learned + Insights for the Future of CRE

"Delving into multifamily affordable housing during my final year of architecture school taught me the importance of creating meaningful and functional spaces for individuals and families of all walks of life," said De Castro.

"Living in Chicago is no different from many other cities across the country regarding the need for affordable housing," De Castro continued. "I would love to see vacancies in office buildings be utilized to provide residential living, through means of adaptive reuse. Not only would this use existing spaces, but it would also reduce the embodied carbon emissions mainly associated with new builds."

Brandon Reng
Hiffman National – Project Services

Reng worked on capital improvement projects by helping make space plans and coordinating with workplace solutions teams. He also assisted with selecting materials for office space interiors and aligning finishes with branding and functionality.

Additionally, Reng spent time building code research, especially around life safety requirements and helping calculate rentable square footage using BOMA standards.

Lessons Learned + Insights for the Future of CRE

"One of the interesting things I learned during the internship is how crucial a role architects, civil engineers, and project managers play in commercial real estate," said Reng. "Every building managed by a commercial real estate firm requires more than just leasing, it also involves expert input on how to design appealing spaces for potential tenants, as well as managing and maintaining the building itself."

"As an architecture intern, I’ve noticed a key challenge in commercial real estate is aligning the financial goals of the client with the architectural vision of the project," Reng continued. "It is important to design spaces that are not only functional but also financially viable. Strong project management plays a critical role in balancing design intent with cost considerations, ensuring projects stay within budget while also delivering quality results."

Paola Guzmen
Hispanic Housing Development Corporation (HHDC)

Hispanic Housing Development Corporation (HHDC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing in Latino neighborhoods across the Midwest.

Through her internship at HHDC, Paola is exposed to various phases of development including acquisition, redevelopment, and new construction. She’s been able to apply what she's learned in the classroom—through case studies, group work, and hands-on assignments—to real-world projects and networking experiences.

Lessons Learned + Insights for the Future of CRE

"It’s been rewarding to work alongside motivated real estate professionals who are committed to managing, developing and building housing that matters," she said. "I get to see projects come to life, and I’m learning something new every day. This internship has given me a clearer sense of the many meaningful career paths within the real estate industry, especially in affordable housing."

"One of the most valuable parts of this experience is witnessing how the HHDC team solves challenges with impactful, unique solutions," said Paola. "It’s been inspiring to watch that level of consistent thoughtfulness in action."

Marc Colucci
McHugh Construction

Colucci worked on-site at Ogden Commons, Habitat’s mixed-use project in North Lawndale, specifically on the newest OC Living mixed-income building under construction that McHugh is building.

Lessons Learned + Insights for the Future of CRE

"One of the biggest challenges in commercial real estate construction today is the heavy reliance on global supply chains, which often leads to rising material costs and unpredictable delays," said Colucci. "I wish I could help strengthen local supply chains and promote sourcing materials regionally to reduce these risks and improve project reliability. By building more resilient and accessible local markets, projects could better avoid price spikes and shipping disruptions."

"Another critical issue is the ongoing shortage of skilled workers in the construction industry," he continued. "This labor gap not only causes project delays but also impacts the quality and safety of the work performed. I hope to contribute to developing comprehensive training programs and apprenticeship opportunities that attract younger generations and up-skill existing workers."

Maria Palasz
Hiffman National – Property Accounting

Palasz focused on preparing the monthly financial reports for three client properties. Her reports reflected monthly transactions, NOI, and cash flows using property accounting software (MRI). She was also responsible for preparing bank reconciliations, supporting schedules, and journal entries on a weekly basis to run respective financial statements ensuring timely reports to clients.

Lessons Learned + Insights for the Future of CRE

"I chose to work in property accounting this summer to get hands on experience within a specific field of accounting," said Palasz. "I plan to achieve my CPA, but I wanted to diversify my experiences and try out different aspects of what type of career I would like to pursue within accounting."

"My favorite part of the internship was going on property tours," Palasz continued. "I enjoyed learning about the different aspects of Hiffman as a company and seeing the portfolios I had been working on. I also appreciated being able to broaden my knowledge of the different pieces that go into commercial real estate and property management beyond the work at my desk."