New York event explores the future of buildings, cities and sustainability

An elite group of leaders in cities, buildings and technology will convene in New York City next month to explore the trends and technologies leading to “next-gen” buildings and cities. The day-long VERGE Salon, on Sept. 16, is aimed at unlocking the opportunities created by the convergence data streams, smart grids, intelligent building systems and other technology trends.

VERGE Salons, part of GreenBiz Group's global VERGE event series, are high-energy events focusing on the technologies and systems that accelerate sustainability solutions across sectors in a climate-constrained world. Among the topics at VERGE Salon: Next-Gen Buildings and Cities are how green infrastructure, technologies and grid solutions create value for buildings and cities; leveraging data to accelerate greenhouse gas reductions and water efficiency; and the impacts of benchmarking mandates on building efficiency upgrades.

Each of these topics is framed around starting an essential dialogue about the technology innovations and trends that can transform buildings and cities into spaces that can adapt to societal, economic and climate shocks.

The unique audience will include government officials, corporate executives, real estate portfolio owners, facilities managers and other key decision makers from across the VERGE ecosystem. Featured speakers include Bina Venkataraman of the White House, Jackie Henke of TD Bank, Jenna Tatum of the NYC Mayor's Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability, Robert Watson of the ECON Group, Vishaan Chakrabarti of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation, Seth Schultz of C40, Dana Schneider of Jones Lang LaSalle, and Michael Berkowitz of Rockefeller Foundation's 100 Resilient Cities Challenge.

“VERGE Salons offer a unique opportunity to focus more deeply on specific business opportunities at the convergence of technology and sustainability," said Eric Faurot, CEO of GreenBiz Group. "New York City offers an ideal setting to convene private- and public-sector leaders, disruptors and innovators to discuss the technologies and strategies that can transform the future of cities and buildings."

The Salon is produced in partnership with The Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute, of the Zicklin School of Business, at Baruch College, City University of New York, which provides applied research, professional and continuing education and conferences to the real estate industry, as well as organizations focused on public policy.

“In the future, every component of our cities, from their infrastructure and electrical grids to their buildings and vehicles, will be connected by urban neural networks,” said Jack Nyman, executive director of the Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute. “Technological advancements, new notions of personal space, and innovative methods of communication will evolve into a paradigm of unforeseen norms that will reshape our cities. These nova phenomena will most certainly not only change the physicality of our cities but will also redefine our notion of the American Dream. The conference dialogue and its robust discussions will provide great insight into the beginnings of this redefinition.”

The event will take place at the William and Anita Newman Conference Center at Baruch College in New York City. For more information, visit http://grn.bz/VSALONNY.