Presentation of the Chair

Created in 2003, today supported by la Banque des Territoires (Caisse des Dépôts), Ethiket, Immo Mousquetaires, PIMCO Prime Real Estate, Quartus,Adagio and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, the Real Estate and Sustainable Development Chair aims to promote both teaching and research in economics, finance and management of Real Estate in accordance with the current challenges of sustainable development.

It responds to a real estate context that is undergoing profound change over the past few years, due to the arrival of new players and the globalization of the real estate markets (offices, shopping centers, logistics, hotels and business districts). ESSEC is today the only business school in France and among the first in Europe to create this center of expertise in real estate management, economics and finance for students in initial training.

The Chair aims to be a center for research, teaching and reflection. Students are expected to participate in the associative life of the Chair. Students are invited to participate in several internationally renowned trade fairs such as the GRI Summit and the MIPIM (international real estate fair in Cannes).

There are also meetings with the Chair's alumni, conferences and debates of the Club ESSEC Immobilier, Villes et Territoires, as well as an annual study trip abroad during the intensive week in T3 (London 2013, Berlin 2014, Milan 2015, Amsterdam 2016, London 2017, Milan 2018, Berlin 2019, Amsterdam in 2022 and 2023 and London 2024).

ULI - HINES Student Competition

Students from the Real Estate and Sustainable Development Chair have won first place in the ULI Europe Hines 2024 student competition!

The challenge concerned the area around the Gillian Lyne Theatre, near Covent Garden in London. The students were tasked with proposing an urban regeneration plan and analysing its profitability, with the main objectives being a high return on investment and strong ESG commitments. 

They developed a district centred around the theatre industry, with many innovative solutions, including a geo-storage central heating system, a mixed-use building, an apartment-hotel, a theatre bar and many other infrastructures. The students were undoubtedly inspired by the site visits organised by our partners and by their personal experiences.

Our warmest congratulations go to Rachit Agrawal, Solène Maria Lelarge, Louis Fauvi and Anvi Singh. The Chair and its partners are proud of their achievement.

A big thank you to Sebatian Ives, ULI Europe Hines, for the invitation and organisation. Thank you to all the participating teams and to the jury who helped organise this event.

STUDY TRIP LONDON 2024 

The London study trip, from April 9 to 12, focused on real estate and sustainability. On Day 1, students visited L'Oréal, exploring creative workspace design in a BREEAM "Outstanding" certified building, followed by a meeting at Axa Investment Managers to learn about their diverse real estate strategies. The day concluded with a traditional Indian dinner at Masala Zone.

On Day 2, students visited RICS to understand professional standards in the real estate industry and toured the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to see the transformation of Olympic structures.

On Day 3, they explored The Point in Paddington, a symbol of urban regeneration, and toured the construction site of 1 Liverpool Street, a sustainable project by PIMCO and Aviva Investors.

The trip offered key insights into real estate innovation and urban development.

MIPIM 2024!

In March 2024 , our students had the incredible opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of real estate at the prestigious MIPIM event held at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, France. Over four days, they attended informative conferences covering various aspects of the real estate industry from around the world, spanning Europe, America, Asia, the Middle East and beyond.

Our students took diligent notes during these sessions and are now actively contributing to the MIPIM report. In particular, they played a central role in reporting on the Forum des élus, where leading French elected officials and real estate experts discussed housing, territorial investment and innovative public-private models. 

MIPIM isn't just an event for our students to learn from industry professionals - it's a stepping stone toward their future careers as real estate leaders. We're thrilled to see them gaining valuable insights and forging connections that will shape their professional journeys 

NEW PARTNERSHIPS

The ESSEC Real Estate and Sustainable Development Chair is proud to welcome a new partner to strengthen the content of its programme on commercial real estate in line with current sustainable development issues: Adagio Aparthotel.

Adagio is Europe's leading aparthotel operator. Created in France in 2007 as a joint venture between Accor and Pierre & Vacances Center Parcs, Adagio now has 131 sites and 14,071 flats in 16 countries. It is the largest network of apartment hotels in Europe.

Combining the flexibility of a flat with the services of a hotel, Adagio Aparthotels are the best solution for medium and long stays, offering the best value for money to business travellers, holidaymakers and those who like to be both.

Located in urban areas, Adagio Aparthotels come in 3 ranges: Adagio Original, in the heart of major cities; Adagio Access, in the centre of regional capitals or on the outskirts of major cities; and Adagio Premium, luxury aparthotels.