Tomorrow’s City Centre retreat and conference in Glasgow brought together leading real estate, government, business, infrastructure and city strategists to provide insights and a foundation for Glasgow’s City Strategy. Greg Clark, ULI Senior Fellow led a dynamic debate across two days that took a deep dive into how emerging technology, property use, social change and competing industries could shape Glasgow’s City Centre.

Adjusting to a rapidly changing world and establishing opportunities for greater connectivity, flexible building use, employment and health were all debated. The recent Commonwealth Games were sites as proof of the city’s capability to adjust rapidly in a collective manner and this gave hope to all that the city can team together to shape a collective future.

Data and technology was a strong theme and many highlighted that an ability to listening and understanding people’s behaviour and interest as key to delivering the city of the future. Smart phones and the wide use of the internet have enabled a traditional service culture to return where business that succeed are those that understand and value their customers and staff experiences.

Greg Clark asked participants to reflect on “what will you be able to buy in Glasgow in 5 years?” New terms such as ‘Phygital’ (physical and digital) and the ‘Coffice’ (the new office in any café) highlighted the already changing behaviours of people and business that the digital world brings. Adapting real estate and business legislation to a rapidly changing environment will be fundamental to meeting the needs of a modern city.

The report outlining the key finding from the retreat and conference will be published shortly.

Photos from the 2 day conference can be viewed here.