As we head into 2016, I think it’s important that we take a moment to reflect upon our joint accomplishments over the last year. From growing our membership to holding another successful KnockOut Night and strengthening our advocacy, I’m proud to say that 2015 was a great year for RECA.

If a commercial real estate deal is giving you a headache, look for the solution in the problem.

The idea of Austin as a significant global hub for technology is well-established, but Austin as a tempest of real estate investment? Apparently so.

From active shooters to bomb threats, stories highlighting compromised commercial buildings have dominated the airwaves in recent months.

In July Austinites learned that the Austin Music Hall at 208 Nueces Street would be demolished to make way for office buildings; now that demolition date is drawing nearer, and final plans are in place for the office building that will take shape on the site of the former music venue.

Oracle Corp. disclosed plans Tuesday to build a 560,000-square-foot campus along Lady Bird Lake in East Austin to focus on cloud computing technology — and has acquired a 295-unit apartment building nearby to house some of its workers.

Many retailers and would-be retailers have struggled to find suitable space in Austin for new and expanding businesses with vacancy rates in the single digits and rents skyrocketing. But a Houston-based pet food purveyor has had great success finding affordable options in Central Texas.

There’s an apartment complex near downtown Houston that has a waiting list of three to six months.

No, it’s not a new luxury apartment with a resort-style pool in Midtown. Avenue Terrace is actually a mixed-income apartment community that breaks the mold of "affordable housing."

Smart companies work with a specialist and engage in strategic planning for months, if not years, in advance to be able to evaluate all market alternatives for their data centers.

Construction giant Gilbane gave its Boston office a security upgrade with the Guardian indoor gunfire detection system from Shooter Detection Systems—and is pushing customers to do the same.

Kinglet is the "eHarmony of commercial real estate," working as a matchmaker of sorts for companies who have extra office space and looking to sublet that out to entrepreneurs and start-ups that are a) in need of a good home, 2) like-minded in businesses, 3) to uncover collaboration opportunities so that both sides of the relationship benefit.

If you own a commercial building in America, chances are you're going to take out terrorism insurance. It has moved into the mainstream with the depressing frequency of international incidents. Six in 10 major businesses in America are insured for terrorism damage, according to the Insurance Information Institute, although the coverage is rarely used.

Before you head outside with that shiny new quadcopter for the first time, you'll have to register with the FAA.

Wednesday January 13, 2016
11:15 am - 1:00 pm

The Four Seasons Hotel
98 San Jacinto Blvd.

Until last year, Austin’s City Council was composed of six at-large City Council seats and an at-large mayor. In 2015, that system was replaced with 10 single-member City Council seats and an at-large mayor. While the community has generally praised the switch to geographically representative districts, has it really been better for the city? How has the change affected land use and transportation? Our panel of local media experts will discuss these questions and more at the January RECA Ideas Forum.

Thursday, February 4, 2016
6:30 pm - 11:30 pm

JW Marriott
110 E. Second Street

RECA’s signature event, the shindig to end all shindigs, the one that started it all...KNOCKOUT NIGHT! This black-tie, fundraising gala is complete with a cocktail reception and dinner, casino gaming, entertainment and more! Sponsoring this event is a wonderful outreach opportunity to position you and your company to existing and potential customers and contacts. Proceeds from this event fund RECA's continued operations as the leading voice for commercial real estate.