In 2026, the “Office Apocalypse” enters its next chapter—The Great Repurposing. Back for its fourth year, the Future of Real Estate Competition launches on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, challenging students to tackle this moment in the market with bold ideas and fresh perspectives. Tasked with reimagining an office property as a vibrant residential living space, teams will draw on their knowledge, creativity, and ingenuity to deliver solutions that balance visionary design with real-world feasibility. Designed to bridge architectural creativity with real-world financial feasibility, teams of 3–5 multidisciplinary students will renovate a distressed asset and present their vision to a panel of esteemed industry judges. With $25,000 in prize money on the line, this year’s competition promises bold ideas, thoughtful debate, and meaningful connections with real estate leaders. Register your team below, and be sure to attend the FORE Competition Launch on March 25.

Important Dates & Things to Know:

• • Interest Form List will be shared on Friday, January 16th
  • Competition Launch: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 (Competition materials will be launched virtually via the Weiser Center for Real Estate website.)
    
  • Applications Close: Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 12:00 AM EST
    
  • Final Pitches: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 
    • • Time: 3:00–9:00 PM (Teams will participate in an initial round of judging, after which select teams will advance to the final pitch round.)
      • Location: Blau Colloquium, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan
  • Team Requirements:
    • • Teams of 3–5 University of Michigan students
      • Undergraduate and graduate students welcome
        • • Your team CAN BE a mix of undergraduate students and graduate students
          • Teams may include a mix of undergraduate and graduate students, or be composed entirely of undergraduate students. However, teams may not be comprised exclusively of graduate students.
      • Each team must include at least one member representing investment, design & developmen
  • Prizes: $25,000 total prize pool — register to win your share!

Interested in participating but don’t yet have a team? No problem, Weiser’s here to assist! Complete the Interest Form below, and the Weiser Center for Real Estate will help connect you with fellow students to ensure you find a team and are ready to compete.

Ready to register yourself and your teammates? Complete the Registration Form below to let the Weiser Center know you’re in and officially join the competition.