THE COMPETITION
The Colvin Case Study Challenge is a national intercollegiate real estate case study competition for full or part-time students enrolled in a college or a university real estate program (undergraduate or graduate or a university sanctioned real estate club/organization). The Challenge is to document a recent innovative real estate project within the team’s metropolitan region. Unlike many other case competitions, this is a post-development report and documentation of a recently completed project (or project phase). The Challenge is designed to hone professional skills and reveal the knowledge base and understanding of markets, project valuation, finance, urban design and sustainability, entitlement processes and operational issues.
The competition may be offered for (a) course credit, (b) as part of a course requirement, or (c) as an extracurricular activity. The number of teams from an individual school or program is not limited.
Round 1: Teams submit a written case study of an existing real estate development project.
Round 2: Four teams will be chosen to present their case study, in person, to an industry panel of judges at the University of Maryland, College Park.
THE CASE STUDY SCOPE
The selected project must meet the following parameters:
Location: Project located within the team’s local, state or regional area
Permitted asset classes: residential, office, retail, hospitality, mixed-use
Size: 25 acres or less
TDC: $25 –$350 Million
Completion: Project (or project phase) completed by 2019 or later
TEAM SPECIFICATIONS
One to three Real Estate Students (undergraduate or graduate)
Maximum of two advisors: one faculty and one professional
CASE STUDY PARAMETERS
Developer/Development team
Developer’s vision for the project
Detailed project description & site plan
Market Analysis
Planning and entitlement issues
Building & landscape designs and sustainable/green features
Project financing and market analysis (sources and uses) (performance to proforma) (ROI)
Current operational issues/challenges
Exit strategy
Innovation and impact of the development
Interviews with stakeholders
JUDGING
Results of the preliminary judging will be announced on November 19, 2024
The top four teams will present to a live jury of real estate professionals (and an audience) at the University of Maryland, College Park.*
30 minute presentations/20 minute Q&A.
Winners will be announced and prizes presented at an awards reception
PRIZES
FIRST PLACE $10,000
SECOND PLACE $5,000 NEW!
THIRD PLACE $2,500
FOURTH PLACE $2,500
SCHEDULE
Intent to Participate: August 23, 2024
Submit Application: September 27, 2024
Team Submission: November 13, 2024 (11:59 PM)
Announcement of Finalists: November 19, 2024
Present at UMD: December 7, 2024*
Awards Reception: December 7, 2024
* Finalists are responsible for airfare, ground travel and incidentals. Hotel accommodations will be provided by the University of Maryland (up to 3 team members plus one sponsor/mentor/faculty).
SPECIFICATIONS
Maximum report length 20 pages, single spaced
ULI Case Studies format recommended (example provided upon request)
PDF document with 1-inch margins on all sides, Arial 12-point font
Title Page and Executive Summary (3 page maximum) (not within 20-page limit)
Graphics, charts, images permitted within page limits
Color print or B/W permitted
Appendices: maximum of 10 pages (not within 20-page limit)
Electronic submission location: To Be Announced
University/College name and names of team members should NOT appear in any part of the final paper. Each team will be assigned a random team number.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Carrie Chard, Assistant Director
Colvin Institute of Real Estate Development
Architecture Building #145
3835 Campus Drive
University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
cchard@umd.edu | 301-405-6322
Special thank you to our sponsor Wells Fargo Foundation.
