2026 Outlook
February 2026

“Uncertainty does not define the future, our actions do. We believe the places and experiences we create drive real value, helping clients lead through intentional development that sets direction for the future and adapts over time.”

– Scott LaMont, CEO & Principal

©EDSA | Insights | Outlook Report - Confidential Midwest

Signals and Emerging Patterns for Reassessing Risk, Value and Experience

2026 marks a shift from reaction to intention. Amid economic uncertainty, rapid tech change and evolving expectations, real estate leaders are rethinking long-term strategies, prioritizing resilient, flexible, and people-centered places.

 

Success will depend on balancing intelligence with intuition, using data and technology alongside judgment and purpose. These perspectives are not predictions, but signals and emerging patterns that help reassess risk, value and experience – offering practical guidance to move with intention.

 

 

Real Estate

“Cities that endure aren’t built on static solutions. They’re shaped around systems and spaces that flex with daily life, adapt to stress, and remain functional and vibrant through whatever comes.”

– Michael Batts, Principal

1. Navigating Uncertainty

Market ambiguity is pushing investors away from speculative bets and toward demand-driven, diversified asset types that emphasize resilience over familiarity.

 

Success will favor those who diversify portfolios and embrace thoughtful innovation in both asset selection and design, rather than relying solely on traditional models.

 

2. Reimagining Livability

Rising housing costs and shifting migration patterns are redefining livability in once-affordable cities, accelerating demand for flexible, experience-driven rental communities.

 

Build-to-rent and mixed-use models that encourage walkability, amenities, and everyday experiences will outperform traditional housing focused solely on unit size or square-footage.

 

3. Investing in Urban

Cities are prioritizing resilience as rising density and environmental pressures expose the limits of traditional infrastructure and urban systems.

 

Projects that integrate adaptable infrastructure, mobility and high-performing public spaces will align with municipal priorities and remain viable as cities evolve.

 

 

©EDSA | Insights | Outlook Report - Vinhomes Central Park
©EDSA | Insights | Outlook Report - Lustica
Technology

“The most successful places don’t put technology on display but put people first. Intelligence should be felt, not seen, reinforcing presence, balance, and genuine human connection.”

– Kona Gray, Principal

©EDSA | Insights | Outlook Report - FAT Village

1. Embedding Intelligence

Data is becoming foundational to the built environment, with AI actively rooted in systems that anticipate needs and optimize performance.

 

Treating intelligence as core infrastructure – from planning through operations – will be essential to creating neighborhoods that perform, adapt, and enhance the human experience over time.

©EDSA | Insights | Outlook Report - Evermore Orlando

2. Personalizing Design

User-specific expectations shaped by digital platforms are moving into the built environment, redefining the meaning of “smart” spaces.

 

Successful projects will integrate data-informed design and customized experiences with restraint, balancing intelligence with clarity, adaptability, and user trust.

©EDSA | Insights | Outlook Report - Gore Creek

3. Preserving Humanity

As technology accelerates, people are actively seeking more human-centered, tech-balanced environments that prioritize authentic interaction.

 

The most effective spaces will use intelligence to support empathy, comfort, and connection – enhancing human experience rather than overwhelming it.

Health & Wellness

“Health is influenced by the environments people inhabit every day. The spaces we move through, especially landscapes, play a vital role in supporting healing and strengthening lifelong wellbeing.”

– Devon King, Principal

1. Integrating Health

Healthcare is evolving toward integrative wellness, where physical, mental, and emotional health are supported by environments that extend beyond clinical care.

 

Health-focused projects must treat landscapes, public spaces, and building systems as active wellness tools, designing environments that support prevention, recovery, and long-term wellbeing.

 

 

2. Spotlighting Human Comfort

Human comfort is becoming a core component of wellness, with sensory factors like light, sound, air, and temperature recognized as critical to health and performance.

 

Designing the sensory environment as a strategic layer – using research-driven approaches to manage stress and sensory load – will be essential to delivering long-term quality of life.

 

 

3. Designing for All

Wellness is shifting from a personal amenity to an environmental expectation, shaped by the everyday spaces where people live, work, and gather.

 

Future projects must embed wellness equitably – through inclusive workspaces, recreation-forward housing, and public realms that support activity, connection, and access to nature.

 

 

©EDSA | Insights | Outlook Report - AWE Whole Health Campus
©EDSA | Insights | Outlook Report - Pompano Beach Streetscape and Dune Enhancement
Travel & Hospitality

“The greatest opportunity in hospitality today in reimagining what already exists. Thoughtful reinvestment in outdoor spaces and authentic place-making is how destinations evolve without losing their soul.”

– Rich Centolella, Principal

©EDSA | Insights | Outlook Report - Wynn Marjan Island

1. Renewed Through Place

Travel decisions are increasingly driven by familiarity, as people seek destinations that reconnect them with personal memories and emotional anchors.

 

Hospitality projects that honor legacy and identity while thoughtfully refreshing comfort and amenities will build deeper emotional connections and stronger guest loyalty.

©EDSA | Insights | Outlook Report - Diamond District

2. Connecting to Sports Culture

Sports culture is reshaping travel, with fans extending events into multi-day trips driven by local identity, tradition, and cultural energy.

 

Hotels, resorts, and mixed-use projects must act as community extensions, blending property and neighborhood to immerse visitors in the rhythm and character of place.

©EDSA | Insights | Outlook Report - Nekajui

3. Experience Over Excess

Luxury hospitality is shifting from traditional exclusivity to deeply personal, place-driven experiences rooted in local culture and identity.

 

Projects that translate landscape, architecture, and programming into authentic, “only-here” moments will create stronger emotional resonance and stand out in the crowded luxury market.

“Enduring places are not designed for certainty – they are designed in anticipation of change. When we prioritize adaptability, human experience, and long-term performance, we are able to create environments that remain meaningful no matter what the future brings.”

                  – Doug Smith, Principal

©EDSA | Insights | Outlook Report - Bexley Ranch

Designing for What Lasts

As 2026 unfolds, success will hinge on designing places that adapt and endure, balancing flexibility, longevity, and human experience. The most meaningful environments will strengthen community, evolve with their context, and be measured by how they make people feel – not just what they offer.

 

 

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