Penn State Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation

Get in on the ground floor - be an early sponsor of the new Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation and double your impact with an endowment-level gift, matched 1:1, to support interdisciplinary research that translates to real-world solutions for the real estate industry.  

📢 Big News for Real Estate Innovation at Penn State! #WeAre thrilled to celebrate the transformative $1 million gift from Arthur and Gail Pasquarella to establish the Arthur P. Pasquarella Professorship in Real Estate at the Penn State Smeal College of Business. https://lnkd.in/eXdVGXvA This generous endowment strengthens Penn State’s position as a national leader in real estate education and research—and directly complements the mission of the Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation, which is dedicated to solving real-world challenges through cross-disciplinary collaboration. Endowed faculty positions like this one empower scholars to pursue cutting-edge research, mentor students, and elevate the academic experience. For the Cocoziello Institute, this means deeper integration with Smeal’s faculty expertise, expanded opportunities for student engagement, and a stronger pipeline of innovative ideas that shape the future of the built environment. Together, the Pasquarellas’ gift and the Cocoziello Institute’s initiatives represent a powerful synergy—uniting philanthropy, education, and industry to drive meaningful change in real estate. 👏 Thank you, Art and Gail, for your visionary support! #PennState #RealEstateInnovation #CocozielloInstitute #SmealCollege #Philanthropy #AcademicExcellence #BuiltEnvironment #PennStateProud

🏈 Coming to Happy Valley for the White Out Game? Make the most of your visit by joining us for two days of cutting-edge conversations hosted by the Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation at Penn State! 📅 Thursday, September 25, 2025 🔹 Real Estate Reimagined: Private Equity, AI, and the Future of the Built Environment 🕧 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM Discover how technology and capital are transforming the spaces we live and work in. 🔹 Student Ideation Session 🕕 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM In collaboration with the Nittany AI Student Society, students will brainstorm AI-powered solutions for the built environment—kickstarting ideas for the Nittany AI Challenge. 📅 Friday, September 26, 2025 🔹 Building What Comes Next: Private Roundtable 🕘 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM A closed-door session with industry leaders shaping the future of real estate innovation. 📍 Whether you're an alum, a student, or a visitor in town for the legendary White Out game on Saturday, stop by and see how Penn State is leading the way in real estate and AI innovation. 🔗 Event details & how to register: https://lnkd.in/ewXcydnh #WhiteOutWeekend #PennState #RealEstateInnovation #AIForGood #CocozielloInstitute #NittanyAI #BuiltEnvironment

During today’s Penn State University Football game, this video aired featuring Dr. John Mauro and his team’s groundbreaking work on Lion Glass — a stronger, lighter, and more sustainable alternative to traditional glass. #WeAre proud that Lion Glass is partially funded by the Cocoziello Institute Seed Grant Program, which empowers bold ideas with the potential to transform industries and improve lives. 🎥 Watch the video here: https://lnkd.in/ej2jHqBC Dr. Mauro’s research is a shining example of the innovation we’re proud to support — and seeing it showcased during a PSU Football game is a true celebration of Penn State excellence. #CocozielloInstitute #LionGlass #PennStateResearch #Sustainability #Innovation #SeedGrantImpact #PSUFootball #MaterialsScience Penn State Research

We were thrilled to welcome Conley Oster to campus for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation as part of our Lunch and Learn speaker series. His insights into entrepreneurship, innovation, and the future of robotics captivated our audience and sparked meaningful dialogue among students and faculty alike. Conley’s journey with Raise Robotics is a powerful example of how vision, grit, and creativity can drive real change in the built environment. We’re grateful for his time, energy, and the inspiration he brought to our community. Thank you, Conley, for a truly wonderful visit! #LunchAndLearn #RaiseRobotics #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #ThankYou #RealEstateTech #StudentEngagement

⚡️ Fusion Breakthroughs and the Future of Real Estate A major leap in nuclear fusion technology was just announced: engineering firms in the U.K. have developed radiation-hardened systems that could make fusion reactors safer, more autonomous, and more scalable. These innovations — including a motor system that withstands extreme radiation and a signal converter that simplifies robotic maintenance — bring us closer to a future powered by clean, limitless energy. At the Penn State Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation, we’re watching these developments closely. One of our five key focus areas is “Design for a Nuclear Future” — a commitment to exploring how advanced energy systems like fusion will reshape the built environment. Fusion energy isn’t just a scientific milestone; it’s a real estate challenge. How do we design buildings, communities, and infrastructure to support and benefit from this new energy paradigm? Our interdisciplinary teams are already working on scalable models for off-grid communities, ESG-driven building materials, and energy-integrated real estate development. 🔗 As fusion technology evolves, Penn State is preparing the next generation of thinkers and builders to lead the transformation — from lab to land. https://lnkd.in/eVbVm26n #FusionEnergy #RealEstateInnovation #CleanEnergy #PennState #CocozielloInstitute #BuiltEnvironment #InventPennState #Sustainability #InterdisciplinaryResearch

⚛️ Google’s Nuclear Leap — and What It Means for Real Estate Innovation Google’s announcement to build a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) in Tennessee to power its data centers is a landmark moment for sustainable infrastructure. This isn’t just an energy story — it’s a real estate story. The integration of advanced nuclear technology into commercial development signals a new frontier in how we design, build, and power the built environment. At the Penn State Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation, we’re deeply invested in exploring how emerging technologies like SMRs will reshape real estate. Our focus on “Design for a Nuclear Future” encourages students, researchers, and industry leaders to think beyond traditional energy models and consider how real estate can support — and be transformed by — next-gen energy systems. This kind of innovation demands new thinking around zoning, safety, community engagement, and long-term sustainability. It’s exactly the kind of interdisciplinary challenge we’re preparing our students to tackle. 🔗 As Google redefines what’s possible in energy and infrastructure, Penn State is helping shape the talent and ideas that will bring these visions to life. https://lnkd.in/dbQPNWAh #RealEstateInnovation #NuclearEnergy #SMR #Sustainability #PennState #CocozielloInstitute #EnergyTransition #BuiltEnvironment #InventPennState

🚀 Innovation in Real Estate is Accelerating — and Penn State is Ready to Lead LightTable, a Denver-based proptech startup, just raised a $6M seed round to revolutionize the peer review process in real estate development using AI. Their platform can analyze thousands of pages of design documents in under an hour — a task that traditionally takes weeks. This leap in efficiency and accuracy is exactly the kind of disruption the industry needs. At the Penn State Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation, we’re inspired by companies like LightTable that blend deep industry expertise with cutting-edge technology. Our mission is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and equip students and faculty to tackle real estate’s most pressing challenges — from sustainability and labor economics to regulatory adaptation and tech integration. LightTable’s success story is a powerful example of what happens when seasoned professionals and AI engineers work together to solve real-world problems. It’s the kind of synergy we aim to cultivate through our research labs, student programs, and industry partnerships. Let’s keep pushing boundaries. The future of real estate is being built today — and Penn State is proud to be part of the conversation. Check out the article here: https://lnkd.in/e3yzwzkc #RealEstateInnovation #PropTech #AI #PennState #CocozielloInstitute #LightTable #ConstructionTech #InventPennState

#WeAre proud to share that the Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation has been featured in Penn State Research 2024: A Year of High Impact, spotlighting its bold interdisciplinary approach to solving real estate’s most complex challenges. Founded through the vision and generosity of Peter and Sharon Cocoziello, the Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation is dedicated to advancing the real estate industry through cross-disciplinary collaboration and education. The feature highlights how the Institute brings together experts from engineering, business, architecture, public policy, supply chain, and more to address urgent issues like climate resilience, energy efficiency, and the impact of reshoring on urban development. With buildings contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, the Institute is driving innovation in sustainable materials, renewable energy integration, and AI-powered design. This recognition emphasizes the Institute’s mission to break down silos, foster entrepreneurship, and educate the next generation of real estate innovators. 📖 Read the full feature: https://lnkd.in/eEswfYx3 #PennStateResearch #CocozielloInstitute #RealEstateInnovation #Sustainability #BuiltEnvironment #InterdisciplinaryImpact #Onshoring #Nearshoring #PennState

#WeAre proud to spotlight the visionary work of Mariantonieta Gutierrez Soto, Ph.D., whose interdisciplinary approach to smart structures blends engineering, biomimicry, and community resilience. This project is in need of talented student researchers for an interdisciplinary project on smart amphibious construction. Current Penn State University students of all disciplines are welcome to apply at https://hr.psu.edu/careers for position REQ_0000070269. 🔗 Check out the original post below and learn more about how biomimicry and smart infrastructure are shaping the future! #SmartHomes #Biomimicry #InterdisciplinaryInnovation #CocozielloInstitute