SSRI Open House - The Social Science of Space: Why Real Estate Needs You More Than You Think

Real estate is often viewed as the domain of economists, developers, and financiers—but this narrow framing overlooks a fundamental truth: every question about how people live, learn, work, age, and interact is a real estate question. The Cocoziello Institute for Real Estate Innovation approaches real estate not as property transactions, but as the entire built environment and the human experiences shaped within it.

This talk introduces the Institute’s mission to integrate human‑centered research, data analytics, and emerging technologies—including digital twins and AI‑driven decision tools—to better understand how people experience and shape the spaces around them. I will highlight ongoing work at Penn State that already intersects with real estate in unexpected ways, from behavioral studies in smart environments to research on equity, mobility, environmental health, and community resilience.

Lastly, there will be a discussion of clear opportunities for SSRI scholars to collaborate with the Institute. Real estate innovation isn’t about buildings—it’s about people, context, and the systems that shape place—and social science is central to that future.

A light lunch will be served for in-person attended, so please register here.