June 2025

KEEPING IT FLOWING

What the Rise of AI in CRE Means for Developers, Designers & Builders

From picking the perfect site to designing more efficient buildings and keeping construction projects on track, AI is helping CRE professionals work smarter at every stage. Read on to learn three ways AI is already reshaping the landscape for developers, architects, landscape designers, and contractors.

DAY IN THE LIFE

Billy Johnston: Keeping Texas Water Features Flowing Like a True Trail Boss

At OTL, every fountain has a story—and behind the scenes, Billy Johnston is the guy making sure they keep telling it. As Area Care and Maintenance Manager based in our Texas office, Billy is part chemist, part technician, part field commander. His world is water—and there’s never a dull day. Check out our new feature, "Day in the Life," to learn about a typical day in Billy's life working at OTL.

METRICS THAT MATTER

The Financial Edge of Extended Reality

Extended reality (XR) is an umbrella term for immersive technologies that blend the digital and physical worlds. It includes virtual reality (VR), where users enter a fully digital environment; augmented reality (AR), which overlays digital elements onto the real world; and mixed reality (MR), which allows digital and physical objects to interact in real time.

A 2025 report by MoldStud revealed that using AR/VR in real estate can lead to 20% faster sales cycles, 35% more qualified leads in six months, and a 15% increase in sales post-implementation.

Why does this matter for CRE owners, developers and operators? Closing deals more quickly improves occupancy rates and cash flow, higher-quality inquiries reduce marketing spend and lower the cost per lease or sale, and a 15% sales boost directly increases your bottom line.

P.S.

Summer’s here, which means it’s the perfect time to visit the largest adventure playground in the southeast: the newly opened Gipson Play Plaza at Dorothea Dix Park in downtown Raleigh, NC, where our team worked on a spectacular waterfall to delight visitors and cool them down. Click here to see video of the waterfall.

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