Daniel Wright is the Associate Director of The Childress Klein Center for Real Estate and Senior Lecturer at UNC Charlotte. Over the past few decades, he has worked across a wide range of development roles, including project management for retail, office, medical-office, and multifamily projects, as well as asset management for institutional land investments spanning from small sites to thousands of acres. In addition to his professional work, Daniel teaches real estate development and focuses his research on how the built environment influences financial and social capital. He has presented nationally, including at the 2025 American Real Estate Society conference.

We sat down to discuss his journey (which started with an undergraduate degree in architecture), what energizes him about teaching, and what living in a city like Charlotte has meant for his professional career...

Branden Piks:

One thing I’ve always found really interesting about your path is that you started with an undergraduate degree in architecture but then moved pretty decisively into development. It’s adjacent, but it’s also a big shift—especially without a formal real estate background at the time.

I was curious what those first few years felt like. Did you ever miss architecture? Or did it feel pretty clear early on that development was where you wanted to be?

Daniel Wright:

...I’ve always had a design-oriented brain, but I also enjoy math and numbers, so development felt like a natural fit. I could still stay close to design—hiring architects, helping with early planning layouts—but I was also involved in overseeing construction, working through entitlements, and managing the full life cycle of a project. There were moments when I wanted more design involvement, and I still naturally think that way, which I think comes through in how I teach.

But what really clicked was being part of creating the whole place—the entire symphony, not just one instrument.

​Read the Full Conversation Here​

Hornets partner with Honeywell to create smartest buildings in Charlotte

"The Charlotte Hornets are partnering with Honeywell on a multi-year deal to turn Spectrum Center and their new training facility into two of the smartest buildings in the city.

The partnership will bring AI-powered automation to both Spectrum Center and the Hornets' new training facility — improving player performance, tightening security and streamlining building operations..."

​Read Full Article​

How does this impact our region?

After reading this article, and the others associated below, it was evident that this partnership is more than just tech upgrades. It’s about reimagining how we design, operate, and experience buildings in our city. The Hornets and Honeywell have announced a multi‑year strategic alliance to turn the Spectrum Center and the upcoming Novant Health Performance Center into two of the most advanced, AI‑enabled facilities in Charlotte.

At the Spectrum Center, AI and automated systems will be integrated to enhance security, energy management, climate control, and fan experience — essentially turning a busy event venue into a learning, adaptive built environment. Meanwhile, the Novant Health Performance Center, which is being designed from the ground up, gives Honeywell a rare opportunity to embed full building automation and AI capability with no retrofit constraints.

This matters for our region in a few key ways:

1. It signals a possible new chapter for Charlotte’s built environment. AI‑powered automation isn’t just for Silicon Valley campuses anymore — it’s now part of how we think about major facilities in cities like Charlotte. With Honeywell’s systems coming online, these buildings will operate in real time, adjusting lighting, temperature, security and energy usage based on occupancy and conditions. This technology is no longer seen as futuristic but is thought of as current best practice for smart buildings. Across the U.S., building managers are increasingly using AI to streamline operations, boost security, and optimize energy usage — with nearly 84% planning to increase their use of AI within a year.
2. This partnership sets a new precedent for how large venues can be designed and maintained. We’re no longer talking about standalone HVAC and security systems but fully integrated digital ecosystems. These technologies collect data from sensors, building systems, and occupancy patterns, then use that information to anticipate failures, enhance safety, and reduce costs. Real‑world implementations — like Honeywell’s AI platform already in use at institutions such as Vanderbilt University and within enterprise campuses — show this is a proven framework for smarter facilities.
3. It elevates expectations for future design and construction. For architects and builders in Charlotte, this is a major signal for intelligent building systems becoming standard practice, not optional add‑ons at this scale. In smart buildings, operations, performance analytics, and occupant experience are designed together, not retrofitted later. As Honeywell describes, AI transforms reactive maintenance into predictive maintenance — flagging issues before they occur, reducing downtime and extending the life of critical systems.
4. It creates a talent and innovation pathway for commercial real estate locally. More than hardware or software, this technology is about upskilling operations teams and creating new roles within facilities management, design, and construction. AI isn’t a replacement for human expertise; it’s something that augments it. That’s a real opportunity for firms and professionals here to build capabilities that match the direction the market is heading.

Of course, the challenges are real. Integrating cutting‑edge automation into existing facilities like the Spectrum Center requires coordination, workforce training, cybersecurity considerations, and thoughtful phasing so that the fan experience, player performance spaces, and daily operations are enhanced — not disrupted. But that’s precisely the kind of complex project that advances our collective capabilities as a design and construction community. And, can further elevate the built environment within our city.

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Summary Thoughts...

• Place tech and human experience on equal footing. Smart buildings aren’t only efficient — they improve occupant comfort, safety, and adaptability.
• Plan for systems integration early. The earlier AI and automation are considered (especially in design and construction documents), the better the overall outcome.
• Think beyond energy savings. AI unlocks predictive maintenance, occupancy analytics, security layering, and environmental comfort — all of which become market differentiators.
• Cultivate talent and skills locally. As AI becomes mainstream in facility operations, upskilling teams will be essential — from architects and engineers to facility managers and trade partners.
• Design for scalability. What’s being implemented here at Spectrum Center and the Performance Center will soon ripple throughout commercial, institutional, and mixed‑use projects in Charlotte and beyond.

Construction is well underway on our latest adaptive reuse and change-of-use commercial tenant upfit on Selwyn Avenue in Myers Park. Originally built in 1948 as a post-war neighborhood service station, this building has served many roles over the decades — evolving into neighborhood retail and housing a series of local businesses. Today, it continues that legacy with its next chapter as the future home of Orrman’s Cheese Shop.

This project has been an exciting opportunity to thoughtfully reimagine an existing structure while respecting its historical context and role within the neighborhood. The broader area has transitioned into a more boutique, wellness- and lifestyle-oriented commercial corridor, and our goal has been to design a storefront that feels both contemporary and rooted in the building’s past.

Progress is currently focused on interior mechanical and electrical installations, with drywall nearing completion and the space being prepped for upcoming finishes. In the coming weeks, work will shift toward tile installation, sealed concrete flooring, and the build-out of custom decorative display millwork that will define the shop’s customer experience. We also can't wait to see the new corner storefront installed!

With construction targeted for completion by the end of January 2026, it’s rewarding to see the project taking shape and moving steadily toward the finish line. Adaptive reuse projects like this reinforce the value of working with existing buildings — extending their life, supporting local businesses, and contributing to the evolving fabric of Charlotte’s neighborhoods.

"You have to make the time, not find the time." | Nick Bare