ATLANTA—Twenty-six commercial real estate and built-environment experts convened at the Goizueta Business School of Emory University here last week. Their focus was the annual H. Bruce Russell Global Innovators Award presentations, sponsored by CoreNet Global.

The Innovators Award recognizes advancements in a wide variety of achievements in the built environment, achievements that 1) Have not been done before or never in this particular way; and 2) are both scalable and measurable. Or, in the words of CoreNet, winning projects are “game changers in our industry—those individuals and companies whose work, ideas and best practices elevate the practice of corporate real estate.”

Nine judges weighed the merits of eight innovative projects ranging from specific building designs to regional economic development programs. GlobeSt.com gained exclusive access to the presentations. The winner will be named at CoreNet's North American Summit in Washington, DC this October.