As the industry deals with massive disruption, architects and designers are finding that they will play a new role in the recovery. According to Nadel Architecture and Planning leadership, architects and designers will be tasked with finding innovative solutions to the challenges facing CRE. The firm recently transitioned its leadership and ownership team to position the company for growth, but also sees a clear role for their industry in the post-pandemic world.

"CRE architecture and design firms today are tasked with creating innovative solutions to an array of challenges that our clients are facing," Greg Lyon, chairman of the board and principal at Nadel, tells GlobeSt.com. "We must be game-changers and problem-solvers as well as thoroughly comprehend the time, energy, and financial costs involved in every project we design. It is our obligation to also have the foresight to anticipate future challenges based on the global and local trends we are noticing today and build solutions to those challenges into today's projects."

Specifically, the firm's clients are reaching out looking for perspective on how real estate could change and solutions for those changes. "Our clients are relying on us to help them be successful and profitable in their developmental endeavors," says Lyon. "The risks for them are very real, so our job is to mitigate those risks to the best of our ability and lay the groundwork for beautiful environments that will please tenants and visitors for many years to come."