Walking tours, historical architecture, rich culture, and thoughtful design—all aspects that students explored during the Design Construction and Feasibility residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Led by Carey’s Senior Professional Instructor Chris Murray, students stepped outside of familiar U.S. real estate to examine the realities of doing business in an international market. Site visits, conversations with local developers, and real-world observations showed them just how dramatically projects can vary based on geography.
“Residencies outside the U.S. give our students opportunities to learn about international design and construction issues,” said Murray.
The students were challenged to think beyond standard practices and consider how location fundamentally shapes a project. What may seem like a straightforward decision in one market can become a complex and strategic challenge in another.
The residency put emphasis on how the selection of materials, equipment, and systems can affect both the function and cost of a building. Students learned how local cultural issues can shape design decisions and how logistical realities create constraints that change timelines and sequencing.
These constraints proved that construction methods and techniques vary significantly across regions. The availability of materials, permits, and historical factors all influence how and when a project moves forward.
The students focused on retail development during the residency. Retail shops in international locations often have stronger ties to local culture and historical context, which means addressing those issues with higher sensitivity.
Built-in connections
The students visited with industry leaders from organizations including Urban Edge, District T-Mobile, and local developer Justin Tirri. Site visits and conversations with industry professionals helped the students gain insights into how to obtain critical information on the design process and adhere to regional challenges.
“The industry leaders shared how they have created their own processes to design unique buildings and the critical features that must be thoroughly planned out to be successful,” said MBA student Ben Hansell.
Hearing directly from professionals currently navigating Puerto Rico’s development landscape also built meaningful international connections.
"Their perspectives provided insights into the real estate landscape that would have taken me months to acquire on my own. I found that meaningful conversations with experts like Justin Tirri, who shared his future plans and operational strategies, were invaluable," said current MBA student Sewa Atanda.
The residency also created space for students to connect with each other. Bringing together students from full-time and part-time program formats, the experience strengthened connections in ways that virtual learning alone cannot.
Real Estate and Infrastructure student Rafael Castro, who works in Puerto Rico and typically attends experiences at Carey remotely, connected with many of his peers for the first time in person.
“I valued getting to know my classmates, who are accomplished professionals in various fields. The chance to exchange experiences and learn from their different perspectives has been incredibly beneficial. In fact, I am now working with several of them on coursework and potential business projects,” said Castro.
Experiential learning at Carey
Hands-on learning is part of the Carey experience. No matter what program or modality, our students have the opportunity to participate in global residencies and hands-on projects to strengthen their skills and professional networks.
“Experiential courses provide essential context through direct interaction with industry professionals and personalized instruction from Carey faculty, greatly enriching the learning experience beyond the classroom,” said Castro.