The construction industry is evolving fast—and at the center of it all is the race to build smarter, faster, and more responsibly.

In this episode of CRE Unplugged, hosts Nadine Ezzie and Ryan Elazari sit down with Josh Hullum, Executive Director of Construction at Affinius Capital to unpack how teams are navigating grid constraints, shrinking carbon footprints, and making smarter bets on materials and markets.

Josh shares how his team cut embodied carbon by 40% on a California industrial park, why mass timber and wellness are more than trends, and how data centers are colliding with the limits of our power infrastructure.

From AI-driven design to the green premium, this episode is a playbook for building better—without compromise.

Show Notes:

0:10: Nadine and Ryan share life updates

4:48: The fast evolution of the construction industry

6:10: Introducing Josh Hullum

8:55: Josh’s career journey

12:46: Challenges to building Data Centers

16:55: Primary markets for Data Centers/The availability & race to power

19:59: What’s fueling demand in the industrial sector and where the next opportunities lie.

22:23: Josh highlights a development project he’s proud of—and what's making it a success.

30:55: How Affinius is utilizing AI?

32:08: “The Green Premium”

35:59: Staying motivated when facing market or project challenges

38:21: “The Perfect Building”

44:18: Advice to entering the CRE industry

47:22: How does Josh Unplug?

53:45: Nadine & Ryan’s Takeaways

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This episode is sponsored by our awesome partner, HILO, making connectivity and engagement a breeze in commercial real estate.

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