The graduate student team from the Chapman University Argyros College of Business & Economics, Alexander E. Hayden School of Real Estate (Chapman) took the win and the Orange Cup at the fifth annual NAIOP SoCal OC Real Estate Challenge. The annual event pits graduate student teams from Chapman and the University of California, Irvine Paul Merage School of Business Center for Real Estate (UCI) in a head-to-head competition to determine the highest and best use for a Southern California site.
The 2026 competition site is an approximately 8.3-acre redevelopment opportunity in Anaheim that encompasses six separate vacant parcels formerly used for various automotive-related services. Chapman’s winning presentation, The Pulse at Anaheim, includes 40,000 square feet of dining, retail and experiential tenants, along with 306 multifamily units. The students called the site a destination and connector, sharing how they worked with residents and businesses in the community to better understand local concerns.
The Chapman team included Lucas Ghahari, Clayton Lobel, Enyo Kim, Eric Valdivia and Helen Woldemariam. To win the Orange Cup, the team accrued the most points during written and oral presentations to a panel of high-profile commercial real estate industry leaders and the live audience.
The UCI team included Angel Barajas, Fox Boswell, Alan Dao, Arkansh Singh and Penelope Soto Leyva.
“The value of this event is immeasurable,” said David Nazaryk, chair, OC Real Estate Challenge and managing director, Trammel Crow. “It provides an incredible opportunity to engage the next generation and build a pipeline of talent in commercial real estate as well as bring the real estate community together for a great event.”
The post Chapman Team Takes Home Orange Cup in 2026 NAIOP SoCal OC Real Estate Challenge appeared first on Connect CRE.