This edition of Property Innovation news is brought to you by Malcolm Aikman, Director of Innovociti Pty Ltd. 

Energy

Stockland Energises its Master Plan Communities
Stockland is combining with Bradford Energy to offer discounted solar energy packages to 25,000 of residents in its communities. Residents will receive a 15-20% discount on a package of solar panels, inverter and optimiser, and battery system for a cost of around $19,000.

Retail

Fraser’s to Open World’s Most Sustainable Shopping Centre
Fraser’s new Brickworks Shopping centre in Burwood, Melbourne meets the world’s highest environmental standards of the Living Building Challenge through initiatives such as generating more energy than it consumes, retaining and recycling all water, dedicating 20% of its footprint for food growing, and using predominantly natural ventilation. These initiatives appear to have converted into financial benefits with the centre opening 95% leased, with above market rents, and longer lease periods.

Commercial

Investa Launches Office User App
Investa has worked with Willow, designer of the digital twin for the built environment, to be the first Australian property company to develop its own app that is completely customised to the needs of its tenants, owners and operations teams. The ‘insite’ tenant experience app at Sixty Martin Place, Sydney is a single system interfacing app that seamlessly integrates building services, operations, amenities and content to elevate the way tenants interact with the building – raising the occupancy experience.

Retail

How to Buy the Freshest Produce in Store
The Kroger Co. and Infarm, a Berlin-based urban farming network, is introducing modular living produce farms to Kroger’s QFC stores in Washington state, USA. The living produce farms use hydroponic technology to grow produce on site, removing the need for extended transportation and storage and produce a more eco-conscious product. The farms are designed to scale and will provide shoppers the freshest and most sustainable living produce options available.

Retail

McKinsey Opens Shop to Work Out the Future of Retailing
McKinsey Strategy Consultants have partnered with Mall of America and a number of technology companies to investigate the intersection between in-store retailing and technology. The Modern Retail Collective is a test shop that allows retailers to understand how digital tools affect store traffic, engagement, transactions, and productivity. One of the in-store technology initiatives are a series of augmented-reality mirrors that allow customers to interact with and virtually try-on merchandise.

New Communities

A New Residential Community in Arizona is going Carless
Cul-de-sac Tempe in Arizona is the first US neighbourhood purposely built to exclude private automobiles. The property’s 1,000 residents will occupy 636 multi-family units and will not have private cars or parking spots. There will be spots for visitors and ride-sharing operators. The development will be connected to the Phoenix light rail system and buses. Bikes and scooters will be available for short trips.

Accommodation

Co-Living Goes Corporate in London
The Co-Living sector is going corporate with The Collective Canary Wharf signing up JP Morgan for a corporate membership incorporating around 200 of the development’s 705 rooms in East London. The Collective has the standard co-living facilities including shared kitchens, and common areas but adds in a spa with sound baths, meditation rooms and reiki; a pool; a large gym; a cinema; a music venue; and a golf simulator.