Viewpoint
Recent Features
All Roads Lead to Washington
We are at the dawn of America’s next Industrial Revolution, and it will be shaped in large part by the convergence of technological innovation, climate change and geopolitical pressures.
Driving the Future of Domestic Battery Recycling: A Conversation with Steven Wu, COO of ABTC
In this exclusive conversation with Area Development, Steven Wu, the newly minted Chief Operating Officer of American Battery Technology Company (ABTC), discusses ABTC’s strategy to play a pivotal role in the U.S. domestic supply chain.
From Steel to Silicon: Chicago’s South Works Site to Host Largest U.S. Quantum Computing Hub
The $2.2 million project will transform the former industrial site into a cutting-edge quantum computing facility, advancing Chicago’s role in the tech industry.
Welcome to The Great Electron Race
The great electron race is underway, and those who innovate and adapt will shape the future of our continually evolving digital society.
In Focus: Will Serve Letters and Right-of-Way Acquisitions in Site Selection
Exploring the nuances of utility commitments and legal access.
In Focus: Is This Community Approach the Blueprint for Sustainable Industrial Development?
Industrial designers are exploring the transformative potential of landscape architecture to harmonize industrial development with environmental sustainability and community well-being.
In Focus: Rethinking Industrial Site Selection: A Retail Perspective
The idea of putting the needs of the potential workforce first when making the location decision mirrors retail’s tradition of prioritizing customer satisfaction.
In Focus: Working Toward Zero-Emission Buildings Ahead of Regulatory Mandates
All stakeholders working in unison will benefit the environment while also resulting in positive business outcomes.
In Focus: AI’s Influence on Data Center Growth
The use of AI is driving a surge in demand for computing power and the development of more data centers, which, in turn, have an increasing need for reliable power and water.
In Focus: Picking the Right Joint Venture Partners
Here are three tips to help construction firms use joint ventures to meet demand without increasing risk.
Editor's Note: The Year Site Selection Grew Up
Energy availability takes center stage as companies compete for grid capacity and rethink growth strategies
Around the Horn: Advanced Manufacturing’s Next Move
JLL recently launched an Advanced Manufacturing group to meet the moment, and Area Development spoke with group leaders Greg Matter, Vice Chair, Industrials, and Meaghan Elwell, Division President of Global Industrials, to get their real estate playbook for the new era. This conversation has been edited for space and style.
Editor’s Note: Thriving at the Intersection of Change
First Person: Astrobotic CEO on Building the Lunar Economy
Astrobotic CEO John Thornton says the race to establish sites on the Moon is already underway—and location matters as much as it does on Earth.
First Person: Karis Cold’s Ken Verne on Urban Demand, Automation, and the Infrastructure Gap
Karis Cold’s Ken Verne joins Area Development to talk about urban infill opportunities, automation readiness, ESG strategy, and why facilities need to be designed for 2030—not just today’s needs.
Editor’s Note: Making Sense of the Shifts
If you’re reading this magazine, you’re likely grappling with questions that don’t have easy answers: Where will the next constraint show up? What will this election cycle do to capital flows? How do you build resilience without losing speed?
First Person: David Robey, Co-CEO of QTS Data Centers
With QTS rapidly scaling to meet hyperscaler and enterprise demand across North America and Europe, Co-CEO David Robey shares his perspective on site selection, utilities, incentives, and what’s next for the industry. Robey, who previously served as COO, brings a tactical mindset to an evolving set of location priorities.
First Person: Joe Capes, CEO, LiquidStack
LiquidStack CEO Joe Capes on choosing Texas for expansion, working through AI supply chain shocks, and why hot water is the future of cooling.
First Person: Meaghan Elwell, Division President for JLL’s Industrials
Meaghan Elwell serves as the President of the Industrials Division at JLL Work Dynamics, where she oversees global outsourcing relationships across various sectors, including Manufacturing, Aviation, Automotive, Logistics, Oil & Gas, and Utilities. With over 20 years at JLL, she has extensive experience in managing corporate relationships and large real estate portfolios.
First Person: Brent Omdahl, SVP Government Affairs for Global Wafers
The EVP for Government Affairs at GlobalWafers shares insights on a $3.5 billion investment in Sherman, Texas, workforce development, and how the CHIPS Act has reshaped semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S.
Editor’s Note: The Future Is Now
The Role of Rail in Industrial Development
Area Development talked with Norfolk Southern’s GVP of Industrial Development, Craig Hudson, about the evolving importance of rail in site selection, supply chain sustainability, and emerging sectors like metals and advanced materials.
Editor's Note: Raising a future American
As site selectors, we seek communities that nurture versatile talent pools. And as parents, we’re working to prepare our kids to be part of that future workforce. In the end, both parenting and site selection come down to building for the future.
Nice to meet you, dear reader. Call me Andy.
First Person: Scott Kupperman, Owner, Kupperman Location Solutions (KLS)
Area Development interviewed Scott Kupperman about factors affecting food processing site selection, including cost pressures, geographic preferences, financial considerations, automation, labor shortages, and sustainability.
A Final Note: An Editorial Transition at Area Development
The means by which information is delivered has, of course, changed over the last three decades, but Area Development will continue to provide our readers with what they require to make informed site and facility planning decisions.
First Person: Q&A with Tech Hubs Director Eric Smith
Exploring opportunities for manufacturing growth through the Federal Tech Hubs Program with insights from director Eric Smith on collaboration and regional innovation.
Editor’s Note: Electric Power Demands Key to Location Decisions
The consumption of electricity is only predicted to increase as the digital transformation of industry continues and, consequently, access to electricity has become a dominant site selection factor.
First Person: Making Facilities “Fit” for the Digital Future
Area Development’s staff editor, Lisa Bastian, interviewed Stephanie Dorsey, CEO of Siemens Real Estate in the Americas, about the changing real estate needs of today’s innovative and growth companies.
First Person: Realizing the Inflation Reduction Act’s Full Potential
Brian Murphy discusses how tax and finance can collaborate to advance a company’s key sustainability goals.
Editor’s Note: The Worker Shortage - A New Reality
With a worker shortage that seems destined to persist, employers are turning to AI/automation and upskilling, while also realizing that comprehensive immigration reform is necessary to fill gaps in the labor force.
First Person: How to Identify and Build a Robust Community Ecosystem to Attract New Businesses
Creating an exceptional business environment to attract certain industries can be a daunting task for any community’s leaders. However, it can be done with focused introspection, research, and strong partnerships. Area Development’s staff editor Lisa Bastian asked Michael Flynn, senior director of Economic Development at Destination Medical Center (Rochester, MN), for his ideas on ecosystem formation.
First Person: Aligning Energy Needs With Sustainability Goals
Companies are continuing to automate, which is increasing their demand for power while, at the same time, they try to meet sustainability goals and remain competitive.
Editor’s Note: Workforce Stats Paint a More Optimistic Picture, Although Challenges Remain
Industry is still being challenged by low unemployment and the e-commerce surge among other concerns but is continuing to spend on new facilities and “to think outside the box” when it comes to fulfilling workforce needs.
First Person: Establishing a Robust Rare Earth Magnet Supply Chain
Rare earth magnets are critical to keeping America’s economy strong and protecting our way of life. With this in mind, Area Development’s staff editor Lisa Bastian asked Tom Schneberger, CEO of USA Rare Earth, to share his perspective on this issue.
Editor’s Note: Production of EVs and Chips Comes to Forefront
Despite economic uncertainty, industry investment in both the EV/battery and semiconductor industries continues to grow.
