Development Challenge
Development Challenge
The NAIOP Greater Toronto Chapter’s annual Development Challenge is Toronto’s leading opportunity to gain experience in development outside of the workplace.
Teams create comprehensive development concepts for a site that is selected annually. This case competition allows rising stars in commercial real estate to demonstrate their talents and skills to senior industry members through written and live oral presentations.
The Development Challenge is a fantastic opportunity to work with and learn from industry peers. Participants will earn industry-wide recognition and showcase their creativity and knowledge in a fun and competitive atmosphere.
By expanding Developing Leaders’ and students’ skill sets and networks, we help ensure a strong future for our industry.

2025 Development Challenge
The 14th Annual NAIOP GTA Development Challenge is underway!
NAIOP GTA is pleased to announce The South Hangars, developed by Northcrest and Hines, as the Lead Sponsor of our 2025 Development Challenge.
The South Hangars are located in the Hangar District—the first district of the Northcrest-led YZD, the 370-acre former Downsview Airport lands
This marquee NAIOP GTA event will include a Live Finals Event in the fall, where finalists will present live to a panel of judges with colleagues and mentors in attendance, for a chance to win cash prizes for first, second and third-place team placements!
Save the date for October 29th, 5:00 pm, at the Second City Toronto!
Registration details to come soon. Stay tuned to our calendar of events.
Interested in being a sponsor of this year’s NAIOP Development Challenge? Please email events@torontonaiop.org.

Check out some photos from the 2024 finals:


























































































Development Challenge Winners
- 2024 Development Challenge Winners
- 2023 Development Challenge Winners
- 2022 Development Challenge Winners
- 2021 Development Challenge Winners
- 2020 Development Challenge Winners
- 2019 Development Challenge Winners
- 2018 Development Challenge Winners
- 2017 Development Challenge Winners
- 2016 Development Challenge Winners
- 2015 Development Challenge Winners
- 2014 Development Challenge Winners
- 2013 Development Challenge Winners
Congratulations to the 2024 Development Challenge Winners: Team Schuligans
FIRST PLACE: Team Schuligans
Amir Rantisi, MREI, Gaurav Dhaliwal, MREI, Joshua Culmone, MREI, Mahdi Bashash, MREI, Mary Liberto, MREI
RUNNER UP: Team QRIA
Joshua Cheung, Rhys Caplan, Robbie Tamblyn, Zoya Salass
RUNNER UP: Team CSQOne Group
Alex He, Camellia Yang, Garvey Knapp, Grant McDougall, Jane McGrath
The three Finalist Teams competed during the live judging event on October 1st at The Second City Toronto at One York Street.
From May to October, teams of Developing Leaders and students representing local universities created comprehensive development concepts for the year’s site subject: the West Phase III of the Square One District in Mississauga.
Thank you to our Finals Event Judges:
- Sherif Masood – Senior Vice President, Head of Development and Asset Management, Canada, Oxford Properties Group
- Veronica Maggisano, P.Eng., MBA – Vice President, Development, Oxford Properties Group
- Tony Medeiros – Senior Vice President, Development, Dream Unlimited
- Laurie Payne – Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President, Osmington Gerofsky Development Corp.
Thank you to Square One District, managed by Oxford Properties Group the Lead Sponsor, as well as Blakes and CBRE for their support of the 2024 NAIOP Development Challenge.
And finally, thank you to Menkes Development Inc., HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan) and BGO, the venue sponsors for this finals event.
Congratulations to the 2023 Development Challenge Winners: Silverhill Capital
FIRST PLACE: Silverhill Capital
Jared Benjamin, Hannah Brown, Usman Randhawa, Rachel Sarsan, Clarice Zeon
RUNNER UP: Blue Wave Developments
Caitlyn Baillie, Tanner Firth, Steven Orzel, Veer Shete, Benjamin Tse
RUNNER UP: Crossing Heights
Ben Galiegue, Imran Husain, Bo (William) Zhao, Parsa Sahebi
The three Finalist Teams competed during the live judging event on October 5th at The Second City Toronto at One York Street.
From July to September, teams of Developing Leaders and students representing local universities created comprehensive development concepts for the year’s site subject: the Rail Deck District – East Block.
The Rail Deck District is a master-planned, mixed-use community that will be created by decking over the rail corridor between Bathurst Street and Blue Jays Way. The LiUNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada is the lead investor in the Rail Deck District project, and Fengate is managing this investment and development on the Fund’s behalf.
Thank you to the sponsors of the 2023 NAIOP Development Challenge.
Lead Sponsor: Fengate.
Presenting Sponsor: the Bank of Montreal.
Venue sponsors: Menkes, HOOPP and BGO.
Thank you, Awards Event Judges!
Jaime McKenna – Managing Director & Group Head of Real Estate, Fengate Asset Management
Leona Savoie – SVP, Residential, Dorsay Development Corporation
Adidharma Purnomo – SVP, Development, Great Gulf Group
Mike McIntosh – Director, RE IB, BMO Capital Markets
Congratulations to all three Finalist Teams that competed during the live judging event on October 5th. From July to September, teams of Developing Leaders and students representing local universities created comprehensive development proposals for a high-profile Toronto development site: 720 Bay Street, owned by Dream.
FIRST PLACE: Terravert Capital
Samantha Kong, Connor Stanton, Noemi Holczer, Dominic Mandalfino, Madeline Rainer, Lois Anaide
RUNNER UP: Giraffe Group
Keegan Steeper, Samantha Flomen, Steven Roberts, Tommy Guo
RUNNER UP: Hestia Capital
Ahmed Khafagy, Jenny Pao, Saalik Soleja, Sullivan Segbedji, Sydney Gable-Cook
Thank you, Awards Event Judges!
Naram Mansour, President, Carlyle Communities
Josh Mitchell, Managing Director of Real Estate at The University of Toronto
Lucas Manuel, Partner, Slate Asset Management
Tsering Yangki, Head of Real Estate Finance & Development, Dream Unlimited

Team: InVision Group
Emmett Barker, Evin Joseph, Joyce Lau, Cameron Palmer, Tiffany Wong
FIRST PLACE TEAM: Revival Developments
Alejandro Fuentes, Crown Property Management; Jaron Kaller, Dream Unlimited; Justin Leon, Montez Corporation; Matt Urbain, Crown Property Management; Camille Maranan, Rotman School of Business; Dale Nerland, Dream Unlimited
Thank you, Awards Event Judges
Kathy Black, Vice President, Development, Fiera Real Estate; Lindsay Brand, Chief Investment Officer, Dream Unlimited; Andrew Hoffman, Chief Executive Officer, CentreCourt Developments; Jared Menkes, EVP, High-Rise Residential Division, Menkes Developments Ltd.
The Edge

Team
Nikhil Paul, Teva Pharmaceuticals; Soroush Asgarinia, Smith and Anderson; Victor Chan, BGIS; Tony Ju, City of Toronto; Nedal Machou, Hariri Pontarini Architects; Jinny Tran, Oxford Properties Group.
Cadence Square

Team
Umehani Kanga, Schulich / York U; Jordan Trinder, Schulich / York U; Ehsan Naimpour, Architecture / U of T; Alannah Bird, Schulich / York U; Pedram Karimi, Architecture / U of T and Bao Nguyen, Schulich / York U.
The Cove

Team
Tim Zhu, HH Angus; Chong Zhai, BlackRock; Jimmy Wong, 20 Vic Management; Stefano Possamai, HH Angus; Dhruv Soni, HH Angus and Nikhil Dewan, HH Angus.
Dominion Square

Team
Lisa Wu, GWL Realty Advisors; Catherine Truong, GWL Realty Advisors; Jason Ko, Avison Young; Benjamin Lemire, GWL Realty Advisors; Queenie Wong, Zeidler Partnership Architects; Daniel Fama, GWL Realty Advisors.
Park Plaza Hotel

Team
Steven Dejonckheere, Dream Unlimited; Justin Robitaille, Dream Unlimited; Mathieu Fleury, Dream Unlimited; Anh Minh Ngo, Dream Unlimited; and Robert Fiorino (B+H Architects).
Armoury Park Place

Team
TEAM from Cushman & Wakefield: Katya Shabanova, Maria Tran, Marc Delena, Jaimy Hunt and Brandon Aitken.
Q2 Place

Team
Kelly Armstrong; Michael Hainey, Brookfield Financial; Scott Jackson; Andrew Wright, CBRE Limited and Julius Tang, Turnkii.