Episode 06: Purpose Built

Why does the purpose behind a real estate project matter as much as the building itself?

Real estate developer and PropTech investor Christy Prigmore joins Alex Norman and Jamie Blond to explore how thoughtful design, technology, and sustainability can create healthier buildings and stronger communities.

Drawing on more than 25 years of experience across the United States and Europe, Christy shares her unconventional journey from the MIT Center for Real Estate to development and investment work in Paris, London, Frankfurt, New York City, and Austin. She explains how developers anticipate what residents and communities will need years before a building is completed—and why successful development must balance market demand with long-term human value.

The conversation examines how the pandemic changed residential design, including the shift toward private entrances, outdoor spaces, flexible floor plans, and new approaches to community. Christy also discusses MyCoop, a PropTech platform designed to help residents connect and communicate within multifamily buildings.

Alex, Jamie, and Christy explore some of the biggest issues shaping the future of real estate development:

• How the built environment affects health, well-being, and human behavior

• Sustainable development and the business case for greener buildings

• Modular construction and its potential to reduce costs and construction time

• Adaptive reuse of malls, retail properties, warehouses, and obsolete buildings

• The connection between housing, technology, and community

• Austin’s rapid growth and evolving housing needs

• Opportunities for women in real estate development

• Why relationships, mentorship, and interdisciplinary teams matter

This episode of The Real State Podcast offers a practical and human-centered look at purpose-built real estate—and how developers can create buildings that respond to changing lifestyles without losing sight of the people and communities they serve.

Listen to the full conversation and discover why how and why we build can be just as important as what we build.