**Chapman University Team Wins 2025 NAIOP SoCal OC Real Estate Challenge**
The graduate student team from Chapman University’s Argyros College of Business & Economics claimed victory at the fourth annual NAIOP SoCal Orange County Real Estate Challenge, held on April 17 at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) campus.
This prominent event brought together student teams from Chapman and UCI’s Paul Merage School of Business Center for Real Estate for a head-to-head competition. Their challenge: to determine the highest and best use for a key site in Southern California.
The 2025 competition focused on the reimagining of the Santa Ana Civic Center and Santa Ana Stadium. This area includes federal, state, county, and city facilities such as the Santa Ana City Hall, OC Civic Center, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana Main Library, and the stadium itself. The goal was to propose a redevelopment plan that better connects the Civic Center and stadium with downtown Santa Ana while enhancing services for government employees.
Chapman’s winning proposal featured the creation of a vibrant cultural and sports district centered around a new 18,000-seat stadium, complemented by retail and event spaces. The plan also called for a modernized civic center with two new office towers and structured parking, while preserving essential existing infrastructure such as the parking facility, law library, and other key civic functions.
“This year’s proposals set a new benchmark for professionalism,” said David Salisbury, NAIOP SoCal OC Real Estate Challenge Co-Chair and Vice President at U.S. Bank. “It is an honor to bring this event once again to the industry and provide such a valuable platform for these students and outstanding universities.”
This win marks another milestone for Chapman University in demonstrating innovation and strategic thinking in urban development.
